Home › News › Page 24

by Tim MarrowPosted on Posted in Canal Blog, Featured articles

narrowboat holiday for londoners

If you’re based in London looking for a UK holiday, or ‘staycation’, you may be surprised to find out that you don’t have to travel far to get away from it all. Our narrowboat hire base is less than 100 miles from London, and is accessible by train from Kings Cross in about 90 minutes. It’s the perfect starting point to enjoy some rural wildlife, stunning landscapes and quaint English towns and villages.

If you’ve already looked into canal boat holidays you may have heard of the Llangollen canal in Wales, the Kennet and Avon in the West Country or the Norfolk Broads. However, the first two choices are some distance from London and the Norfolk Broads are surprisingly busy, compared with our uncrowded Fenland Waterways. Perhaps this is why BBC Countryfile’s Adam Henson described the east of England waterways as a “hidden gem”.

I had actually lived on a narrowboat in London for several years before I even realised that Cambridge and Ely are connected to the nationwide canal network! Not far from London there’s a whole other secret waterway network that nobody tells you about. You won’t find the East Anglian waterways mentioned in the Nicholson’s guides because they don’t cover this area. Instead you’ll find that the Great Ouse, River Cam and Middle Level waterways are covered by the Imray canal guides.

Boaters who do know about these undiscovered rivers, return time and again because they offer such peaceful and idyllic countryside cruises, pretty walks, villages, and churches. You can also enjoy shopping and eating in Ely and Cambridge, cosy pubs, and the steam trains of the Nene Valley Railway. If you’re looking for uncrowded waters, beautiful little rivers, tourist attractions and historical places to visit then you may just have discovered the waterways’ best-kept secret.

Can you imagine visiting Ely Cathedral and the world famous Cambridge University by canal boat? On the way you’ll find wildlife and wild flowers, traditional pubs and historic monuments. You can also visit the birth place of Oliver Cromwell at St Ives. Travelling down the river has to be the prettiest and most relaxing way to see Cambridge, and you can choose a size and style of boat to suit you. (Check out 3 Things You Must Do When Visiting Cambridge.)

If you’re keen to discover new places, and try boating in an area that you haven’t been to before, then our hire base at March is in such a convenient location for London. Check availability today and soon you’ll be boldly exploring the unknown, at three miles per hour, with a mug of coffee on the roof.

If you’re interested in reading about boats and canal life, then enter your email address on the right (under ‘Follow Blog’) and we’ll send you regular blog articles with tips, advice and stories from the waterways. (We never share or sell email addresses, your details are safe with us.)

Tags: , ,

by Tim MarrowPosted on Posted in Canal Blog, Featured articles

easter boating holiday ducklings

The canal boating season is about to begin, and Easter weekend is often a popular holiday for those wanting to get out on the water. A holiday around Cambridge and the Fens offers peaceful countryside cruises, shopping and restaurants, pretty walks, villages, churches, cosy pubs, and the steam trains of the Nene Valley Railway. Our local waterways are split into the Middle Level, River Nene and River Ouse and are far less crowded than the Norfolk broads. Here are three good reasons to book a narrowboat break this Easter.

1) Springtime

A spring narrowboat holiday means that the waterways are less crowded than in summer time, but the weather is often just perfect for boating. Enjoy daffodils, primroses and blossoming trees as you pass through pretty villages. Animals awaken from hibernation, and swans, ducks and geese proudly swim along with their newborn young following behind. It’s lovely to have cygnets and ducklings as visitors to your boat! The Fen waterways are home to otters, kingfishers, hares and foxes. WWT Welney Wetland Centre, not far from the River Great Ouse, is a good place to start exploring the wetlands and get up close to the wildlife.

2) Easter Shopping

How about a relaxed stroll around a picturesque English market town? Try shopping for Easter chocolate treats in Peterborough, Ely, Cambridge or smaller towns along the way. When I lived on a narrowboat we would moor up somewhere rural at Easter time, and hide Easter eggs in the nearby fields and trees for our little ones to find on Easter morning. (My eldest still swears that she once saw the shadow of the Easter bunny on the towpath!)

