Are you dreaming of a peaceful escape on the waterways, but feeling a bit unsure of where to begin?
Maybe you imagine yourself cruising past wildflower meadows, pulling up beside waterside pubs, or exploring hidden corners of the Fens. But then the questions creep in…
What if I’ve never handled a boat before? What do I need to pack? What’s actually fun to do on a canal boat holiday?
You’re not alone. And you’re exactly who this blog is written for. So let us share, why the most savvy boaters subscribe to this blog before booking a holiday.
Discover the Fun of Canal Boating: One Post at a Time
At Fox Narrowboats, we don’t just hire boats; we live and breathe boating life. This blog is where we share the little gems that don’t always make it into the brochures. Think:
- Quirky canal slang (Want to know your windlass from your weed hatch?)
- Local recommendations (Like where to moor up for the best fish and chips!)
- Packing tips, pub guides and peaceful routes
- Real stories from people who’ve tried boating for the first time, and loved it
Whether you’re planning your very first trip or returning for another go, our blog is like having a friendly boater in your pocket, giving you tips and ideas with each new post.
Who Writes It?
Peggy Melmoth is a freelance writer specialising in narrowboat life. She lived on canal boats for 13 years, has written for Towpath Talk and Waterways World, and blogged for many canal-based businesses. She has been writing for Fox Narrowboats since 2014. Her personal blog, The Real Life of a Narrowboat Wife, describes three years of living aboard a narrowboat with her young family.
Alice Elgie is a wandering writer with an appreciation for time spent in nature. She writes with a focus on nature, yoga, slow living and travel. She also writes the monthly column “Characters of the Cut” for Towpath Talk. She travels between a narrowboat on the canals of England, a cottage in rural France, and a tiny camper on the open road.
alice elgie family narrowboater
Follow her musings at Slow into the Seasons.
There are also guest post articles on this blog, from local historians, authors, waterways experts, narrowboat bloggers, Fox boat owners and holiday customers.
Chris Howes
Chris Howes was a mooring customer here at Fox Narrowboats and has written a few articles for our blog. He was a waterways campaigner who held several roles in the Inland Waterways Association. He wrote about literature, Fenland history and the Fenland Waterways and is author of the Imray guides, The River Great Ouse and its Tributaries, and Fenland Waterways. His list of the “Seven Most Wonderful Places to Boat” is an updated alternative to Robert Aickman’s “Seven Wonders of the Waterways”, written in 1955. (Robert Aickman was a co-founder of the Inland Waterways Association.)
John Revell is a boater, waterways campaigner and IWA member who writes about his personal boating journey, which began in 1984. He is a mooring customer at Fox Boat’s marina and has shared, on our blog, excerpts of articles he wrote for Hereward, the magazine of the Peterborough Branch of the Inland Waterways Association. He also shares some first-hand experiences of visiting derelict canals, such as the Kennet and Avon, before its restoration.
John Revell on his boat Olive Emily
There are also guest posts introducing the Fox Boats family and team: Paula and Tracey are the daughters of renowned boat builder Charlie Fox. It was in 1973 that Charlie built his first canal boat, and in 1980 he built our marina, to the west of March.
Paula & Gerald
What You’ll Get When You Subscribe
When you sign up to follow the blog by email, you’ll receive:
- New blog posts delivered straight to your inbox (no need to remember to check the site)
- Seasonal highlights and planning ideas
- Inspiring photos and stories to fuel your holiday daydreams
- No spam. No pressure. Just good old-fashioned boating inspiration.
Ready to Cruise Into Holiday Mode?
If you’re even thinking about a canal boat holiday, subscribing to this blog is the best place to start. It’s free, it’s friendly, and it’s written with you in mind.
Subscribe to the blog using the sign-up box in the sidebar; then pop the kettle on – we’ll send your first post soon.
