bestboatingholidays

Once you have booked your narrowboat holiday you might be wondering what to take with you?  Well first find out what is included in the boat hire.  Most hire companies include bedding – duvets and sheets, but not towels.  So you will need bath and hand towels.  All the pots pans crockery and utencils are always included in your hire, so no need to bring these things.  It is more the little extras that will make your holiday go that much better, that you need to think about.

If you think about the items you might need when travelling along the canal.  Binoculars, for seeing wildlife close up or spotting other craft coming towards you on the canal.  Passing the binoculars around the family gets them involved too.  A camera is a good item to pack. Although most of us now carry a mobile phone will camera included, a digital camera on its own still gives better landscape pictures, in my opinion. Having mentioned the mobile phone, obviously bring it along as well. Texting people back home and sending interesting photos as you travel along the canal can be fun. Fishing rods are not usually included in your boat hire but may be rented from the narrowboat company.  Better still, why not bring your own. There are plenty of shops along most canal systems that sell fishing equipment.  Two rods for the family to use whether it is raining or bright sunshine, will keep the family busy! 

If it does rain or in the evening when you are tied up alongside then playing cards or dominoes are  great family games to play. So pack some cards and dominoes.  Other compact board games could also be brought along with you.  The kids will want to bring more hi tech games as well, so make sure they have actually got them packed! Almost every boat hire company will have a TV on board their narrowboat, so bringing the Wii Fi plus games is also an option. For very young kids, colouring books and plenty of drawing materials will keep them occupied.

A range of outdoor clothes will help your enjoyment. It is very unpleasent putting on wet clothes the next day if you have not brought a few to change into.  So a good waterproof jacket should be packed.  Some boat hirers include a waterproof jacket for the helmsman (helmswoman) but not for all the crew.  Wellies for wet tow paths is also a good idea. Trainers for dry weather.  Avoid flip flops as they are a menace on boats! Umbrellas for rainy days and for sunny days are useful. 

If you have not booked your narrowboat for travelling along the canals this year, why not find out just how little it will cost.  For a short break or a longer holiday, follow this link for more information.

Cruising the Worcester and Birmingham Canal on a canal boat hire from Brook Line Narrowboats is an ideal way to relax.  The narrowboats for hire are well equipped with all modern facilities.  Brook Line Narrowboats is a family owned company who offer tuition to anyone who has not handled a canal boat before. They are based just north of the city of Worcester, surrounded by the green countryside.

Once aboard your narrowboat you have a choice of where to cruise. If you have 3 nights only for your break you could decide to travel from Droitwich to the cathedral city of Worcester and back. This will allow you to see a mixture of wonderful views of open fields and farmland as well as several interesting buildings in the city. The benefit for those who have not been on a narrowboat before is that several miles are covered before the need to tackle your first lock. Dropping down through the Worcestershire countryside you are soon in the historic, cathedral city of Worcester with all its land based attractions.

If you would like to hire a narrowboat and cruise the canal this summer, why not follow this link to find out hoThis impressive cathedral stands proudly above the River Severn and can trace its history right back to the 12th century! If you visit, its well worth taking part in the cathedral tour which runs twice a day from Monday to Saturday during the summer. The trained cathedral guide will talk you through the most important aspects of the cathedral, such as its architecture, monuments, and stained glass windows, and will also explain why it is that the current tower is the third one in the cathedral`s history!
If you would like to hire a narrowboat to cruise on the canals this summer, why not follow this link to find out how little it will cost?

A canal cruise this summer could be exactly the type of holiday you and your family need.  With the recession still well and truely with us, less people are flying off to foreign destinations this year.  More people are choosing to holiday at home.  So instead of looking and hoping for that last minute package holiday, why not think differently and choose a boating holiday?  Of course, many of you are used to spending time on a narrowboat during the summer. 

Some readers may be considering a canal boat hire for the first time and are wanting to find out more about what is on offer.  Well the answer is lots!  There is lots to do on a canal cruise.  You would be surprised just how much there is to see and do as you potter along at 4 mph.  Not only is there the surrounding countryside to admire but also the whole process of travelling through the locks and canal.  You and the family will be kept busy, if that is what you want.