Take a tea break during your shopping trip and discover quaint little tea shops for Easter cakes and hot cross buns. The Samovar Tea House is a unique and cosy café in Ely, serving a variety of loose teas and coffees, brunch, lunch and home-made cakes. They also sell a variety of tea ware and accessories, cards and gifts and the walls double up as a small art gallery showing a select range of artwork and photography for sale.

3) Save Money

Narrowboat hire prices are often cheaper in the spring time than they are in the summer. If you book online today you could save 10% on your Easter holiday! (You may also like How to Save Money on Your Narrowboat Holiday.)

Choose Your Adventure

If you head west from our hire base in March you will cross the Greenwich meridian line at Floods Ferry and cruise on to Whittlesey, Stanground, Peterborough and the Nene valley. Alternatively, if you travel east to Upwell and Outwell, then cross the tide at Salters Lode you can head on towards Littleport, Ely and Cambridge. See the full map of our suggested holiday routes.

To get more tips and advice about exploring Cambridgeshire and the Fens sign up now to receive regular articles by email. (See ‘Follow Blog’ to the right of this article.)

Tags: , , , ,

by Tim MarrowPosted on Posted in Canal Blog, Featured articles

stress-free-narrowboat-holiday-cam

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Work and other commitments can sometimes build up, creating an uncomfortable level of stress in your life. However, most of us rarely admit to ourselves that we DO deserve a holiday.

Whether it is your job, finances, family life or relationships it can seem that as soon as one problem is solved another one appears. While it may be impractical to immediately book a UK narrowboat holiday to get away from it all, there are a few things you can do today to reduce stress and give your brain a mini-holiday.

Stop.

Stop for a moment and pause. Taking three deep breaths can allow you to focus on the moment you’re in, instead of the next one coming. On the first breath think about mental calmness, or images of tranquil waterways that could calm your mind. On the second breath think about physical relaxation; imagine being curled up in a comfortable chair, on board a narrowboat. On the third breath think about confidence. Imagine how good it felt the last time someone paid you a compliment and go with that feeling.

Look.

Look at your problems and note them all down. This can mean downloading your thoughts on to one sheet of paper, writing an email to a friend or beginning to write a regular diary. If you’re feeling overwhelmed look at ways to reorganise your life. Prioritise your to do list, and put appointments onto a calendar. Break down bigger tasks into manageable chunks. Be realistic and see if there are any commitments that you can let go of.

Listen.

Not all stress relieving techniques work for all people so listen to your own intuition when deciding what works best. Share how you feel with someone who loves you and listen to their suggestions. Gain inspiration from books and poetry, like Max Ehrmann’s Desiderata:

“Go placidly amid the noise and the haste, and remember what peace there may be in silence.”

If deadlines and duties are still stressing you out, then use visualisation to dream about a canal boat holiday on the Fenland Waterways.

Imagine a week or two somewhere far from the modern world of road-rage and computers, on a boat living close to nature. Leave your obligations behind and disconnect from the world. Life on the waterways can sometimes cause you to lose track of time all together, and the scenery of the Cambridgeshire countryside can be a refreshing change from your usual environment.

Think about it. Do YOU deserve some time in the slow lane?

“With all its sham, drudgery, and broken dreams, it is still a beautiful world.” (From Desiderata)

Check availability now and get the holiday you deserve!

P.S. Get inspirational waterways articles straight to your inbox, twice a month! Subscribe for free – just look for ‘Follow Blog’ in the side bar to the right. (We never share or sell email addresses, your details are safe with us.)

