Great Canal Journeys

Tim takes the helm to explore the extraordinary Kerala backwaters: a one-thousand-mile network of palm-fringed lakes, rivers banked by rice paddies - and some very familiar-looking British-built canals.

This could be the most challenging voyage of Tim and Pru's lives. Leaving behind the safe confines of the canals, they head out into the unknown waters of the Brahmaputra river in the far north east of India.

Taking its name from its sixty odd lakes, the Broads is an extraordinary water world and the perfect environment for our two boat-loving actors. On their voyage through its one hundred and twenty mile network of rivers, they’ll discover the unique way of life that developed in the Broads over the centuries.

Belonging to France and Germany at different times over the past few centuries, Alsace and Lorraine have cultural elements of both countries, but also a strong identity of their own. Tim and Pru are entranced as they glide past enchanted forests and fairy tale castles. They are boating on the Marne au Rhin canal, built to link Paris with the Rhine

Tim and Pru head for the dramatic landscape of north-west Portugal to embark on a voyage down the Rio Douro. Following the old Port trade route from hilltop vineyards to seaport, this is a journey that combines two of their favourite things – waterways and wine

Famously beautiful, the Monmouthshire and Brecon canal is cut off from the rest of Britain’s waterway network by the Black Mountains. For Tim and Pru it’s an undiscovered gem.