This episode is dedicated to the memory of Emma Bird of BWFuels who I met to chat about her work and life on the Grand Union canal.

You can watch Canal Boat Diaries on the U&Yesterday channel and on the free U app, as well as all of my narrowboat voyage logs on YouTube, just search Robbie + Canal.

Robbie Cumming's Canal Boat Podcast is produced by Urban Podcasts.

Did I think we really captured what it’s like to be a continuous cruiser in London? What challenges did I come across? And how did the old working boat families actually have space to er... have a family?! 

Don’t forget, you can watch Canal Boat Diaries, Series 6 on the U&Yesterday channel and on the free U app which currently hosts all episodes from series one onwards.

Robbie Cumming's Canal Boat Podcast is produced by Urban Podcasts.

We tackle the Hanwell flight and experience vibrant Diwali celebrations in Southall, where fireworks light up the night sky. I also share a wild story of rescuing a woman trapped in the canal.

Don’t forget, you can watch Canal Boat Diaries, Series 6 on the U&Yesterday channel and on the free U app which currently hosts all episodes from series one onwards.

Robbie Cumming's Canal Boat Podcast is produced by Urban Podcasts.

You’ll also hear from my mate Jamie, whose help and positivity saved the day!

Don’t forget, you can watch Canal Boat Diaries, Series 6 on the U&Yesterday channel and on the free U app which currently hosts all episodes from series one onwards.

Robbie Cumming's Canal Boat Podcast is produced by Urban Podcasts.

Plus, I reveal which Gogglebox celebrities I’d trust to take the tiller of my Naughty Lass.

Canal Boat Diaries, Series 6 is broadcasting each Monday and Tuesday on the U&Yesterday channel and on the free U app which currently hosts all episodes from series one onwards.

Robbie Cumming's Canal Boat Podcast is produced by Urban Podcasts.

What you don’t see on camera is how the Naughty Lass could have burnt down, the real reason for the drain on my batteries and a licensing loophole that I discover only after spending hundreds of pounds on temporary visitor permits on the River Thames. 

Canal Boat Diaries, Series 6 is broadcasting each Monday and Tuesday on the U&Yesterday channel and on the free U app which currently hosts all episodes from series one onwards.

Robbie Cumming's Canal Boat Podcast is produced by Urban Podcasts.

Canal Boat Diaries, Series 6 is broadcasting each Monday and Tuesday on the U&Yesterday channel and on the free U app which currently hosts all episodes from series one onwards.

Robbie Cumming's Canal Boat Podcast is produced by Urban Podcasts.

Canal Boat Diaries, Series 6 is broadcasting each Monday and Tuesday on the U&Yesterday channel and on the free U app which currently hosts all episodes from series one onwards.

Robbie Cumming's Canal Boat Podcast is produced by Urban Podcasts.

This podcast is packed full as we delve into the making of season six episode two, from Ayno Wharf on the Oxford Canal to Bablock Hythe on the upper Thames.

Canal Boat Diaries series six is broadcasting each Monday and Tuesday on the U&Yesterday channel and on the free U app which currently hosts all episodes from series one onwards.

Robbie Cumming's Canal Boat Podcast is produced by Urban Podcasts.

In this episode, I will answer all those questions and more, as I provide a sort of director’s commentary retracing our journey from Napton Junction to Aynho Wharf.

Canal Boat Diaries, Series 6 is broadcasting each Monday and Tuesday on the U&Yesterday channel and on the free U app which currently hosts all episodes from series one onwards.

Robbie Cumming's Canal Boat Podcast is produced by Urban Podcasts.

We also share a few moments from the sixth series (no spoilers don’t worry) which starts on the U&Yesterday channel and U app from the 19th May.

Robbie Cumming's Canal Boat Podcast is produced by Urban Podcasts.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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 also give a sneak peek into 2025, with exciting things coming up, like more live shows, writing a book, and season 6 of Canal Boat Diaries, featuring more adventures and canals to explore.

Throughout the episode, I answer listener questions about life on the boat, what it’s like to spend Christmas alone, and how the laid-back pace of boat life has changed the way I enjoy this time of year.

Robbie Cumming's Canal Boat Podcast is produced by Urban Podcasts.

Drawing from my own experience of anxiety and depression I discuss if boat life could help pre-existing mental health disorders or make them worse.  But it almost goes without saying, I am not a mental health professional and contained in the podcast are my own opinions, not to be taken as medical advice!

Robbie Cumming's Canal Boat Podcast is produced and managed by Urban Podcasts.

With an audience of around 200 people, I enjoy answering questions, but this time there were so many I ran out of time. So, in this special episode, I’ll be covering some of the questions I didn’tget around to including ‘would you ever leave the Naughty Lass and return to regular living’ ‘does it get lonely on a boat’ and ‘how many windlasses have you lost this year’!