Tags: , ,

by Paula SyredPosted on Posted in Canal Blog, Charity, Foxes News

IMG_2990Fox Narrowboats staff visited the MAGPAS air ambulance base at Wyton last week to present them with a cheque for £2,394.59. The money had been raised by staff at the company during 2016. On arrival, they were greeted by Steve Holt, Director of Fundraising and given a tour of the base. Steve spoke to Marina Manager Emily and Marina Assistant Pam about how the funds raised would be spent, the equipment they currently have, their plans for the future and how without the generosity of the public the charity would not exist as it solely relies on donations to provide 24/7 care to Cambridgeshire and the surrounding area.
After Speaking to Steve, Emily and Pam were taken outside to view the helicopter and formally present the cheque. They got the chance to speak to paramedic Chris Hawkins, Doctor Steve Corry-Bass and Pilot Andy Figg. Emily said ‘ I was very humbled by the job MAGPAS does on a daily basis, I hope people carry on supporting them as they hope to achieve enough funds to expand the helicopter operating hours providing lifesaving care for our region’.
Over the course of 2016 Staff & patrons raised funds for MAGPAS partaking in various activities, from Tombola’s, Boat trips at March town St Georges Fayre, evening IMG_2989skippered boat trips through March and sponsored Walks. Pam, took on the almighty challenge of walking 50km from Runnymede to Henley in Oxfordshire. The walk took her 12 hours to complete, the terrain varied from muddy fields, footpaths, towpaths and villages. unfortunately, it rained most of the day, however Pam persevered and completed the walk. Although exhausted Pam said ‘It was a challenging day but I was determined to complete it for such a good cause as you never know when you might need the services MAGPAS provide.’
Fox Narrowboats charity for 2017 is Kings Lynn based Scotty’s Little Soldiers a military charity to help bereaved British Forces children. Work is already in hand preparing for the first event of the year at the March town St Georges Fayre. Since 2013 Fox Narrowboats have raised over £9,000 for good causes from their Charity of the year events.

 

Tags: , , ,

by Tim MarrowPosted on Posted in Canal Blog, Featured articles, Holiday deals & special days

valentines boating trip cambridge fens

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Valentine’s Day is almost upon us, but there’s still enough time to plan a romantic getaway for two. Remember, there’s no need to take a trip actually on the 14th February, just simply surprise your loved-one on that day with the news that you have booked an idyllic Spring break on the waterways! There are plenty of romantic, relaxing, fun and delicious things to explore on the Fenland Waterways. Whether you enjoy walking, nature, heritage, market towns, rural villages, country pubs or city shopping, there’s plenty to fall in love with on the canals.

Here are our top 5 romantic ideas to rock your boat:

1) Boating

There’s something so romantic about taking to the water on your own narrowboat; just the two of you. Imagine the tranquillity of being moored up somewhere rural and cooking together in your own little galley, then eating outside on deck, watching the world go by. The cruising itself is lots of fun too, and a welcome break from the hustle and bustle of every day life.

2) Shopping

There are different shopping locations to choose from depending on which boating route you choose. In Peterborough there are visitor moorings along the length of the park which are convenient for the city centre. If you cruise in the other direction from our hire boat base you will find that Ely is a historic cathedral town full of charm and beauty. It’s well-known for its ancient narrow streets, timbered houses, medieval gateway and attractive waterfront. Travelling further down the River Cam to Cambridge you’ll find most of the main national shop names, and will also discover the local charms and quaint architecture of craft workshops, antique centres, jewellers, and art galleries. Take the boat to Whittlesey, St Ives or Oundle if you enjoy shopping in historic market towns.

3) Antiques

Take a leisurely stroll together around Waterside Antiques in Ely. Waterside Antiques is the largest antiques centre in East Anglia; it has a floor space of 10,000 square feet with more than 65 antiques dealers. Originally built as a malting’s in the late 1760s, the building has had many uses since then. It was used as a morgue during the Second World War, and they even have a resident ghost! The centre is beside the Great Ouse River next to Peacocks Tearoom and the Babylon Gallery, and is just a five minute walk from the historic town centre.

4) Ely Cathedral

No romantic trip to Ely is complete without visiting the magnificent 12th century cathedral at the very heart of the city. Check their website for upcoming concerts and other events www.elycathedral.org

5) Eating

Your Valentine trip won’t be complete without the essential romantic dinner. Head into Cambridge or Ely for a candle-lit meal, with many elegant city choices to choose from. Or opt to moor up next to a riverside pub, so that it’s only a short walk back to your cosy boat home afterwards.

