Having enjoyed our third canal boat holiday, here’s 7 reasons to take a canal boat holiday yourself.
1. Slows the pace of life
There is something so nice in travelling at just 3 or 4mph and strangely enough, it is so easy to adapt to.
In our busy lives where we dash around, there is a real therapeutic value in slowing right down. Even at such a slow speed, there is much to see and take in. However, it is easy to lose all track of time and enjoy a little day dreaming and reflection as the landscape gradually drifts by.
2. See a different side to England
Our canals seem to give a different perspective on our lovely countryside. Even familiar areas appear different from a canal and this is especially true of urban areas. On our recent holiday, we ambled our way through Milton Keynes and yet you’d never know you were in a really busy, vibrant urban area!
We got to see some very pretty, beautiful areas with lots of tree blossom and hedgerows bursting into life. Locks are often interesting places and canal features such as historic tunnels and aqueducts bring added interest.
3. Meet some interesting folk
There’s such a huge range of folk who live on the water. These include the traders who appear at floating markets with their fascinating handicrafts, some live on their boats just for the summer and some live permanently in their boats.
Many are keen to share stories of where they’ve come from and to tell you where they’re heading and how they have adapted to life on the water. These encounters can be brief when sharing a lock, or perhaps longer when you’re moored up for the night.
4. Low carbon impact
Our Diesel engine boat seemed to use such a small amount of fuel as we travelled for several days. The engine happily ticked over at a very low speed all day long and this also charged a bank of batteries which provided power for lights, the TV, the toaster, hot water and even the hair dryer.
5. Helps pay to keep our waterways open
Every boat on the waterways is licensed by the Canal & River Trust and this included our hire boat. So every time someone hires a boat, it helps keep a business going and this in turn contributes to the work the Canal & River Trust do in keep our waterways in such good condition.
6. Good for mental health and well-being
There is no doubt a canal holiday is very relaxing and a great way of unwinding and leaving all those worries behind.
Whether you are the skipper and steering the boat, or simply a passenger, it is a very easy way of de-stressing yourself as your boat meanders its way. As a family, each one of us benefitted and we all found it such a peaceful experience. Just being out in the fresh air, in the countryside all day is wonderful for us townies!
7. It’s really easy!
Although this was our third canal boat holiday, you quickly pick things up at the very start. It doesn’t take long to get the hang of steering a long narrow boat with accuracy and it is helpful to have a little tuition on the etiquette for passing other boats, knowing how to operate locks or swing bridges etc. It’s very easy to pick up and nobody seems to mind helping you out.
Providing you have a basic map, there’s no way you can ever get lost with every bridge being numbered. One thing to bear in mind is the need to find a ‘winding hole’ in order to turn around. Most narrow boats are too long to simply do a three-point turn on a canal, you have to find the right place to change direction once you are half way through your holiday. With some advance planning, this is very simple.
Hire boats are well equipped these days with lots of mod-cons and creature comforts. Ours had a really nice hot shower, central heating, a decent cooker, a fridge, a flat screen TV, a microwave, a toaster, the list goes on…..
So there you are – 7 reasons to take a canal boat holiday. Although we have done this a couple of times before, I suspect we will hire another boat in a couple of years. Perhaps then, when it is likely to be just the two of us, we might go further afield with possibly a circular route.
We again hired our boat from Wyvern Shipping, who we thoroughly recommend. Here’s their website