9 Jun 2010

Collins/Nicholson Waterways Guides

The number 1 best selling waterways guides
Did you know that half the country’s population live within five miles of a canal or river, 11 million people regularly visit the inland waterways every year and more than 32,000 registered boats are on the inland waterways?

Robert Nicholson published the first Nicholson waterways guide in 1969. That guide, covering the Thames, prompted the then British Waterways Board to persuade Nicholson to publish a series of guides to the inland waterways. The Collins/Nicholson Waterways Guides have been regularly updated and expanded ever since, but their purpose has remained the same: to provide useful and comprehensive information for everyone who enjoys and uses the inland waterways.

In print for 40 years, the Collins/Nicholson guides to the waterways have always been a vital part of journeys along Britain’s canals and rivers. They are designed for anyone and everyone with an interest in Britain’s inland waterways – from experienced boaters to those planning their first boat trip, as well as walkers, cyclists and visitors.

Colour Ordnance Survey® maps have additional information showing:
• Locks, bridges, tunnels, aqueducts, winding holes and towpaths.
• Waterpoints, sanitary stations, pump out facilities and refuse disposal.
• Boatyards, pubs, restaurants and local shops.
• Mile markers and milestones (distance in miles and number of locks to strategic points along the waterways).

Text includes:
• The history and background to each canal.
• Local services and places of interest, pubs and restaurants and postcodes for each place.
• Opportunities for walking and cycling.
• Notes on wildlife to be found along the waterways.

Comprehensive navigational notes include:
• Maximum dimensions and low bridges.
• Mileages, advice and potential hazards.
• Navigation authorities and contact details.Collins/Nicholson Waterways

Waterways Guides:
1: Grand Union, Oxford and The South East. Buy from Amazon
2: Severn, Avon and Birmingham. Buy from Amazon
3: Birmingham and the Heart of England. Buy from Amazon
4: Four Counties and the Welsh Canals. Buy from Amazon
5: North West and the Pennines. Buy from Amazon
6: Nottingham, York and the North East. Buy from Amazon
7: River Thames and the Southern Waterways. Buy from Amazon
Norfolk Broads. Buy from Amazon
Inland Waterways Map of Great Britain. Buy from Amazon

 Nicholsons guides are always good
“Another one for the series. Accurate and packed full of information in easy to follow format.”
Ms. M. F. Ault Amazon review (31 May 09) for Collins/Nicholson Waterways Guides 1 Grand Union, Oxford and The South East

Links
Water-Way the essential boating companion
Collins/Nicholson Norfolk Broads Waterways Guide
Waterways Guides competition in Canal Boat Apr 09

Posted by David Mumford
Labels: ,

11 comments:

  1. I find these guides very good - but two suggestions for future editions:
    (a) Put postcodes in for addresses of boatyards, restaurants etc
    (b) Where there is more than one boatyard, restaurant etc on a page, number them so one know which is which.
    ReplyDelete
  2. All the new editions published from 2009 have the postcodes in the contact details and addresses for boatyards, restaurants etc
    ReplyDelete
  3. I agree whole heartedly with the comment about identifying which boatyard/pub is which. Often when there are four of five pubs one a page it can take a good minute or two to pick out enough information as to which is which, and once i was infact unable to fully confirm which details went with which location.

    Generally other than that the guides are very usable.

    Although it is a shame that since Collins took over the guides they have greatly reduced the thickness of the paper and covers used as well as removing the number from the spine.

    Daniel
    Owner CanalWorld.net
    ReplyDelete
  4. can you get a unfolded copy of the inland waterways map of Great Britian
    ReplyDelete
  5. Daniel, thanks for your comments.
    For the next editions we will look into a system to clearly link the pub/restaurant on the map with its text information.
    You must have an old format Waterways Guide. The current design has been in production for about 10 years – it is now spiral bound and uses paper suited to the colour printing and book weight. The guide number cannot now be put on the spiral spine, but a flap on the back cover can enclose pages (acting as a bookmark), this has the guide number and waterway name on it.
    David Mumford
    ReplyDelete
  6. The Inland Waterways map of Great Britain were folded at the printers so there are no flat copies available.

    You could try and iron out the creases of the folded map or get the map scanned and printed out flat at a print shop.
    ReplyDelete
  7. In 2009, when we were ordering Collins/Nicholson Waterways Guides (for shipment to the United States), we received previous revisions -- is there anyway of ordering direct form the publisher, so we know we are receiving the latest version?
    Bob Reinhard
    ReplyDelete
  8. Bob,

    The latest Collins Nicholson Waterways Guides were published in 2009, the next editions are due out in spring 2012.

    You can order the guides direct from us HarperCollins UK via our Customer Services mail order trade line 0844 576 8122.

    David Mumford
    ReplyDelete
  9. Hi,

    Just wondering if there's a likely publishing date for the new edition of these? You mention 'Spring 2012' - I'm off boating in April so just wondering whether it's worth waiting for the new edition to do my planning!
    Thanks
    Owen
    ReplyDelete
  10. Owen,

    Thanks for asking.

    New editions of all 7 Collins Nicholson Waterways Guides, the Norfolk Broads Guide and the Inland Waterways map of Great Britain will be published on the 1st of March 2012.

    David Mumford
    ReplyDelete
  11. Great, thanks very much David - most helpful.

    Owen
    ReplyDelete

Subscribe to: Post Comments (Atom)