Canal Boat Diaries
Canal Boat Diaries is a TV show on BBC4. Robbie Cumming offers a personal take on life aboard his narrowboat while travelling through England. The program has been available since 2025. A total of 35 episodes have been broadcast, most recently in June 2025.
Last episode
1:00:00
1:00:00Canal Boat Diaries
Robbie returns to where his boating life began, exploring London's canals on Naughty Lass. He travels through Little Venice and moors in Paddington Basin.
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1:00:00Robbie moors by Hampton Court Palace, but disaster strikes when a tree branch smashes a window. His dad joins to help through Hanwell locks.
Series 5
1:00:00
1:00:00Disaster strikes when the Naughty Lass collides with a low bridge on the Bumble Hole Canal Branch damaging a chimney.
1:00:00Robbie Cumming sets out to explore the meandering waterways of inner city Birmingham including the Soho Loop and the Engine Arm Canal.
1:00:00Robbie Cumming journeys through Royal Leamington Spa and the historic town of Warwick with its medieval castle.
Series 6 55:00
55:00Robbie's narrowboat gets stuck under a low bridge on the challenging Basingstoke Canal as he battles through water weed. Can he make it to journey's end?
1:00:00While exploring the Wey and Godalming Navigations, Robbie gets caught in a storm and falls off his narrowboat. He also uncovers rock history in Guildford.
Series 4 30:00
30:00Narrowboater Robbie Cumming faces a journey of many challenges as he runs aground and breaks down in Nottingham.
30:00Robbie Cumming tackles the fast-flowing River Trent and is invited to join a night-time illuminated boat parade.
30:00Robbie Cumming makes a running repair to his narrowboat on the Tinsley lock flight in South Yorkshire, then cruises beneath Conisbrough's magnificent viaduct.
Series 3 30:00
30:00On the last leg of his epic journey across the north of England, Robbie tackles the fast-flowing River Ouse and is forced to make an emergency stop.
30:00Robbie Cumming explores a Victorian village in West Yorkshire, moors up in Leeds Dock, and goes in search of an abandoned Aire and Calder Navigation waterway.
30:00Robbie Cumming crosses the Pennines on the picturesque Leeds and Liverpool Canal before lending a hand to hire boaters in Gargrave in North Yorkshire.
Series 5 1:00:00
1:00:00During a cold snap Robbie Cumming gets iced in on the Grand Union Canal. Later, his parents pay a visit and help him through Marsworth Locks.
1:00:00Series 6 1:00:00
1:00:00Robbie visits a former Beatle's home in Henley, uncovers horror history in Marlow and struggles to find a mooring in Maidenhead on the River Thames.
Series 5 1:00:00
1:00:00Robbie Cumming takes a tumble at Buckby Locks in Northamptonshire and has a problem with his power supply and battery bank.
Series 6 1:00:00
1:00:00Robbie's narrowboat gets a makeover before he explores the River Thames, he moors in Abingdon and tackles an emergency DIY repair to fix a leak.
Series 5 1:00:00
1:00:00Robbie Cumming discovers a mysterious message in a bottle on the Ashby Canal and calls in to meet a mate who lives on an old narrowboat.
Series 3 30:00
30:00Robbie Cumming begins a new 170-mile journey across the north of England but soon runs into difficulty with a problem with his craft's propeller in Wigan.