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lancashirelove Posts: 1986 Joined: 18th Feb 2009 Location: UK | quotePosted at 20:54 on 30th April 2009 Hi landlubbers, lots of talk about fantastic hols hiking in our national parks etc but do you know that England has some beuatiful inland waterways? most of our counties have navigatable canals where you can hire a 'house-barge' or boat for touring, such a peaceful and calm way to exploe our country with colourful villages and waterside pubs round every corner. then you also have the 'Upper Thames to navigate around the Oxford are and Windsor. Over the otherside of the Country in the county of Norfolk you have the 'flat-lands of the Norfolk broad water system, lots of history too. Lancashire and Yorkshire also have scienic canal systems joined to the national canal system. I have added a couple of pics to the site ident 1088130, 131 and 132, taken when I was on the 'broads a couple of summers ago.  Picture by michael gerrard
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Ray Stear Posts: 1930 Joined: 25th Apr 2008 Location: UK | quotePosted at 23:15 on 30th April 2009 |
Debbie Adams Posts: 2043 Joined: 8th Mar 2009 Location: USA | quotePosted at 03:47 on 1st May 2009 This is a great idea Michael I would love to do this!! Thanks |
| lancashirelove Posts: 1986 Joined: 18th Feb 2009 Location: UK | quotePosted at 08:33 on 1st May 2009 Choose the county you'd like to explore (Norfolk is a good start as there are no locks, but it has a river tide) the Inland wareways are usually canals (Avoid big Cities if possible) which wind their way trouh fantastic countryside, very calm but you do have to be fit to operate the locks, although thers someone who'l always help you. Contact the boatyard of your choice (plenty of info available) in advance and book your boat. on arrival you'll be greeted by friendy operators who'll instruct you on the use and within the hour you are off on your freedom tour. You can usually moor anywhere usually free (unless its private) No need for hotels, driving etc and you can have a different location every day (and a different pub every meal lol). You'll find that everyone you pass will give you a friendly wave. (I'm not kidding!) |
Stephanie Jackson Posts: 3911 Joined: 13th Apr 2008 Location: UK | quotePosted at 16:53 on 1st May 2009 I agree Michael - we do alot of canal walks living in "The Venice of England!".
 Picture by Stephanie Jackson
 Picture by Stephanie Jackson These two places are a short walk from my house. We also go canal walks around Kinver, Stourton, Stourport and a bit farther afield the wonderful aquaduct at Trevor in Wales. |
| Debbie Adams Posts: 2043 Joined: 8th Mar 2009 Location: USA | quotePosted at 02:09 on 2nd May 2009 So would we actually drive the boat or would someone do that for us and do we sleep on the boat??? I have not heard of this sounds fun!! OOOO and do they have toilets???;-0 |
| Stephanie Jackson Posts: 3911 Joined: 13th Apr 2008 Location: UK | quotePosted at 06:58 on 2nd May 2009 You drive yourselves and open the locks - they usually give you a course before you set off. You sleep on the boat, there are kitchens onboard and toliets with showers according the site I just looked up! Just type Narrowboat holidays in your search engine. |
Craig Breakey Posts: 268 Joined: 19th Nov 2008 Location: UK | quotePosted at 07:12 on 2nd May 2009 Hi Steph Hi Debbie Went for a 12 mile cycle ride yesterday, and got to the Locks they call the Marple Flight, 16 Locks which lowers the canal 208 feet. I have just put the one picture on for now, The Lock Keepers Cottage at Lock 9. |
| Craig Breakey Posts: 268 Joined: 19th Nov 2008 Location: UK | quotePosted at 07:22 on 2nd May 2009 |
| lancashirelove Posts: 1986 Joined: 18th Feb 2009 Location: UK | quotePosted at 10:40 on 2nd May 2009 debbei, if you go into your search engine and type in hoseasons.co.uk or blakes.direct-uk.net these are two of the longest established boat/chalet hire companies in uk and france, youl,ll see all the info you need. To answer your question, yes you handle them yourself and go where you want on the system. these are boats you 'live' on, they have everything you need Shower/s, toilets, gallies (kitchens) seperate bedrooms, heating, lighting. the only time you need to get off is to go to the pub or shop lol. I hired a 45ft cruiser and it was easy as pie to handle, keep to the recomended speed linmits though, this protects the river banks fron erosion. Oh and they also have British TV on board lol |
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