spring narrowboat on the waterways

Having now lived on narrowboats for many years I can concur that carrying coal and bags of laundry down a muddy towpath can certainly lose some of its ‘being joyfully connected to the elements’ charm after several months. Certainly there have been many winters where I have pondered if there is space to fit a washing machine on my boat. However, being present to the first precious gifts of spring does indeed more than make up for any of those hardships and failed daydreams.

first spring lock – alice elgie

Just yesterday morning I woke to dry windows inside, blue sky outside and felt the first  faint but euphoric realisation that somewhere in the not too far distance, spring is brewing. It made me reminisce about early spring 2011—one of my first on a narrowboat—when I lounged on the roof writing whilst chatting to passing boaters, my daughter peddling up and down the towpath on her bike talking to the ducks and geese. In that moment I simply couldn’t imagine a better way to live in England because for me, it was everything at its best: nature, friendliness and freedom.

If you would like to be one of the first to experience spring on the waterways, book your holiday with Fox Narrowboats

In the first throws of spring, winter quickly becomes a distant memory. My dreams of an on-board washing machine fade into the background as hand-washed clothes blow in the breeze and there is abundant space on the doorstep where we can roam and find adventures along secret paths, in wide open fields and amongst the trees. I think that’s it for me, that on a narrowboat we can live right in the heart of an unfurling spring. Each morning the air tastes fresher and I feel more at peace as I lay still listening to a visiting chaffinch or watch moorhens as they scurry in and out of their nest. The world comes alive all around me and somehow, the quiet cocoon that winter can be, makes me even more aware of each minuscule change.

Want to know why an April narrowboat holiday is the perfect spring getaway on our Fox blog?

And when I do have to do a laundrette run, I know it will no longer be plagued by a cold, muddy walk to sit looking sorrowfully out through steamed-up windows onto a dreary street. Instead us ‘washers’ will chat to each other with bright smiles as we watch our clothes go round and I will be reminded of the valuable people connection that would be lost if I were to relent to having a washing machine on my boat.

2026 Spring Canal Boat Holiday Offers

Alice Elgie is a nature-loving writer who shares words about her wandering lifestyle through hold-in-the-hand letters and recorded reflections. aliceelgie.com

The post Looking Toward Spring appeared first on Fox Narrowboats.

Are you looking for the best gift ideas this year?

Does your mum deserve to get away from it all?

Want to surprise her with a family day out?

This year Mothering Sunday is on March 19^th and our annual boating season begins in April, so you can book a day trip in advance and surprise your mum with the news on Mother’s Day. Boating appeals to all ages and is a great way to bring the family together.

1) Day Boat Hire

Our colourfully painted luxury day boats, The March Adventurer and the March Explorer, are both equipped a small galley, a toilet and a seating area. On board you’ll also find a 12v mobile phone charging point, so that you can keep taking pictures of mum’s day out as you travel.

You and your crew will be fully trained in boat handling as part of the boat handover. One of our qualified instructors will explain how to steer the boat and operate the locks ensuring that you feel comfortable and confident before you set off. Day boat hire is a popular choice with families wanting to spend the day together to celebrate a special occasion. Making memories together can sometimes be the best gift.

2) Canal Boat Holiday

If you really want to push the boat out you could book a week on board with the family.

Read: Why Narrowboating is the Perfect Family Holiday

Although a holiday is not exactly the traditional Mothers Day gift, it will be a good opportunity to spoil your mum, and show her that she is appreciated; especially if the crew share the chores on board and take turns at cooking meals. On a longer cruise you would have time to visit Peterborough, Ely or Cambridge. If you stop at the visitor moorings on the waterfront in Ely, mum can visit the antiques centre, the city centre shops, the famous Ely Cathedral and the museum at Oliver Cromwell’s House.  Or in Cambridge she may enjoy shopping, restaurants and punting, while admiring the incredible architecture.

Get into your mum’s good books this year by suggesting that her favourite people get together for a memorable trip on the Fenland waterways.

3) Boating Books

Talking of books, that’s another good idea for a gift! If she dreams of a life aboard, or has already lived aboard a canal boat in the past, there are some great books about parenting on board. From historical novels to a modern travelogue through the French canals, the books in this article show various different aspects of boating with children.

