We are assuming that your Christmas decorations have now been taken down and the festive food has all been eaten. So before the January blues set in, try making some fun plans for the year ahead. The third Monday in January is known as Blue Monday; the most depressing day of the year. While there is no science to back up the claim that this day is the worst, it has become a day for promoting mental health awareness and self-care.

Read: Three Foxy Mood-Boosting Tips for This Winter

In February it can be difficult to avoid romance, as the shops offer Valentines cards, gifts, flowers and chocolates for your loved one. But those who enjoy canal boating will know that there is no better way to spend quality time with your partner than a peaceful cruise on the waterways. Find out why a narrowboat holiday is such an original and quirky idea to celebrate important relationship milestones.

Read: 5 Reasons Why Canal Boats are the Most Romantic Holiday

Credit: Fox Narrowboats

Spring

It’s difficult to estimate exactly how many UK canal boats are liveaboards. The diverse inland boating community includes middle-aged divorcees, retired couples, young professionals, people on low incomes, and canal heritage enthusiasts. Some people like the alternative lifestyle, others hope it may be a cheaper lifestyle. Weigh up the extra chores, boat maintenance and finances, against freedom, adventure, independence and living close to nature.

Read: The Pro’s and Cons of Living on a Canal Boat

Summer

If you have ever wondered…Where’s the nearest pub? Is there a shop near here? And where can I moor? Our new interactive waterways map was launched last summer, and it has all the answers. It shows where you are on the navigation and what useful things you might find nearby. It also includes images, icons and highlights so that you can always find what you want, when you want it.

Read: Fascinating New Interactive Waterways Map for Narrowboaters

Autumn

If you’re a parent you may be wondering how to prepare for a narrowboat journey, what to bring and whether the kids can steer the boat. A Fox Narrowboat trip is much more than a holiday; it’s an opportunity to create lifelong memories with your family.

Read: Four Things Every Parent Should Know About Narrowboat Holidays

Winter

At Christmas time special services are broadcast on TV from English cathedrals. So in December we took the opportunity to feature two impressive cathedrals which can be visited by narrowboat on a Foxboats holiday. More than just spectacular places of worship they offer a rich history, architecture, markets, talks, concerts, exhibitions, tours, dining and shopping.

Read: Two Stunning Cathedrals to Visit on a Canal Boat Holiday

If you enjoyed reading ‘The Six Best Things We Learned About Narrowboating Last Year’, 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 beat the winter blues and book a canal holiday in 2024 check availability now.

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

The post The Six Best Things We Learned About Narrowboating Last Year appeared first on Fox Narrowboats.

Romantic getaways to Venice or Paris have become somewhat cliched. You can still push the boat out this year, without sitting in a gondola or climbing the Eiffel Tower.

With Valentine’s Day fast approaching, let us inspire you with some of our more romantic themed holiday ideas, whether you’re planning a city break with a special someone this year, or a first holiday together, English narrowboating is full of old-fashioned romance.

Here are some ideas to make wonderful memories with that special someone.

Get Back to Nature

There’s something so romantic about cruising the waterways on a canal boat; just the two of you. Imagine the tranquility of being moored in the countryside and cooking dinner in your own little galley, then eating outside on deck, looking up at the stars. The cruising itself is a real adventure, never knowing what scenery the next day has in store for you. Boating is such a welcome break from the hustle and bustle of ordinary life.

On a short boating break with your partner, you could travel towards Ely or Peterborough and explore the Middle Level Waterways, The River Ouse or The River Nene.

Enchanted Sight Seeing

Visit the charming twin villages of Upwell and Outwell, and then carry on to cross the tidal River Ouse. If you’re heading this way don’t miss the Oliver Cromwell Museum and the many shopping opportunities at Ely. Alternatively, for historic market towns, meadows, lakes and woods cruise towards the River Nene Country Park and visit Peterborough.

Romantic Restaurants

On the approach to Peterborough the cathedral can be clearly seen across the flat fields. If you stop at the visitor moorings beside the park you can explore the city centre, where you can enjoy shopping, the theatre, markets and all the restaurants you would expect to find in a major city. Ely and Cambridge also offer many romantic restaurants, and the waterways en route provide a choice of cosy waterside pubs.

