Rural Fox narrowboat interior

I think you’ll agree that a season of round-the-clock fires, condensation-laden windows, and just that general sense of having being inside for longer, can leave our boats—and ourselves—a little uninspired so as soon as the weather takes a turn toward the light, I like to have a really good spring clean.

By the end of winter wood ash and coal dust seem to have found their way into every crevice, which means it’s time to fling open the doors, grab a bucket of soapy water and a sponge and set to work on cleaning every wall, window, shelf and cupboard. I also like to wash any fabrics, curtains and cushion covers. Thoroughly clearing out the winter grime feels so good and also offers an opportunity to de-clutter alongside, which frees the mind ready for this season that brings with it new hopes and dreams to be realised.

Ready to enjoy signs of spring in our beautiful surroundings? 

Exploring Cambridgeshire’s Wildlife: Spotting Flora and Fauna with Fox Narrowboats

Making space for new light foods such as uplifting herbal teas and self raising flour for lemon-infused cakes is a good way to move away from the cocoa and spelt flour that kept us full and warm during winter. Go ahead and add inspiring books to your bookshelf too by re-distributing old reads to new homes, and be sure to dig out your waterway map books so you can get to planning some adventures for the coming year. In my opinion there’s nothing like pouring over physical maps to get the excitement bubbling!

river map planning – skylar_tv

With so much to see on the British Waterways in spring, from the first buds and bulbs bursting out, to ducklings and signets and (hopefully!) equally cheery faces on maiden cruises, if you’ve been tucked up in a winter mooring it’s important to untie the ropes and head off exploring. Plus, there’s nothing like the thought of your first stroll down the towpath—or cruise on the back of your boat—in a t-shirt, to motivate that first move following a cocooned winter.

Are you curious about a narrowboat cruise? Why not book onto one of our skippered boat trips!

www.foxboats.co.uk/boat-trips/

skippered boat trip fox narrowboats march

Which brings me to the last—but by no means least—important chore of spring cleaning: the exterior. It can be easy in winter to let the leaves, dirt and chimney dust clog up your roof, not to mention the odd bag of coal chucked up on a cold, dark night or a length of wood gathered on a dog walk and stored only to be forgotten. Having a clear up and then washing and polishing your paintwork will give everything a final lift. You can buy a boat washing shampoo, as well as polish, from any good boat chandlery and a simple vinegar spray will do the trick to sparkle up your windows. If you have canopies, a good brush down and wash using whatever the manufacturers suggest will ensure your narrowboat is spring-ready and with the final touch of a bunch of daffodils, you’re good to go and enjoy this new season!

Photo credits: River map Skyler Smith on Unsplash

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 Spring ‘Narrowboat’ Clean appeared first on Fox Narrowboats.

Are you looking for a good holiday deal?

Struggling to budget when the future is uncertain?

Want to take a safe trip within your own social bubble?

A narrowboat staycation is the ideal choice for these unpredictable times.

A staycation has always been a good option for families on a budget, but the pandemic has now made it the number one choice of getaway this year. People are avoiding the hassle of airport queues, and last minute cancellations, by enjoying England’s beautiful rural scenery, and eating out at riverside beer gardens. Holidaying closer to home is also another way to help rescue our economy right now.

Earlier this month, British Marine secured a welcome win for the holiday hire boat sector as HMRC confirmed that the temporary reduction to 5% for holiday accommodation does apply to those hiring out boats (inland and coastal) which are to be used for holiday accommodation.

If you book and pay in full for your 2021 holiday by 12th January you will beat the 15% VAT price increase as we are a cash accounting business.

It is a good time to start planning ahead to make sure that you get the best boating holiday deals for 2021. So here are four top tips for canal boating on a budget.

1. Book Now for Spring

If you’ve previously enjoyed a narrowboat summer holiday, next year you might like to benefit from the best prices by booking for spring. As the wildlife awakens from hibernation, trees blossom and daffodils, and primroses brighten your cruise, you will find that the waterways are less busy in springtime. Can you imagine rows of cygnets and ducklings bobbing along beside your hire boat? (Check out When Swans are Your Neighbours: What You Need to Know.)

2. Book Online

To get the best deals you can book a canal boat spring break online, it’s easy and can save you time and money. Look out for various deals and last-minute cancellations on our Facebook page, Fox Narrowboats. The best priced deals are often the first to go, so you can save money by booking early. You won’t need your car on a narrowboat holiday, so some people choose to arrive at our hire boat base by train. Rail operators offer quite good deals if you book 12 weeks in advance. (Search for tickets to March, in Cambridgeshire.) We are only 90 minutes from London by train.

3. Self-Catering

On a narrowboat staycation your holiday expenses will be minimal. Make your budget stretch even further by opting for cooking meals on board. Each luxury narrowboat comes with a fully equipped galley, including a full-sized cooker, microwave and fridge. Eat on board, relax on deck, or pack a picnic, and eat out in the stunning local countryside. You could also grab a takeaway in one of the villages and towns on your journey, and eat it back at the boat.

4. All Inclusive Prices

At Foxboats our all-in price includes hire, damage waiver, fuel and gas. An all-inclusive pricing policy makes it so much easier to budget for your holiday. Our 2021 holidays are at a VAT rate of 5% to avoid the VAT surcharge from 12th January 2021 you will need to have paid for your holiday in full by that day.

More Choice of Boat

With staycations becoming the most popular holiday choice right now, our boats are booking up fast, so if you have a particular boat in mind, or a particular date for your holiday then reserve your most suitable boat now to avoid disappointment.

You may also like: Boating on a Budget – 3 Low Cost Alternatives

Stop! Are you new here? Click ‘Blog’ (top right) and look for ‘Follow Blog’ in the right sidebar to get the latest helpful holiday tips in these changing times. (We never share or sell email addresses, we’ll only be sending you our local, insider knowledge, every two weeks.)

The post Canal Boating on a Budget appeared first on Fox Narrowboats.