Read: Five Surprising Mothers Day Gifts for the Narrowboat Mum

If she doesn’t want to read about parenting, try Favourite Boating Recipes by Cas Best instead, or the classic ‘Narrow Boat’ book by LTC Rolt. This lovely, lyrical diary of Tom and Angela’s travels back in 1939, has become a classic among canal-boat enthusiasts. Tom Rolt is now considered to be one of the pioneers of the leisure cruising industry on Britain’s inland waterways.

Read: Was This the Very First Narrowboat Holiday?

Whichever option you choose, giving your mum a narrowboat themed book, or experience, will make this Mothers Day a bit different this year and give her something to remember.

Day boat hire starts at £225 Search Day Boat Hire.

You may also like: 5 Memorable Things to See on a Day Boat Trip

For more surprising and unusual tips and ideas for days out in Cambridgeshire, enter your email address in the box in the right side bar (‘Follow blog’) and we’ll send you articles direct to your in -box. (We never share or sell email addresses, this is just to send you our latest blog posts.)

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Should you book your 2023 holiday now to avoid increasing prices?

As the cost of living crisis continues, some families are planning ahead for this year’s holiday, in order to grab the best deals while they’re still available. With the price of fuel continuing to rise, it seems inevitable that plane tickets and hotel rooms will continue to go up in price in 2023. That makes a narrowboat holiday a much more cost effective option this year. We have already taken plenty of bookings for this spring and summer, but we do have some availability left.

Ely: The UK Holiday Destination That Won’t Break the Bank

Ely is a charming cathedral city in Cambridgeshire. March to Ely is an 18 hour return trip by narrowboat, but you will want to take it slow to get the most out of the cruise. If you’ve been on a narrowboat holiday before, you will know that the journey is just as important and enjoyable as the destination, and you will want to moor up and explore other places on the way there.

This trip involves the passage of a short length of tidal river between Salter’s Lode and Denver Sluice, which only adds to the adventure. You will need to contact the Lock keeper at Denver to find out the tide times for the outward and return trips. We will give you any information you need to know at the start of your holiday.

There are some free visitor moorings near our hire base in March town, where you can explore the High Street shops and St Wendreda’s church, before setting off through the Middle Level waterways. Six miles cruise from March are the twin villages of Upwell and Outwell. The village streets line both sides of the river here. Further along Well Creek your boat will cross the Middle Level Main Drain, then pass through open countryside and the village of Nordelph, before arriving at Salter’s Lode Lock.

After Denver you will be on the Ely section of the River Great Ouse.  After stopping here you may like to take a little detour into the Relief Channel to visit Downham Market. There are a few other navigable tributaries of the Great Ouse to explore on the way to Ely if you have time.

Ely is really worth stopping for a night or two as there is lots to see and do. The city centre is a short walk up a steep hill from the attractive waterfront. The cathedral is stunning, and Oliver Cromwell’s House has been made into a museum. There is a stained glass museum at the cathedral, and antique centres to browse around close to the river. Go fishing, visit restaurants or wander around the ancient narrow streets, discovering timbered houses and medieval gateways. Read more about Ely. You can then carry on from Ely to visit Cambridge if your holiday plans allow it.

New Year Goals: Plan a Narrowboat Holiday

Late winter is a time for new beginnings and planning ahead, so why not give yourself something to look forward to this year? Booking in advance can mean better availability, and with Fox Narrowboats you’re more likely to get the boat of your choice. It’s also easier to get time off work on your intended dates if you plan well ahead.

Without knowing how inflation is going to affect this summer’s holiday prices it may be wise to look for tomorrow’s canal boat holidays at today’s prices!

What’s on your narrowboating New Year’s Bucket List this year? Read more to get some ideas.

You may also like: How to Cruise Your Way into Fitness this New Year

No time to plan your holiday right now? We get that. Instead, subscribe to our blog in the right sidebar; look for ‘Follow Blog’. We’ll send you two articles a month full of narrowboat holiday ideas in the Fens. (We don’t send spam or salesy type stuff – just interesting articles about boats and waterways!)

The post Your Perfect 2023 Narrowboat Holiday Destination appeared first on Fox Narrowboats.

Britain is really looking forward to a break this summer. So while the tourist industry continues to take bookings for hotels, B&Bs, and campsites, we are pleased to be able to offer safe bubbles of accommodation for you and your family on board our luxury holiday hire boats.

