Imagine gliding through Braunston Tunnel, a 2,042-yard passage dug in 1796. Your narrowboat’s light flickers on damp, iron-streaked walls. In this episode, I’ll take you inside this marvel—4.8 meters wide, 3.76 meters high, with a slight S-bend from shifting soil and three air shafts. It’s just wide enough for two 7-foot boats to pass.Heading north after filming series six of Canal Boat Diaries, I contend with engine noises and spider webs, finding an eerie calm in the tunnel’s hidden story.Robbie Cumming's Canal Boat Podcast is produced by Urban Podcasts.
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19:58
Going Through a Lock
I’m taking you through Cosgrove Lock on the Grand Union Canal—engine humming, lock gates creaking, water rushing as I work the paddles. It’s a sunny spring day, cherry blossoms are out, and after a long, muddy winter, I’m finally moving.Simon, a continuous cruiser, lends a hand and we chat about why days like this—calm, bright—make it all worthwhile. It’s real-time canal life: the windlass clanks and the boat steadies. No polish, just the water, the quirks, it’s a raw slice of the cut.Robbie Cumming's Canal Boat Podcast is produced by Urban Podcasts.
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11:20
River Rage
It’s not all roses and castles as they say! This is a whole side of boating that I don’t think I’ve ever talked about. River rage – disagreements and arguments that often occur when waterways users lose their cool after a long day living the good life! A boater’s £4,000 fine for disrupting a rowing regatta was the subject of a radio phone in that I took part in recently. So, in this episode I share some true stories of my own experiences from the rivers Thames, Weaver and Ouse.Robbie Cumming's Canal Boat Podcast is produced by Urban Podcasts.
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16:49
Winter on the Water
What’s it really like living on a canal boat during winter? In this episode, I share the ups and downs of winter life on the water – the cold, the shorter days, and the isolation that come with it. As someone who’s spent a lot of time navigating through it, I give you a behind-the-scenes look at balancing the tough side of winter with the unexpected rewards.From keeping the fire burning to embracing the quiet of winter moorings, I share the little things that make this season special – like wildlife sightings, the beauty of the landscape, and how the solitude can spark creativity.I also talk about the practical side: staying warm, finding the right spots to moor, and how living this way takes both physical effort and mental resilience.Robbie Cumming's Canal Boat Podcast is produced by Urban Podcasts.
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14:14
Boating in London
In this episode, I talk about what life on a narrowboat in London is really like – the good, the bad, and everything in between. With over ten years of experience living on the water, I share some of my personal stories from when I first started out, including the surprises and challenges that came with it.I’ll take you through what it’s like managing life on the canals in London, from navigating the busy waterways to dealing with the Canal and River Trust, plus some of the new rules that have popped up. There’s also a story at the start which will also be available as a narrated timelapse on my YouTube channel.Robbie Cumming's Canal Boat Podcast is produced by Urban Podcasts.
I'm Robbie Cumming, and this is my Canal Boat Podcast where I'll be taking you on a journey behind the scenes on my TV show Canal Boat Diaries, letting you in even further to my little world on the waterways.
Whether you're a boater or live on land, Robbie Cumming's Canal Boat Podcast is for anyone who enjoys looking at life a bit differently.
New episodes every fortnight, so don't forget to subscribe to keep it cranking.'
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