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The Sun
06-05-2025
- The Sun
I live on a canal boat and it's the best way to holiday in the UK – here are my two favourite towns to visit
FOR anyone bored of the usual all-inclusive resorts and seeking a non-conventional staycation should think about boating, according to an expert. Robbie Cumming has been living on a narrowboat for a decade and has revealed everything about his life on the new series of Canal Boat Diaries. 6 6 Robbie's series, Canal Boat Diaries, is returning to U&YESTERDAY on May 19, 2025, while on his boat the Naughty Lass. Robbie told Sun Travel: "Boating is a similar feeling to renting out an Airbnb. It's like being part of the neighbourhood,if you that, then a narrowboat is for you. "You get to sneak around in towns and cities, and then move onto the next one." Robbie has chosen to live on the Naughty Lass permanently, as a way of travelling around the country - which has over 2,000 miles of canals and rivers. Robbie advised: " For anyone doing a trip, try and pick the waterways closest to you, you don't have to go all the way to the other end of the country. "Head to the nearest river and canal, see what's available and go from there, that would be an interesting way to do it. Go to your nearest little port and get involved." There are lots of ways to look into narrowboating - mostly through websites like Black Prince Holidays, Drifters Canal Boat Holidays, Waterways Holidays or Anglo Welsh. If you go through a company, they'll provide you with all the information you need from a boater's manual to how to use the locks. The cost of a narrowboat rental varies on size of the boat and season - but can be between £95 and £110 per night. Having lived and cruised along canals for 10 years, Robbie has seen it all and described boating as "low stakes drama". I live off-grid in a canal boat... it only costs me £120 a month and fuel is FREE for six months - but it's not perfect 6 The average narrowboat is usually around 50 to 60 feet in length, and 6 foot 10 inches in width, so it's close quarters. Robbie warned: "I think people can underestimate it, they book a trip thinking it'll be super relaxing and that you'll be in the back drinking gin and tonic. "It can be a great way to bring the family together, but you have to be a close family because it can be quite chaotic. "Practice by holing up in your bathroom for two hours and see how you get on. I've seen a lot of couples shouting at each other and bored looking kids onboard." There are also sometimes obstacles too as Robbie confesses he got stuck under a bridge in Basingstoke. He also had to tow another boat when it broke down suddenly in the middle of a waterway. Another challenge narrowboating presents as opposed to the usual hotel stay is getting around. While most essentials come with the boat, Robbie warns that you will be "in the middle of nowhere" so bring plenty of supplies including sunglasses and suncream which are a must. Throughout the series, Robbie travels to new canals from the Oxford Canal, to the Thames, Regent's Canal and Grand Union as well as the River Wey and Godalming Navigations and Basingstoke Canal. 6 One standout for Robbie was the town of Abingdon which is six miles south of Oxford. He said: "There's lots of space in Abingdon, so it's great for boaters. It's one of those quirky old market towns and I found out they have an ancient tradition of hot cross bun throwing. "Thousands of currant buns are thrown from the roof and people catch them - it's to mark special occasions." As for where to spot boats, Robbie says you can't go wrong with Camden - and there's an affordable pub where you can see them on the move. "There's a Wetherspoons in Camden called The Ice Wharf, where you can watch all the boats coming and going in the locks - it's never that busy." 6 While Robbie encourages anyone to try narrowboating for a holiday, he warns that living on one is a whole other ball game. For anyone wanting to ditch mortgages for life on the river - be warned, there are hidden costs. Each narrowboat owner must pay an annual fee to navigate through the waterways. These are calculated by boat length, width and whether or not you have a home mooring - this starts at £795.90. There are plenty of mooring destinations across the UK, some of them are free, but some also require a fee. Robbie warns that the Thames can prove challenging because lots of the moorings are private and can then cost up to £20. He added: "That's for one night, and then there will be someone knowing on the window to check you've paid." Of course to keep the boat going requires fuel and its also recommended that the boats be insured. Each boat also needs to be maintained too, Robbie said replacing the Naughty Lass' windows set him back £10,000. But as a whole, the lifestyle is worth it. Robbie told us: "The best thing is getting to choose your own scenery, choose your own view - and if you don't like your neighbours, you can just move. "You'll be forced to go to places that you'd never have picked to go to see, and you'll be all the better for it." Canal Boat Diaries Series 6 starts Monday 19 th May at 8pm on U&YESTERDAY or stream all episodes on U from launch. 6