Not so long ago, a staycation (a combination of the words ‘stay’ and ‘vacation’) was a good option for families on a budget, but this year it is going to be even more popular than ever. A staycation will be a welcome respite from the challenges that families have been facing during the pandemic. Without the hassle of airport queues, driving abroad or packing a phrase book, this year brits are looking forward to rescuing our economy by holidaying closer to home.

On a narrowboat staycation your holiday expenses will be minimal. So your holiday budget can be mostly spent on al fresco dining, take-aways and picnics, while you enjoy travelling by boat, at your leisure.

Self-catering is fun on a narrowboat. Standing at the kitchen sink is a pleasure when your view is calming water, ducks, geese, trees, and stunning fenland skies. You may like to choose a riverside barbeque location on a sunny evening, or moor close to a beer garden for some socially distant refreshments.

Feel the Fen breeze, notice nature, listen to the birds and watch the other boats go by. You could even explore a local fen nature reserve, just check their websites for up to date information before travelling. Is there a better way to enjoy the villages and towns, culture and countryside of Britain, than on a colourful, traditional narrowboat? Avoid the queues at the locks on the main canal network this summer, or the challenges of finding a mooring in London, and enjoy the peace and tranquillity of the Fenland waterways.

We expect to be busy this summer so check availability now. Our holiday bookings are open from 4th July 2020. If your holiday cannot go ahead due to COVID-19 and government restrictions, full refunds will be given. Check out our Coronavirus Guarantee.

To be notified with new holiday information as it changes, sign up for updates from this blog. (We never share or sell email addresses – your details are safe with us.) Just look for ‘Follow Blog’ in the sidebar on the right and we’ll send you stories, tips and advice about narrowboating around the Fens in 2020.

The post Holidays 2020: Narrowboat Staycations to Go Ahead appeared first on Fox Narrowboats.

Licenced stock – family narrowboat holiday

Narrowboat holidays and barge holidays offer beautiful scenery, freedom and quality time together. You also get to avoid the airport queues and discover our English traditions, heritage, folk art, and feats of engineering. If you want to avoid the usual tourist traps and queues then a narrowboat holiday could be just the short break you are looking for.

When to Book

The canal ‘cruising season’ is from March to October because weather and maintenance works can make travel more difficult out of season. The waterways are most busy from late July to early September because of the school holidays. At the busiest times on some canals you may have to wait in a queue of boats to use a lock, and the most popular mooring spaces (such as outside a pub) may be taken when you arrive. That’s the advantage of choosing the Fenland waterways which are generally less crowded.

Whatever the Weather

British weather is renowned for its feisty wind and rain, but a canal boat is far more luxurious than a camping holiday, offering all the facilities of modern living. Make the most of your holiday whatever the weather by mooring at a pub, making some tea, playing card games, going shopping or watching TV if it’s raining. With a hot mug of coffee on the roof and a sturdy umbrella it can even be fun to carry on cruising.

What if I’m Not so Agile?

A canal boat holiday can suit groups of any age, young or old. The towpaths can be a little uneven for those with reduced mobility, but if you choose to stay on board and let others in your party handle the locks, we suspect you will still enjoy watching the scenery pass by, meeting new people and discovering new places.

Will my Phone Work?

Mobile phones will work in most areas although there are places where reception is limited. If you find that the signal is weak inside a steel cabined boat, try going outside to improve your signal. You will also find that some networks are better than others. All of our boats have in-car chargers and 240v power supplies.

Help! I’ve Never Driven a Boat Before!

It’s not difficult for a novice to learn to steer a narrowboat, with a little bit of practice. The speed limit on the waterways is 4mph and accidents are very rare. You will simply require a little common sense and a willingness to take care. The weight of a narrowboat gives it quite a bit of momentum so you have to plan ahead when you’re intending to stop. The engine is controlled by a single lever, which you place in reverse to stop or slow down. Anyone over 21 can hire a canal boat with no training or licence required.

What Does it Cost?

The cost will vary, depending on the size of your party, the boat you choose and the time of year that you travel. Prices increase during the more popular summer months. However you may find that self-hire for a family holiday will compare favourably with the price of a hotel boat, or an ordinary hotel, and you will also save money on having to eat out, by having access to self-catering facilities on board. Of course the wonderful experience of romantically exploring the English countryside, creating treasured memories together is priceless!

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We look forward to meeting you soon.

The post How to Plan a Narrowboat Holiday That Your Family Will Love appeared first on Fox Narrowboats.