Robbie Cumming's Canal Boat Podcast is produced and managed by Urban Podcasts.

Anxiety about public scrutiny and the inevitable loss of privacy are points I cover, as well as baffling other boaters and how long it really takes to film a one-hour show.

From the long and arduous days, some lasting up to eleven and a half hours, every lock (and aqueduct) can test both physical and mental endurance. The logistics with cars and boats can be complicated and it can be stressful but it’s interesting, fun and ultimately worth it!

Robbie Cumming's Canal Boat Podcast is produced and managed by Urban Podcasts.

We also share some of the unique challenges of living on water, especially when the temperatures drop.

Robbie Cumming's Canal Boat Podcast is produced and managed by Urban Podcasts.

I journey from Bugbrooke to Milton Keynes in this episode along the historic Grand Union Canal. I share the practicalities of life aboard and discuss (perhaps in a bit too much depth!) how an efficient water filtration system can make all the difference. 

I’ll guide you through the historical Blisworth Tunnel and take you onto the river Nene at Northampton to introduce you to some of my favourite ‘Pubs of the Week’! 

Robbie Cumming's Canal Boat Podcast is produced and managed by Urban Podcasts.

In this episode, I explore Coventry's musical heritage and how the Specials and ska-punk bands like Less Than Jake and Reel Big Fish have influenced my musical journey.

As a musician living on the waterways, recording music aboard a canal boat can sometimes be challenging. So, I'm revealing my unique recording process and taking you behind the scenes of creating some of my tracks, such as Windy Biscuits.

Robbie Cumming's Canal Boat Podcast is produced and managed by Urban Podcasts.

In this episode, we go behind the scenes of episode seven as I dive into the rich history of the Ashby Canal, uncovering its 22-mile stretch built in 1804 and the exciting ongoing restoration efforts. I also talk about one of my favourite times of the year, Halloween and relive some of my spooky escapades, from dressing as the Grim Reaper, Alan Partridge, to own my villain creation, Bad Man.

Robbie Cumming's Canal Boat Podcast is produced and managed by Urban Podcasts.

In this episode, I navigate from Great Bar to Atherstone, sharing a journey full of unexpected twists and realities of canal boating. From the frustration of getting wedged between locks and battling a wrapped propeller to the less glamorous parts of canal life, such as toilet troubles and leaking lock gates, I share the raw essence of life on the water.

Robbie Cumming's Canal Boat Podcast is produced and managed by Urban Podcasts.

In this episode, I share how recording a TV show on a canal boat can involve many patience-testing moments with my producer and drone pilot, who had to adapt to the unpredictable nature of canal boating. I also share how, during the filming of this episode, I had to dodge some unruly kids who were up to no good and show you the reality of canal boating in the summer, which led me to spend five hours down my weed hatch.

Robbie Cumming's Canal Boat Podcast is produced and managed by Urban Podcasts.

In this episode, I share some scenes that didn't make the final cut, such as setting fire to some baked beans! I also share what it is like living on the waterways, the unique challenges of working as a content creator and how I balance precious moments with loved ones.

Robbie Cumming's Canal Boat Podcast is produced and managed by Urban Podcasts.

In this episode, I take you behind the scenes of Episode 3, Series 5 of Canal Boat Diaries as I recount the challenges of navigating the famously narrow Gosty Hill Tunnel, and give you a peek into the editing room where blurring out graffiti and adding subtle touches to scenes are all part of the job.

Plus, I talk about the joy of connecting with family and the unwavering support from fellow boaters that make these journeys possible.

Robbie Cumming's Canal Boat Podcast is produced and managed by Urban Podcasts.

In this episode, between my nostalgic journey from Yardley Wood to Netherton Tunnel, I explore the sights of Bourneville, Dudley Tunnel, and the serene beauty of Bumblehole Nature Reserve while getting into the nitty-gritty of boat maintenance, which leads to not one but two costly mishaps.

Robbie Cumming's Canal Boat Podcast is produced and managed by Urban Podcasts.

Uncover the secrets behind my TV show, Canal Boat Diaries, as I take you behind the scenes of Series Five, Episode 1, now available on Yesterday and UKTV Play.

In this episode, I share how our filming process works, including the clever use of iPhones and GoPro cameras and how we create stunning drone shots which complement my journey.

Plus, as with most journeys along our waterways, I share the challenges we face along the way.

Robbie Cumming's Canal Boat Podcast is produced and managed by Urban Podcasts.

In my first episode, it's all about starting new journeys, whether it be creative endeavours or DIY projects. I share my spontaneous approach to life on the canals and how it mirrors the way I tackle new projects.

I also share behind-the-scenes stories about the production of my TV show, including meticulous planning despite my preference for spontaneity.

Robbie Cumming's Canal Boat Podcast is produced and managed by Urban Podcasts.

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.'

Robbie Cumming's Canal Boat Podcast is produced and managed by Urban Podcasts.