A canal network from yesteryear is maintained in Britain for the benefit of holidaymakers and for those people who own longboats and like to spend their lives sailing up and down the canals through the glorious British countryside.
Relaxing, indulgent and tranquil to the extreme, there’s nothing quite like a canal boat holiday in Britain. With many waterways in the UK to pleasantly sail down and so much spectacular scenery to see from the comfort of your own private mode of transport, it’s no surprise that these kinds of holidays are well on the rise with the young and old alike.
View self-catering holidays on a boat in Britain
The Norfolk Broads
One notable canal network and arguably the most popular is the Norfolk and Suffolk Broads. Labelled ‘Britain’s Magical Wonderland’, the Broads are around 125 miles of pure sailing bliss and one that your group; whether it be family or friends, will cherish forever.
With a variety of spectacular wildlife and plant life covering all areas of the wetlands, the Norfolk Broads are a haven for tourists and eager birdwatchers. From your boat, it’s extremely common to see Britain’s largest butterfly, the Swallowtail, appear in warm summers and if a keen onlooker is lucky enough, maybe a grey seal or a Chinese water deer. With the Norfolk Broads being so vast, anything really is possible!
Attracting over seven million visitors a year and with twenty-five places of interest to visit and moor your boat like bustling seaside resort Great Yarmouth and the picturesque Somerleyton Hall and Gardens, the Norfolk Broads are also a great fishing attraction. Can you imagine catching a selection of fresh fish like rudd, bream, perch, pike and tench and cooking it aboard your humble abode that very night for your closest loved ones? Combine that with the spectacular sunsets and starry skies that you’ll notice aboard your canal boat and you really do have the most heavenly holiday!
If you prefer to keep your feet on dry land, you could rent a holiday cottage in the Norfolk Broads and just hire day cruisers for a bit of river exploration. Some people dislike the physical effort of opening and closing of locks that is associated with a canal boat holiday but it is a pleasant experience for a few hours.
North Wales is incredibly scenic
North Wales has some amazing landmarks, yet arguably none more so than the Llangollen Canal or The Welsh as it is commonly known in the canal boat world. Being in the heart of Snowdonia with its stunning scenery and running through some of the great market towns in Northern England like Ellesmere Port and medieval Whitchurch, Llangollen Canal is without doubt the most beautiful waterway in the whole of the UK.
Why not moor your canal boat in nearby Chirk before sailing over the towns famous Pontcysyllte Aqueduct, an example of marvellous 18th century architecture? A perfect opportunity to admire the countryside views as you stomach the exhilarating sheer drop below you. Great for family photos and the occasional selfie. Just remember the obligatory captain’s hat!
With endless stretches of greenery surrounding you in this beautiful location, instead of the flood of people that you’re normally accustomed to in the city, can you picture sleeping under the stars and above the calm, bobbing waters watching the world go silently by? The ideal chance to catch up on some much-needed sleep in our increasingly stressful modern-day lives.
Even London is surrounded by magnificent scenery and has its own waterways
Everybody wants to visit England’s capital city, but imagine arriving into the heart of London in spectacular sailing style! The River Thames, England’s most famous area of water and lavish London landmark actually forms part of the Thames Ring, with the 137-mile-long Grand Union Canal and pleasant countryside cruiser, North & South Oxford Canal. If you’re really enthusiastic about canal sailing, why not sail for 3 weeks around the whole ring and imagine yourself back in time living, working and fighting on where this great river stands? A fantastically serene way to travel around one of the world’s greatest cities and see the many places of interest that are scattered around the Thames Valley, such as historical wonders Windsor Castle and Hampton Court Palace.
Many people find London stressful to meander around but the only meandering that you’ll be doing is cruising on the River Thames in your beautiful and traditional canal boat. With many places to moor around the city, it’s the perfect way to explore London without the constant stresses of taxis, the tube and hustling bustling crowds of people.
Time to make memories
Away from the lights and the noise, how about going back to those lost times of yesteryear with your family one night and playing board games and cards, instead of sitting around watching TV and browsing social media all of the time? With canal boat holidays, it’s all about intimacy, catching up with your nearest and dearest and creating forever memories. Ones that you will cherish in your mind forever. Why not make a priceless photo album solely dedicated to your boating experience? Now that’s one reel the whole of your family will not mind seeing time after time.
With these specific canal waterways only a fair few of the plethora of nautical networks that we have in the country, now is certainly the best time for you and your family to think about booking a boating holiday with a difference. With complete independence and comfort mixed with pure tranquillity and intimacy, it really is the perfect way to travel around the best of Britain and discover pastures unknown and hidden treasures a plenty.
How about a holiday on a boat this time?