We asked the Fox Narrowboats team about their favourite pubs on the Fenland waterways and they suggested these three riverside pubs along some of our most-loved holiday routes.

The Love Boat

Our Urban Fox 5 star narrowboat is perfect for a couple, and the price includes VAT, diesel, gas, car parking, towels and bedlinen.

Need more inspiration? You’ll love Two Valentines Breaks to Fall in Love With.

If you want to drift away with the one that you love this Spring we are now taking bookings from March 2017 onwards.

Tags: , ,

by Tim MarrowPosted on Posted in Books TV online narrowboating, Canal Blog, Featured articles, Owning & living on a narrowboat

narrowboat margins bookWhether you’re planning your first narrowboat holiday or are a seasoned canal boater, real life stories of families on board are a wonderful snapshot of the joys and challenges of boating life. I lived aboard for 13 years; six of those were with children. At that time I was keen to search out stories of other parents who had chosen a family life on the canals, and see how their world compared with mine. When I discovered Marie Browne I immediately found very accurate descriptions of the adventure that is a life afloat.

Narrow Margins

marie browne author narrowboat marginsWhen unfortunate circumstances forced her family to downsize their home, author Marie Browne and her husband Geoff opted for narrowboat life. Their budget just about stretched to a ramshackle, 70ft ex-hotel boat called ‘Happy Go Lucky’. This funny, heart-warming memoir follows the couple, plus their children and dog on their journey from Braunston, where they bought the boat, to Cambridge, where they had booked a residential mooring. After leaving the Grand Union Canal their journey took them down the River Nene, through the Middle Level navigations and on to the River Ouse, before arriving on The River Cam. This means that you get wonderful descriptions of many of the routes covered by Fox Narrowboats, accompanied by witty, descriptions of a family “learning the ropes” of narrowboating for the first time. The boat also requires extensive refurbishment to turn it into a comfortable home, which the family undertake while living aboard.

Here are three things we can learn from Marie Browne’s ‘Narrow Margins’.

1) We need less “stuff” than we think

Marie’s family downsized from a nice house with a comfortable lifestyle, to a 70ft narrowboat. At the beginning of the book they had to do a major “life laundry”, throwing non-essential items into a skip and vastly reducing Marie’s much-loved collection of shoes. But by the end of the book they have fallen in love with their minimalist lifestyle afloat.

2) How to Slow Down

Near the beginning of their journey, Marie and her mum sat on the bank with a picnic. “It was strange, I had absolutely nothing to do and I couldn’t remember when I had last talked to her without having to clock-watch or be disturbed by phones ringing. We spent a happy afternoon under a tree, just chatting.”

3) Anyone Can Learn to Work Locks

“We approached the first lock slowly and with a certain amount of trepidation, but the training kicked in and absolutely nothing went wrong.”

If you’ve already been on a narrowboat holiday this book may be a lovely reminder of your first ever journey afloat. Despite the challenges Marie faces on board, the book still communicates the tranquil beauty and wonder of life afloat, providing an insight into a slower lifestyle of chatting on the towpath and watching the world go by.

Marie Browne has since written three more memoirs about narrowboat life; Narrow Escape, Narrow Minds and Narrow Focus.

If you’d like to make a narrow escape from clock-watching and ringing phones check availability now, for your next narrowboat holiday. If you enjoy reading about life on the canals 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.

Tags: , , ,

by Tim MarrowPosted on Posted in Canal Blog, Featured articles, Narrowboaters knowledge
with kind permission of Jan Pickles
Misty-Bletchley-Barnwell-Jan-Pickles

with kind permission of Jan Pickles

 

If you’ve been following our blog this year there’s probably not much you don’t know about how much we love exploring the Fenland waterways by narrowboat, but if you missed any of these articles here are just some of the things we learned about narrowboating in 2016.

