Choosing your Boating Holiday Route

This section gives you all the general information you need to decide on your boating holiday

What routes are there?
How long can I go for?
How far can I go?
What will I do?

What routes are there?

When you hire a boat you can choose the route you take. The routes available will depend on the starting base. You will normally have to return the boat to the starting base. Not only do the waterway features look different in the opposite direction, but the return route gives a chance to stop at places missed on the outgoing journey.

Cruiser boats are available on the River Thames, Norfolk Broads, Caledonian Canal and Loch Ness in Scotland. Cruiser boating routes map.

Canal narrowboats are available in many areas of England and Wales, and between Edinburgh and Glasgow in Scotland. Go to canal narrowboat holidays section.

How long can I go for?

Unlike hire cars, boats can only be hired for certain fixed length holidays. The usual hire starts on the afternoon of the first day and finishes the morning of the last day.

Full Weeks
Many boats are only available for one week, two week, or longer periods. Most are Saturday afternoon to the following Saturday morning, but some may start at other times or on other days. In addition, boats available for Short Breaks can be hired for a week or longer by combining successive short break periods.

Short Breaks
Many boats are offered for short breaks. Weekend Breaks are usually from Friday afternoon to Monday morning, or Saturday afternoon to Tuesday morning. Midweek Breaks are usually one day longer, from Monday afternoon to Friday morning, or Tuesday afternoon to Saturday morning. Each costs about 60% of the weekly hire charge. Two successive short breaks can provide a week’s hire at the weekly hire rate. A 10-11 day holiday is possible by combining a week and a short break.

How far can I go?

The slogan ‘the fastest way of slowing down’ is very true. Boats travel at walking pace, about 3 to 4 miles per hour, so there is ample opportunity to enjoy the scenery and unwind. Occasionally it may be necessary to wait for another boat to go through a bridge or a lock.

Boat journeys in some areas feature locks, which allow the boat to change level uphill or downhill. Locks are a place to meet and share experiences with other boaters - some are self-operated, or lock-keeper operated on busier waterways such as the River Thames. Allow about 15 minutes per lock on average – at busy periods there may be a queue.

Remember that boats are not allowed to cruise after dark. So a mid-summer cruise will provide more hours of cruising per day than a journey in October.

What will I do?

Travelling the waterways opens new countryside views around every bend, bringing a close-up on the natural world of birds, flora and fauna. Pass historic houses, market towns, rural villages, and occasional industrial heritage. Moor and visit the many attractions nearby.

Waterwide pubs provide food and refreshments at regular intervals, and some attractions even have their own mooring area. You can moor in the heart of a town, or choose somewhere completely rural.