canal boat quaint village – fenland waterways | fox

So here’s your unofficial, no-nonsense guide to your first canal boat adventure—compiled from seasoned boaters and Reddit wisdom, and brought to you by us at Fox Narrowboats.

1. Pack and Plan for Off-Grid Moments

One common tip? Stock up on food before you set off. You won’t always be moored near a shop, and that riverside country pub may not appear when you’re actually hungry. Think easy meal plans, snacks, and tea and coffee.

You can either visit the supermarket when you arrive in March, or have a full grocery shop delivered to your boat. There will be opportunities for shopping along the way as you travel, but you don’t want to be moored in an idyllic rural location and find there’s no milk for your tea! There is no freezer on board, but our boats come with fully equipped galleys; crockery, cutlery, oven, hob, microwave and a fridge.

Board games, playing cards, and books are a great idea—especially if you’re planning on avoiding screen-time. And if you’re bringing children, bring more entertainment than you think you’ll need.

2. Locks: Friend, Foe, or Fitness Plan?

If you’ve heard of famous lock flights, like the Caen Hill flight, you will be pleased to discover that boating on the Middle Level is a lot less work. For example, there are only two locks between March Marina and Denver Junction.

canal lock fenland waterways | fox

Any boater will tell you, that when doing locks, always watch out for the cill (the ledge inside the lock chamber). Boats can get caught on it when descending, which may not only cause damage, but can even sink a boat surprisingly quickly. Don’t use the bow to open a lock gate, get a crew member on the bank to prepare the lock for you.

3. Keep Calm and Cruise Slowly

March to Denver Junction will take about five hours cruising, but that’s the charm. If you can walk faster than your boat, you’re doing it right.

green canal boat cruising – david edkins | unsplash

As for other boaters: slow down to tickover when passing moored boats, and hope that others will do you the same courtesy for you, when you are moored up. A passing boat in a hurry can spill your drinks or even knock objects off shelves! (Some people will moan at hire boats no matter what. Don’t take it personally if you know you’re going slow enough. Smile and wave.)

4. Mind the Dogs (and the Ducks)

Dogs are welcome on our boats; just let us know at the time of booking. Small dogs may need a life jacket, and all dogs should be kept on a lead, or inside, when mooring up or operating a lock. More than one Redditor has experienced a dog jumping ship—sometimes into a very deep lock. You may see liveaboard boaters with dogs happily living afloat, but your own dog may not be so aware of the dangers.

Lead your dog carefully, and never leave enough slack for them to leap in after a duck.

5. Other Pro Tips You Might Not Expect

Gloves are your friend. Steering all day can get chilly—even in summer. The British weather is famously unpredictable.

Don’t leave stuff on the roof. Low bridges and branches will knock it right off.

Use toilets at pubs or water points when you can, therefore leaving more room in your on-board toilet tank.

Reverse, don’t rev, if you get stuck on an underwater obstacle. Trying to move forward when aground will only dig you in deeper.

Wave at everyone—especially grumpy fisherman. Some of them have forgotten the waterways were built for boats. Always remain respectful to other navigation users.

And Finally: Enjoy the Ride

Whether you’re cruising to Peterborough or Ely, the point of a narrowboat holiday isn’t how far you go—it’s how much you enjoy the journey. Unplug, unwind, and maybe even strike up a canal-side conversation or two. The best tips often come from fellow boaters you meet along the way.

Ready for your first adventure? At Fox Narrowboats, we’re here to help make your first-time cruise as smooth and memorable as possible. There’s still time to book for this summer season!

Don’t miss more articles about what to see and do when narrowboating in the Fens: Sign up to follow this blog in the sidebar on the right.

Credits: Narrowboat quaint village Fox, green canal boat cruising David Edkins on Unsplash, canal lock Andrew Hall on Unsplash, Dog Trev Morris on Unsplash

The post First-Time Narrowboat Holiday? Here’s What the Internet Wants You to Know appeared first on Fox Narrowboats.

Have you been on a canal boat holiday before? Can you work a lock? Do you know your roses and castles from your slackers and penstocks? This year on our blog we covered all of these topics, plus we featured our local steam railway, and offered some cool tips for narrowboating in a heatwave. Here’s a collection of articles gathered over another great year of holidays on the Fenland waterways.

Couples who narrowboat together, stay together! Am I right? OK, so maybe I’m biased, but I think canal boating is the perfect way to spend quality time with your partner. Over the years many celebrity couples have been spotted out cruising together on the English canals. Who have you seen on the waterways?

Read: 10 Celebrity Couples Who Narrowboat Together

Are you new to canal boating? Are you planning your first narrowboat holiday? Are you wondering if locks are really complicated? Don’t worry. These simple tips will ensure that your first canal boat cruise goes smoothly, and that you impress your crew with your amazing lock operating skills!

Read: How to Work a Lock (Even if You’ve Never Done it)

What’s different about the locks on the Fenland waterways? How do I get through a tidal lock? What are slackers, penstocks and staithes? Here are the three things you need to know!

Read: Three Things about Locks That Only Fenland Boaters Know

Will your short break or holiday with us be taking you to the river Nene? If so, you may want to check out the kind of events hosted by the Nene Valley Railway. Relax in a restored wooden panelled coach and go back in time, on a heritage steam or diesel train.

Read: Three Reasons to Visit the Nene Valley Railway by Narrowboat

Do you like to watch brightly painted narrowboats go by? Are you curious about the origins of canal folk art? Do you have any traditional canal ware at home?

If you like roses and castles you’ll love: The Fox Boats Guide to Traditional Canal Ware

Are you looking for that elusive family holiday; the one that can please all of the people all of the time? Relaxing, yet adventurous, a change from everyday life, without the modern day hassle of traffic and airports?

Read: Why Narrowboating is the Perfect Family Holiday

Last summer extreme heat warnings were issued by the Met Office and the public were urged to use water wisely, due to drought.

Read: Five Cool Ideas for Narrowboating in a Heatwave

Instead of a holiday you could try day boat hire. Taking a day off to go messing about in boats will boost your mental health and create special memories with your loved ones. Get up close to nature and take photos as you travel at a leisurely pace through the Middle Level in Cambridgeshire. Our day boats carry up to 10 passengers, and everyone can have a go at steering.

Read: Day Boat Hire: The Antidote to Stress

And finally, as Bonfire Night approached we published a narrowboat guide to visiting the charming Northamptonshire village, which is connected to the Gunpowder Plot.

Read: River-Side Village’s Surprising Connection to The Gunpowder Plot

Hopefully you’ve enjoyed reading these highlights from the year’s blog. Never miss an article again. Just look for ‘Follow Blog’ in the sidebar on the right and enter your email address. We’ll send you occasional stories, tips and advice about narrowboating around the Fens. (We never share or sell email addresses – your details are safe with us.)

If you want to take a canal holiday in 2023 check availability now. We have some great deals to look forward to.

You may also like: Why January is the Best Time to Book Your Hire Boat Holiday

The post 9 Unexpected Things 2022 Taught Us About Narrowboating appeared first on Fox Narrowboats.