1) How do celebrities hide from the paparazzi and get back to nature?

Boaters on the CanalWorld discussion forums have spotted Matthew Corbett, Toyah Wilcox, Timothy Spall, Nicholas Cage, David Suchet, Heston Blumenthal, Brian Blessed, Camilla Parker Bowles and Barry Gibb from the Bee Gees messing about in boats. Want to join them? In January we published How to Holiday Like a Celebrity Without it Costing a Fortune

2) Five narrowboat mistakes you don’t know you’re making

If you’re new to narrowboating and haven’t tried a canal boat holiday before there may be some mistakes that you don’t even know you’re making. Before planning your first narrowboat holiday in 2017 check out these five myths busted by an experienced narrowboater: Do You Make These 5 Narrowboat Holiday Mistakes?

3) What are the best pubs on the Fenland waterways?

Now we’re getting down to the important questions! We asked the Fox Narrowboats team what are some of the best pubs on the Fenland waterways? They were only too pleased to do some pub-related research, and suggested these three riverside pubs along some of our favourite holiday narrowboating routes. Our Top 3 Pubs for Your Fenland Narrowboat Holiday

4) Did Brexit cause a rise in staycations?

In July The Guardian reported that more and more Brits were staying at home, instead of holidaying abroad, and overseas tourists were tempted to choose a UK holiday because of the favourable exchange rate post-Brexit. We found that cost-savvy Brits started choosing narrowboat staycations.

5) Where do the local boaters go?

We asked the local boaters on the East Anglian waterways if they had any tips and suggestions of their favourite moorings and best places to visit on the Cam, Ouse, Nene and Middle Levels? Here are the Fenland Boaters’ Top Tips for Your Narrowboat Summer Holiday

6) Where to stop on the River Nene

If you’re looking for a less-crowded narrowboat holiday where you can enjoy stunning countryside and attractive villages, these three narrowboating writers recommend these three beautiful moorings: The 3 Best Moorings When Narrowboating on the Nene

7) Would narrowboating suit me?

If you’re interested in walking, nature, heritage, drawing, painting, photography, market towns and rural villages, country pubs and city shopping, a canal boat holiday can include all of these things. Here are three cool ideas to add to your narrowboat holiday plans. 3 Cool Things to Do on a Narrowboat Holiday

Never Miss an Article

If you want more tips about the best ways to enjoy the waterways in 2017 subscribe to our blog in the right sidebar; just look for ‘Follow Blog’. (We never send spam or salesy type stuff – just interesting articles about boats and waterways!)

Wishing all our readers and customers a very happy new year!

Tags: , , , , ,

by Tim MarrowPosted on Posted in Canal Blog, Featured articles, Holiday deals & special days

 narrow-boat-christmas-gifts

If you have someone in your life who loves canal boats and narrowboating, let us take the stress out of this year’s Christmas shopping by offering you five unique and unusual stocking fillers for your boating friends and family. Grab one of these for the canal boater in your life today, and save yourself some time during this busy holiday season.

1) Imray Waterways Guides

The Imray guides are popular paperbacks for river users planning trips along the Rivers Nene, Ouse, Cam and the Middle Levels. These spiral bound books offer commentary and essential notes with detailed mapping of each section of river. If you dream of narrowboat holidays it’s fun to peruse the routes and imagine which one you might take next summer. They are available on Amazon or in our chandlery at our marina in March, Cambridgeshire.

2) Charlie Fox: Building a Legacy

For history enthusiasts and owners of Fox narrowboats, this unique 60 page soft book tells the life story of Charlie Fox and was compiled by his granddaughter Emily. Fox narrowboats are known for their distinctive bow shape and each of Charlie’s boats had their number welded into the steel of the front. The book tells the story of Charlie from young child, to that of the man who built narrowboats and went on to create the Fox Narrowboats Marina at March. Read more.

