A canals narrowboat mini-break in Worcestershire is like a scenic gym, with locks, ropes and winches to tackle but it's all great fun for young and old

For my first holiday on a narrowboat I had visions of relaxing with a drink in hand or catching up with a good book, gliding past peaceful countryside.

But they were swiftly swept away after a lesson on steering and managing locks.

This mini-break would be more like a workout at a scenic gym, sprinting up towpaths to locks, heaving ropes, turning winches and generally putting my muscles to the test over the next two days.

Fortunately I had two enthusiastic little helpers, my children, eager to do their bit, and my husband of course.

And once we had got the hang of it, initial anxieties soon disappeared and we all had great fun.

Our home-from-home was Julie, a four-berth boat, hired from Black Prince Holidays. Stepping on board she was modern and clean, and had everything you could need for a comfy and cosy break.

We travelled from Black Prince’s Stoke Prior base to Worcester, which meant tackling 20 locks each day and roughly seven hours of cruising – perhaps a little ambitious for first-timers on a canal boat with two children in tow. Ideally I would aim for four or five hours cruising time a day.

But narrowboat holidays are a great active family adventure and a fantastic way to reach parts of the country you may not usually visit. Once we left our base the open countryside was quite a surprise and our boys delighted in the wildlife along the waterway, spotting plenty of swans and ducks!

I was lucky enough to catch a glimpse of the brilliant blue plumage of a kingfisher which was a first for me. Darting along in overhanging branches, it was too quick for the rest of my party to witness.

On the other hand, our leisurely pace of travel meant we could fully take in the sights of towns and cities along the way such as Worcester with its beautiful cathedral, viewing places from a unique perspective and with some interesting locks to manoeuvre.

And leaving your car behind, you definitely get the sense of stepping away from a road well-travelled.

My worries about keeping the peace between bickering children in a small space were happily unfounded. There was more than enough to keep us busy and entertained, and with everyone having a sense of purpose, together with perfect teamwork, it was quite simply plain sailing.

On a future trip I would look at travelling with another family or more adults, so we could alternate jobs. While hubby was feeling the chill of the autumn weather at the steering wheel of the boat, I was working up a sweat.

People we met along the way were generally helpful and welcoming, and we picked up useful tips chatting to other boat users at locks and pit stops. A worker from the Canal and River Trust proved to be a real gem.

His wise words to me and my son on safety at the locks and operating them, and tips on steering and handling the boat to my husband, were invaluable.

Although he must meet umpteen parties a day crossing his path, we were struck by his enthusiasm and willingness to impart his knowledge to clueless first-timers.

Our family thoroughly enjoyed the experience and now knowing the ropes we all heartily agreed we would gladly get back on board for another adventure afloat.

Black Prince operates canal holidays from nine bases across the UK. July and August three-night weekend or four-night midweek short breaks from Stoke Prior, Worcestershire, start from £1,149 for up to five sharing, plus one dog. Diesel extra, around £15 per day. black-prince.com

Can we send you the Mirror Travel newsletter with weekly travel news and inspiration?