London International Boat Show News - Jan 09
The Call of the Canals
For one narrowboat holiday company, canal boating has never been so popular….
In early January this year, the company had more bookings than ever before.
Nick Woodell of UK Boat Hire (D4) on the 60 foot narrowboat Green Woodpecker says they think it’s because more people are intending to holiday in the UK this year and are booking early to avoid disappointment. Nick is a boatbuilder based at Hilperton Marina, just one of the eleven bases run by UK Boat Hire around Britain. They have sites ranging from Falkirk in Scotland to Goytre in Wales.
The company has a policy of rotating staff at the show from their various bases so that as many as possible get a chance to man the boats and meet the visitors. Nick says this year they have taken a lot of names and addresses from people both interested in holidays and buying narrowboats.
Those who choose a trip on the waterways can also be assured of having a very ‘Green’ holiday. The company estimates that a narrowboat holiday is 20 times better for the planet than a family of four spending two hours flying for a holiday overseas.
Green Woodpecker will sleep up to 10 and prices start from £500 off season to just under £2000 high season depending on the size of boat and how many people are on board.