3) DVD Guides

For those wanting to enjoy the beauty of our Fenland waterways from the comfort of their own home this collection of DVD guides is ideal. 500 years ago Fenland Britain was a series of vast freshwater lakes, or “fens” with a few sporadic islands sticking up above the water. Today the drained fens are the richest farmland in Britain, and the drainage channels can be navigated and link the River Nene at Peterborough to the River Great Ouse at Denver. The Middle Level DVD explores not just the recommended route across, but the many backwaters as well. It is available separately but could also be bought as part of a set of three that includes the rivers Nene, Great Ouse and River Cam. Read more.

4) Waterproof Camera/Phone Bag

What a great idea for someone who loves spending time on or near the water! Get your gadgets protected with this collection of covers for cameras, mobile phones and tablets from Overboard.

5) Day Hire Vouchers

If you’d like to treat the whole family to an unexpected outing, the day hire vouchers for a trip on March Adventurer are for up to 10 people. Tuition, lifejackets and fuel are all included. Our marina in Cambridgeshire is surrounded by some beautiful waterways. With lots of room at the front and rear of the boat everyone can be outside while cruising the rivers and taking in the picturesque scenery and wildlife. Our day hire narrowboat has a galley complete with hob, fridge and sink, a dinette equipped with crockery and cutlery, a toilet and a seating area. Read more.

We hope these ideas solve some of your gift buying dilemmas, and we wish you a very happy Christmas and New Year from everyone at Fox Narrowboats.

  1. PS. Never miss an article – subscribe to our blog in the right sidebar; look for ‘Follow Blog’. (We don’t send spam or salesy type stuff – just interesting articles about boats and waterways!)
Tags: , ,

by Tim MarrowPosted on Posted in Canal Blog, Featured articles

boat holiday late season
The canals and waterways can be so beautiful at this time of year; with bright leafy colours and crisp blue November skies. We’ve already started our winter maintenance on the holiday narrowboats as bookings begin to come in for the 2017 holiday season. Whatever time of year you book your narrowboat holiday, the British canals are something to be enjoyed hand in hand with the great British weather.

If you’re considering saving money by choosing a UK ‘stay-cation’ next year, then you may find that canal boats are a surprisingly comfortable way to experience the English countryside. We can’t predict the weather, but we can predict that you’ll have a good holiday; even if it rains.

Firstly you must remember that constantly cruising is not compulsory, so if you do experience showers you have the freedom to moor up and head to the galley for a coffee and a cake. Our holiday boats are equipped with all mod-cons and creature comforts, such as central heating, Wi-Fi and TV.

Try curling up on board with a good book, while you wait for a shower to pass. At the moment I’m reading Water Gypsies by Annie Murray, but I also recommend Narrowboat Dreams by Steve Haywood, Narrowdog to Carcassonne by Terry Darlington or Ramlin Rose by Sheila Stewart. Remember, cruising is only part of the experience of staying on a narrowboat. In our busy lives we rarely get the time to stop and play cards or board games, let alone on board a warm and cosy canal boat. However, to prevent cabin fever there will be plenty of opportunities to visit canal side pubs, shops and tourist attractions too.

If you pack some decent wet weather gear you may be surprised that you enjoy the camaraderie of being part of a crew working the locks, whatever the weather. When I’m boating in the rain I wear a great big rain poncho, and still enjoy the peaceful rural views. It makes it all the more worthwhile when you come back indoors and get into some warm dry clothes and have a hot drink, feeling a kind of smug sense of satisfaction and achievement at having moored up at the day’s destination. Perhaps you have to really love narrowboating to enjoy it in all weathers: but luckily I do!

The real fun of being on a narrowboat though, is the realisation that you can move your holiday home whenever you want: So while today you may awaken somewhere rural and peaceful, tomorrow you may be exploring the ancient streets or Peterborough, Ely or Cambridge. Take in idyllic riverside villages, historic buildings and ancient monuments and experience England at a slower pace.

So, would you be on deck with me, windlass in hand, curled up on board with a book, or exploring the towns and villages “on the bank”?

Take a look at where you could go exploring by seeing our suggested Fox Boats routes.

Tags: , ,