Beginner's Guide

Your boating holiday

If you're new to boating or just want to refresh your captain skills we've got some useful information for you.

You don't need any previous boating experience

Many of our holidaymakers are first timers. All of our boats are easy to handle and no previous experience is required before taking the helm.

All of our boats are easy to handle & no previous experience is required Some hire bases are located adjacent to locks allowing you to be taken through a lock before handover. Your hire base will provide you with training on arrival at your selected hire base.

This will include how to steer your boat, daily boat checks, operating locks and safety instructions. Don't be afraid to ask questions to ensure that you are completely confident and can get the most enjoyment from being captain of your own vessel.

Boating is different from other self-catering holidays

A certain amount of physical activity is involved when locking and berthing, therefore we recommend that you have a minimum of 2 reasonably fit and active adult crew members in your party.

When disembarking from the vessel onto a pontoon, the height difference can be approximately 3ft. This sometimes causes difficulties for elderly or disabled customers.

Should this be a problem for any of your crew, or indeed if you have any queries or concerns, please discuss them with us prior to booking.

Boating holidays appeal to a wide variety of interests.

You can get away from it all on the tranquil backwaters of the rural canals with their quaint waterside pubs, or explore the normally hidden channels through major towns and cities with a wealth of architectural and industrial history only accessible by water.

There is also plenty to do on the water itself, including piloting your own boat, operating locks, exploring backwaters, and maybe taking in a little fishing or soaking up the sun! The slow pace of the waterways is one of the main attractions to many and because you travel only as far as you wish each day, your holiday can be as relaxing or as energetic as you choose. You'll never be bored on a waterway holiday.

The canals and rivers flow through Britain's biggest cities as well as its most peaceful countryside, close to thousands of great tourist attractions - from Windsor Castle to mountain bike tracks and canoe slalom courses.

Even if you stay on your boat, there's lots to see: waterway wildlife, beautiful scenery and astonishing architecture. And that's not to mention all the great canalside pubs and villages you'll pass.

There is masses of wildlife from butterflies to birds on the canal system - ducks and swans expect to be fed! Blakes Holiday Boating have all the details you need to pick the waterway for you.

Your holiday price includes the self-drive hire of your chosen boat

On the UK canals, this will normally (but not always) include the cost of all fuel used. In France and Ireland, it is more usual that the fuel cost is excluded and the hirer has to fill up before returning the boat at the end of your holiday. Optional extras often include a colour TV and all bedding. Your boat will be licenced to use the waterways managed by British Waterways and this will be included within your holiday cost.

If you wish to use other waterways, you should check with at time of booking if a separate licence is required. This is the case if you wish to spend part of your holiday on the canals and a few days on either the River Thames or the River Avon, as they are all managed by different licencing authorities.