Narrow Boat Holidays

Britain has over 4,000 miles of navigable canals, rivers and lakes and thus no other country in the world is more suited to narrow boat holidays.

Historically, narrow boats have a uniquely long and cylindrical design and are never over 7 feet wide. They are built that way to enable them to travel Britain's winding inland waterways, lift bridges and locks without getting stuck. During the 18th, 19th and 20th centuries, these gaily coloured boats were used to transport goods throughout the country's narrow canals but they are now traditionally used for recreation and residential purposes and, of course, for narrow boat holidays.

The modern narrow boat has a steel hull and a steel superstructure and there are about 27,000 of them presently floating around Britain's waterways. Traditionally, a narrow boat is decorated with paintings of roses and castles. Although this practice declined somewhat, boat owners have recently picked up their paint brushes once more and now travellers enjoying narrow boat holidays are entertained by cheerful rose and castle designs on even the most modern narrow boat.

Whether you have time only for a day trip or for a holiday lasting a few weeks, narrow boat holidays are the ideal getaway. Self-drive narrow boats can be hired for both day trips - and even afternoon trips - as well as for longer holidays so there is absolutely no excuse not to get out onto the water. If you don't feel up to the job of piloting the boat yourself, there are many trip boats available; just sit in comfort while being ferried through some of the country's most beautiful scenery. And not to be forgotten are the restaurant boats and hotel boats where you can enjoy a world class meal while watching the sites float by.

If you have the luxury of several spare weeks, nothing could be more peaceful and relaxing than bobbing down one or more of the many cruising rings that crisscross the British countryside. A cruising ring, or canal cruising circuit, is a series of interconnected waterways that, when travelled, will take you from a specific mooring, through a unique geographical area and then back to that specific mooring via a different route. Explore the area where Shakespeare lived and worked by exploring the Avon Cruising Ring - two weeks will do this tour justice - or marvel at the wonders of Oxford and the Royal Botanical Gardens while meandering down the Thames Ring. The Two Roses Ring, which covers Lancashire and Yorkshire, and the Stourport Ring, which will take you through not only Wolverhampton and Birmingham but also the ancient city of Worcester, are also highly recommended. The wonder of narrow boat holidays is that you can repeat them time and again and you never have to take the same route twice. Maybe you'll even catch a glimpse of that famous grinning cat somewhere in the Cheshire Ring!

There are many useful resources on water facilities, waterway dimensions and stoppages, if you prefer to pilot the boat yourself. If you would rather just watch the world go by, there are equally as many resources on how to hire the best narrow boat for your dream cruise. So what are you waiting for? Get out there and book your perfect narrow boat holidays without further delay!