Canal Boat Diaries
Canal Boat Diaries is a TV show on BBC4. Robbie Cumming offers a look at life on his narrowboat while travelling through England. The program has been available since 2026. A total of 47 episodes have been broadcast, most recently in June 2026.
Last episode
1:00:00
1:00:00Canal Boat Diaries
Robbie navigates the Oxford Canal, bumps into a hire boat and a hedge and tackles large river locks on the scenic Upper River Thames.
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30:00Robbie Cumming concludes his journey by travelling from Barton Swing Aqueduct to Liverpool Docks - but experiences engine problems on the way.
30:00Robbie Cumming continues across the Pennines from Marple to Huddersfield, where his journey is hampered by a fallen tree and a leaking lock pound.
30:00Robbie Cumming explores the English canal network. A low canal tunnel in Staffordshire proves to be problematic and Robbie helps out a stranded boater.
30:00Robbie Cumming journeys from Shardlow to Etruria Junction, Stoke on Trent, exploring the Trent and Mersey Canal.
Series 6
1:00:00
1:00:00Robbie Cumming navigates the scenic Oxford Canal onboard Naughty Lass, explores its twists and turns, and helps tow a stranded broken-down boater.
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.
1:00:00A window gets smashed onboard the Naughty Lass and Robbie Cumming receives a soaking inside the very wet Blisworth Tunnel on the Grand Union Canal.
Series 7 1:00:00
1:00:00Robbie takes a detour to investigate a local UFO legend in Todmorden, and the UK's deepest canal lock springs a leak, causing trouble for the Naughty Lass.
1:00:00Robbie struggles with grounding out, a tangled prop and constant challenges on the Rochdale Canal - known as the 'Everest of Canals' - to reach its highest point.
Series 6 1:00:00
1:00:00Robbie navigates the wintery Grand Union Canal while preparing for Christmas and narrowly avoids flooding his boat in a tricky staircase lock.
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.
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.
1:00:00Robbie Cumming encounters a leaky lock pound on the Perry Barr Flight and gets marooned in the mud before travelling under Spaghetti Junction in Birmingham.
1:00:00It's Robbie's toughest trip yet as he battles through water weed on the Bradley Arm and gets stuck in silt on the Ridgacre Branch.
Series 7 1:00:00
1:00:00Fallen trees block Robbie's journey on the Peak Forest Canal. Later, he meets TV host Terry Christian, whose dad once worked a local waterway.
1:00:00Robbie helps rescue a runaway narrowboat on the scenic Macclesfield Canal and cruises through autumn scenery toward Congleton to see a shipwreck up for sale.
Series 6 1:00:00
1:00:00Robbie mends a leaky pump on the Naughty Lass on the Grand Union Canal. In Watford, he visits a TV legend's home and buys gas from a friendly fuel boat.
Series 5 1:00:00
1:00:00Robbie explores the picturesque Staffordshire and Worcestershire Canal.