What to take on a Canal Boat Holiday
Not sure what to pack for your barge hire holiday? No idea what you should bring? …....
Well you don't have to bring the kitchen sink as most of the essentials will be provided for you on your barge hire holiday. Your barge will be ready with towels, linen, bedding and there are even life jackets if you want them.
The galley (Kitchen) will be fully equipped, although we hope you will not use this too much. Before you set out on your barge hire holiday however take a quick look at our check list below we hope it helps you to get the most out of your time with us.
Buy a guide before hand as part of the fun of your barge hire holiday is planning your route. Each guide is relevant to a different route depending on where you have chosen for your barge hire holiday and they show all the sites of interest, pubs, shops and facilities.
Come equipped for whatever the good old British weather might throw at you - waterproofs are advisable even in summer! Pack a sun hat and sun cream as you will find yourselves outdoors for most of the day. The sunlight reflects off the water in the canal so you will need that extra protection when on the barge.
Sensible non slip shoes are a must for wearing on deck and walking boots are a good idea for those canal side and woodlands walks. Bring warm clothes and pack something that can withstand a little tow-path mud, co-ordinating designer brands are not an essential part of a barge hire check list and the barge is no place for those stilettos.
We advise you to pack clothing in soft bags rather than a hard suitcase as these take up less room.
Start off with the basics as you are sure to want a morning cuppa, picnic lunch or fry up. On route you can stop at one of the many pubs, cafes or restaurants for lunch or dinner.
There are also plenty of village shops close to the canals so you can stock up with fresh produce. Oh and to celebrate the start of you barge hire holiday why not pop a bottle of wine in the fridge to chill.
Have some cash to hand as the smaller village shops, off the beaten track, may not accept cards. The larger towns, of course, will have banks and Post offices but a small canal side village may not have these facilities.
Bring a camera as one is a must to capture your barge hire holiday memories keep it with you at all times so you do not miss any of the great photo opportunities.
You will have lots to do on your barge hire holiday but hopefully you will have some time to relax. This will give you the perfect excuse to take it easy and read those novels you have always been meaning to look at. With a on board entertainment system on your barge why not bring a supply of DVDs to watch or your favourite CD to listen to in the evenings. To keep the children entertained a pack of cards and board games can be priceless or if they need to let off steam maybe a ball or a frisbee.
For those who enjoy fishing then a barge hire holiday will be a perfect choice bring your equipment and spend a quiet few hours fishing from the comfort of your barge. Don't forget to purchase a rod licence, available on line from the environment agency website.
Take advantage of the time together and explore the local area on your bikes. Find somewhere to moor your barge and then set off as a family and spend the whole day exploring.
The best thing however to bring on your barge hire holiday is an open mind, a sense of adventure and a laid back attitude.