Of course, if you just want to sit and catch up with the next chapter in your new book, then you can do that too.  Sit and watch the world go by.  Breath that fresh country air, listen to the ducks and other wildlife busy going about their daily routine.  Plenty to do.  So why not book your canal cruise today and begin planning how you are going to spend your time on your floating holiday home!

A number of boat hire companies have invested in new boats for the 2009 season.  This shows their commitment to keeping up a high standard of value to their customers (you and me).  New boats usually bring new technology with them and added features for your comfort on holiday.  Many already have such things as central or warm air heating, for the colder months of the year.  Modern appliances like T.V. and CD Players are now quite common on most boats for hire.

On the Norfolk Broads, Ferry Marina at Horning have taken delivery of new boats this year. So cruising on the River Bure will be even more relaxing and comfortable!  On the Oxfordshire canals, both Oxfordshire Narrowboats at Radcot and Clifton Cruisers at Rugby have spent money on new narrowboats for the 2009 season and beyond.  Reading Marine Company at Padworth have bought new boats to cruise the Kennet and Avon Canals, so life will be very pleasent for those hiring these brand new canal boats!

Finally, right up north in Inverness, Caley Cruisers have invested in new boats to tackle the Caledonian Canal from Loch Ness southwards to Fort William.  These boats are not only suited to canal work but also able to be safe and dry on the open waters of the Scottish lochs!  So why not enquire more about these boats and where to take them on holiday with you this year, somewhere in Britain.

This year my wife and I have been fortunate to go on several canal holidays.  There is something special about arriving at a new location and stepping aboard a canal boat hire.  The welcome from the boat hirer as they show you around is always a treat.  They are very proud of their vessels and keep them clean and tidy.  It is a good time to ask about local must see places of interest and get directions. Once you are familar with your boats layout and controls, your off on your travels!

Casting off, putting the engine in gear and hearing that solid, dependable diesel chugging quietly below your feet is really the fastest way to slow down and relax! If you know what I mean?  As you look around, while you move along at 4 mph, you see people of all sorts enjoying the canal.  All along the canal towpath people are walking, talking, fishing or even getting ready to go paddling in their kayak!  Everything is peaceful.  Ducks are swimming away from you as you approach them and the occasional fish is jumping.  In the nearby fields, cows share the grazing with sheep and young lambs, the farmer is on his tractor doing something with his trailer.  Ahead, you see the first lock on this particular trip, and eagerly anticipate the challenge of entering it without hitting the sides!

If you are lucky there will be a lockeeper ready to take your mooring warps. He would have heard your approach and wandered from his cottage at the side of the lock.  Once your lines are ashore he will close the lock gates and begin to let the water either into the lock or out.  As your narrowboat either rises or falls you keep a close eye on your warps.  Sometimes you need to share a lock, to conserve the water supply, and this is an ideal time to meet other canal boat users.  For a short time you swap either useful information about where they have been or just make idle gossip!

As the lock gates open you are again free to travel on along the smooth waters of the canal. Boat hire for canal cruises is very popular in Britain and Europe.  More and more people are realising the benefits of canal boat hire.  Its an ideal boating holiday.  Relaxing and admiring the incredible scenery on offer is a great attraction for many people looking to get away from their work, even for a short time! 

Along the canal you not only pass through locks but also under bridges, many built more than 200 years ago.  Tunnels are another interesting place to experience, especially the first time!  Very often it is the unusual buildings along the side of the canals that prove to be fascinating mainly because of their history.  Older buildings were part of the industrial revolution and were built because of the benefits of canal transportation.  This ever changing landscape from fields with waterfalls and Follies to inner city buildings, many now converted to luxury apartments, offers some spectacular views.

Why not book a canal boat hire now.  Experience some of the things I have described, and more!  When you come back from your boating holiday, write a comment on this blog telling us all about your wonderful time!