A waterways guide book is provided with your boat and will show you many places to eat along whichever boating route you decide to take.

City Breaks

City breaks are a popular choice for couples: Offering a romantic blend of convenience, and culture, our top recommendations are Ely, for the waterside antique shops and stunning cathedral, and Cambridge for the history, colleges, shopping and restaurants.

Avoid Honeymoon Hotspots

Avoid crowded hotels this year and enjoy the solitude of your own boat on the quiet East Anglian waterways.

Our Rural Fox narrowboat is perfect for a couple, and the price includes VAT, diesel, gas, car parking, towels and bedlinen. Brand new in 2019, Rural Fox is a luxury narrow boat with fully fitted galley and a saloon with a folding table for eating.

Our boats are available to hire from April onwards, and offer something really special for you both to look forward to this year.

Love canal boating? For more surprising and unusual tips and ideas for days out on the Fenland Waterways, 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.

The post Warning: Avoid Valentine’s Holiday Clichés appeared first on Fox Narrowboats.

Are you up for a vibrant music festival this year?

Or a quiet retreat cruising under our spectacular Fenland skies?

Perhaps you are looking for a budget narrowboat holiday?

We have a canal boat holiday to suit every kind of person; it just depends what time of year you would like to visit us, and which narrowboat route you plan to take.

Here are 10 surprising ideas for this coming year, taken from the highlights of last year’s blog posts.

1) The Romantic Holiday

If you want to avoid staying in an overbooked hotel with dozens of other Valentine’s couples this February, the answer is to book a romantic getaway, on a narrowboat, in the Spring! Our Top 3 Romantic Destinations.

2) The Festival Holiday

Join us for a short canal boat trip this April, at St George’s Fayre, or combine this year’s holiday with a summer festival. Enjoy live music, funfairs and market stalls, then head back to your holiday boat for some rest and recuperation. Four Festivals to Visit by Narrowboat this Summer.

3) The Easter Holiday

A Spring break away means that the waterways are less busy, the wildlife are awakening from hibernation and new baby animals and waterfowl are born. Daffodils, primroses and other seasonal flowers line the waterways. How to Grab a Last Minute Easter Boating Holiday.

4) The Art Lover’s Holiday

What’s a sophisticated narrowboater to do on a rainy day? Where can a cultured canal cruiser go to view art? And which local exhibitions are free to enjoy? Four Fenland Galleries for the Classy Canal Boater.

5) The Middle Level Holiday

Fox Narrowboats is in a great position, nestled in the centre of the Middle Level Waterways, not far from the idyllic riverside villages of Upwell and Outwell. This holiday will suit you if you want to visit ancient churches and charming old English pubs. Five Things You’ll Love About the Middle Levels.

6) The Quiet Retreat

While Norfolk is teeming with holiday cruisers in the summer months, Fenland boaters enjoy a quieter life. The Alternative Boating Holiday is by Narrowboat: Avoid the Busy Norfolk Broads.

7) The Budget Holiday

If lavish boating holidays are beyond your budget we have several low cost alternatives for families, friends and couples on a budget. Boating on a Budget: 3 Low Cost Alternatives.

8) The Family Holiday

School holidays used to be a time for children to spend their days running around outdoors, and a rural narrowboat holiday can give your family an experience reminiscent of simpler times. Last Minute Narrowboat Holiday: Deals for Families.

9) Back to School: The Cambridge Holiday

Visit the ‘city of perspiring dreams’; a world-famous University City. Cambridge is the home of students, bicycles and colleges; a place to go shopping while admiring the incredible architecture. Three Amazing Things to do in Cambridge.

10) The Spooky Holiday

And finally, whether you’re an enthusiastic paranormal investigator, or just someone with an appetite for history, heritage and old-fashioned storytelling, East Anglia is rife with ghost stories, legends of drownings, and tales of disappearances and violence. How to Hunt Fenland Ghosts, Even When it isn’t Halloween.

For more haunting ideas to add to this year’s holiday plans, sign up for digital 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 get insider knowledge about the Fenland Waterways.

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

The post The Top 10 Narrowboat Holiday Ideas for 2020 appeared first on Fox Narrowboats.