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.

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 Don’t Book a Narrowboat Holiday – Before Trying this One-Minute Hack appeared first on Fox Narrowboats.

Paula Syred and the Fox Family

Cruise Moor is delighted to announce three more independent family run marinas have joined its unique mooring scheme.

Lechlade, Shepperton and Fox Narrowboats are the latest trio of marinas to sign up to the scheme bringing the grand total of participating marinas to Cruise Moor to nine.

Officially launched in 2024 at Boatlife in Birmingham by Aqueduct (Middlewich Branch of the Shropshire Union), Dunchurch Pools (North Oxford Canal), Droitwich Spa (Droitwich Junction Canal), Overwater (Shropshire Union Canal) and White Mills (River Nene), the scheme which offers boaters one free weeks mooring at each participating marina has been set up to encourage more boaters to get out and about and explore the waterways network. Fenny Marina on the southern arm of the Oxford Canal became the sixth marina to join late last year.

Ian and Jules Lindsay spent four years looking for their own marina before buying 100 berth Lechlade Marina in 2018.  With its large slipway it is a popular launch point for Wilderness, Sea Otters and other trailable boats wanting to cruise the Thames. Ian said, “To join a scheme which actively promotes independent family run marinas is brilliant for us. We all care deeply and value our customers, so by joining Cruise Moor it is another way of showing our customers how much we appreciate them.”

Ian’s sentiments are echoed by Paula Syed who with her sister Tracey and daughter Emily operate their 200 berth marina Fox Narrowboats on the Middle Levels.  Founded by their father in 1980, Paula is a firm advocate of independent and family run businesses. “Everyone should be encouraging all boaters to use the entire waterways network, hopefully Cruise Moor will help do exactly that especially as more marinas sign up. We are very happy to be part of this exciting new initiative and look forward to welcoming boaters to our part of the waterways network.”

The third family run marina to join the scheme is the 400 berth Shepperton Marina located on the River Thames between Shepperton and Sunbury locks.

Marina Manager Lisa Harris added, “We were drawn to join Cruise Moor because of its strong commitment to supporting boaters and independent marinas alike. The initiative not only promotes responsible mooring practices but also provides well-maintained mooring spots.  By partnering with independent marinas, Cruise Moor helps boost independent businesses while making it easier for boaters to explore beautiful waterways. We believe this initiative will greatly benefit the boating community, fostering a sense of connection and sustainability for years to come.”

More About Cruise Moor

Join the Cruise Moor Scheme. Get 1 weeks free mooring. Choose from 9 or more independent marina’s. Learn more

The post Three more for Cruise Moor. appeared first on Fox Narrowboats.