Take a Waterway Holiday in England

Britain is brimming with beautiful canals and waterways. In fact, there are more canals in Birmingham than in Venice. Used first by the Romans for irrigation, they became an essential component of transportation during the Industrial Revolution. Roads, unable to handle large masses of traffic, were rejected in favour of canals. Boats, brisk and easily navigable, could carry weighty loads and proved a safer option for fragile items.

Today the waterways of England are bustling once again thanks to the popularity of canal boat holidays for people seeking a relaxing break in the countryside. It’s a very simple process to hire a boat from a specialist canal boat holiday company such as Anglo Welsh who have been in the business for 40 years.

The narrowboats you can hire are roomy and well-appointed, come outfitted with central heating, a working kitchen, and a lounge for leisure. A guide will fully explain the finer points of boat operation and canal etiquette.

Narrowboat holidays are becoming increasing popular as holiday-makers wish to explore the natural beauty of Britain. No longer the domain of just boaters and nautical types, canal boating has developed into a sought-after stag party option for husbands-to-be who seek a more leisurely event.

Canal boats offer some very favourable features of a holiday. They allow passengers to visit a variety of British locations in a relaxed, unhurried fashion. If you have a large group of friends or family, narrowboat holidays often end up being more affordable than going abroad. Hiring a canal boat also acts as a very environmentally friendly option.

Holidays on the waterways offer excellent opportunities to admire the beautiful scenery of England’s countryside and wildlife. It’s also possible to moor your boat and visit local towns and cities. Tourists often revel in exploring new areas and visiting the local, country pub. If conditions are favourable you can fish off the side of the canal boat. You can even enjoy swimming or other fun water-sports.

The natural beauty affords many opportunities for picture-taking or relaxing sightseeing. Avid birdwatchers should have their binoculars at the ready. One of the most pleasing aspects of partaking in narrowboat holidays is the opportunity to relish in the inherent peace and quiet found while drifting down a waterway.

Driving a canal boat does come with a few considerations. Firstly, individuals wishing to participate in narrowboat holidays should be reasonably fit and athletically inclined. While two adults shouldn’t experience any issues managing a canal boat, a longer journey may warrant a larger number of participants to spread the work out evenly such as working the locks.

One person tends acts as the captain of the boat, steering it to maintain a straight path. The rest of the crew can unwind and enjoy the scenery and then alternate so everyone gets chance to be captain. Kids love this – of course under the supervision of an adult. Individuals seeking to stretch their legs can walk alongside the boat on the towpath.