The Independent
27-02-2025
- The Independent
The best holidays to book for April 2025, from Greek beach breaks to Wiltshire narrowboats
April brings the Easter holidays – right in the middle of the month this year – but also springtime colour, a return of greenery and a hint of warmth in the air. Head to southern Europe for milder, sunnier days and a traditional Greek Easter, or jet off to the Atlantic for awe-inspiring hikes in the volcanic Azores. But if you want a final fling on the ski slopes before the season starts to slow down, try one of the high-altitude resorts in the French Alps. Sometimes long-haul heat is all you want, and Goa 's beaches will give you some much-needed R&R. Stay closer to home, however, and enjoy tranquil walks and bike rides through the rural landscapes of the Herefordshire/ Welsh borders. See another side of the English countryside by taking a narrowboat along the Kennet & Avon Canal in Wiltshire. Whatever type of holiday you're looking for in April, you'll find some inspiration here. India Desperate for a post-winter blast of proper heat? Come to Goa and bask in average temperatures of 34C, preferably on a long sandy beach. Chalston Beach Resort faces Calangute Beach in north Goa and offers an immensely relaxing break surrounded by tropical gardens. Flop by one of the two pools when you're not being soothed by the gentle sound of waves rolling on the beach. Goa Experience has a seven-night holiday starting at £1,339pp, including flights, transfers, breakfast and UK airport lounge access, for a 12 April departure. France If you want to aim high for superb spring skiing, Avoriaz in France's Portes du Soleil fits the bill. Add ski-in-ski-out convenience in a car-free village that's at 1,800m altitude and you're set for a last blast of the season's skiing. If the snow holds, you can meander over to neighbouring Morzine for a change of scenery. SNO has a week's self-catering in a one-bedroom apartment at Les Crozats Apartments starting at £948pp, down from £1,238pp. The price includes flights and transfers and is for a 5 April departure. Wiltshire Take in all the sights and scents of spring from the vantage point of a narrowboat as you make your leisurely way along the Kennet & Avon Canal. Life slows down to an agreeable pace as you gently motor along from Bradford-upon-Avon towards Bath via two impressive aqueducts. Black Prince Holidays has a four-night break on a 57ft Princess 4 narrowboat, which sleeps four, from £1,149, departing 29 April. The price includes tuition but excludes fuel. Join the festivities of a Greek Orthodox Easter – which this year conveniently falls on the same weekend as in the Gregorian calendar – by staying in an apartment in Kasomitria villa near Kerasia's beach and village. Here on Corfu's eastern coast, you'll have fabulous views of the Ionian Sea as well as the Albanian coast. The two-bedroom Sophula apartment is on the ground floor with a covered terrace facing the shared pool and barbecue area. CV Villas has a week's self-catering at Sophula from 14-21 April for £1,191, based on four sharing. Flights are extra but can be arranged. The best way to discover the dramatic green volcanic landscapes of Sao Miguel, the largest in the Azores archipelago, is on foot. This eight-day Walking Inside Volcanoes tour offered by Regent Holidays takes you past calderas, crater lakes, waterfalls, geothermal springs and glorious beaches, and you'll be in the midst of fragrant spring blossom. You'll be based in two parts of the island, with transfers to take you to each walk. Prices start at £1,625pp and include flights, accommodation, breakfast, transfers and guide notes. Herefordshire Immerse yourself in the peaceful countryside of the Herefordshire/Welsh border when you stay at Blacksmiths Cottage. This cosy one-bedroom barn conversion has what you want for a romantic rural stay: wood-burning stove, sumptuous furnishings and acres of woodland and farmland for long walks. If you prefer to explore on two wheels, make use of the free bikes on offer. You'll be close to the Shropshire Hills and the appealing market town of Ludlow. Booked through Rural Retreats, a four-night break at Blacksmiths Cottage costs £444 from 4-8 April.
