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Lifestyle

    Fall in love with the heritage and tradition of English Canals

    By CEO / 1st January, 2019 / Blog, Holiday Ideas, Lifestyle / No Comments

    RELAX AND ENJOY RURAL VIEWS, INDUSTRIAL-ERA HERITAGE, SUNLIGHT SPARKLING ON CALM WATERS AND BIRD LIFE CHORUSING YOUR CRUISE

    With more than 2,000 miles of inland waterways across Great Britain, here are a few highlights that made us curious to explore the beauty of England’s canals. Taking a break from fast-paced office environment, life slows to a walking pace when cruising these beautiful flowing highways that were once packed with cargo vessels. If you’ve ever harboured a dream of a life afloat, a narrowboat is one of the sweetest spots to spend British summertime.

    A Ring of Two Roses

    A three week canal journey from Skipton can take you through the North and South Peninne’s breathtaking scenery. Drift through Yorkshire and Lancashire cities, open meadows, market towns, dramatic hillsides for a taster of this region’s diverse surroundings. On Blue Otter Skipton narrowboat you can take two of three trans-Pennine canals: the Leeds and Liverpool, and the Rochdale, in a journey of 220 locks over 175 miles.

    Traversing the canals are a great way to experience the “backbone of England” and give a unique insight into contrasting urban settlements that reside around Leeds, Huddersfield, Manchester, Blackburn and Burnley. Time your cruising right, and you can take in some premier football league matches along the way.

    A Bard Aboard

    Explore centuries of English history along the Avon Ring, a circuit of 109 miles and 131 locks. Moor opposite the Swan Theatre in Stratford upon Avon, near picturesque mills on the River Avon, visit Tewkesbury, cruise the majestic River Severn to Worcester, then ascend the longest flight of locks in Britain on the Worcester & Birmingham canal. Blue Otter Wootton Wawen is perfectly positioned to take you on all of these canal routes.

    Shakespeare’s presence lures narrowboaters along the waters with a mile-long tunnel leading to the Stratford upon Avon canal. Here a real treat awaits along the longest aqueduct on the English canals, Edstone. If you time it for when the Shakespeare’s Express steam train is passing, a cloak of smoky steam will magically surround you, while passengers wave from cream and brown-liveried carriages.

    Gloucester Docks

    Home to the best-preserved 19th-century docks in Britain, Gloucester is surrounded by listed warehouses. This inland harbour was once busy with ships carrying timber and corn from around the world. Cargo was transhipped on to the Severn and then the canals.

    Cruise on your narrowboat from the historic docks and stop where the mood takes you, but be sure to take in Worcester Cathedral and the Norman abbey at Tewkesbury as you mosey down the water highway.

    Cruise the Canals

    Blue Otter narrowboats are available for week-long or month-long rental, enabling you to journey far and wide along the English canal network. Just contact us with your request with when and how you envisage your time on board relaxing and enjoying rural views, industrial-era heritage, sunlight sparkling on calm waters and bird life chorusing your cruise. Take turns piloting the boat, operating locks and swing bridges – rewarded with a refreshment or brew on board after each busy section! Locks are a great opportunity for sharing tips from fellow boaters and canal banter. Either way, lazy afternoons with a tipple of choice in hand are always a good idea!

    Book your Blue Otter escape on the canals here

     

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How to turn a canal boat around. How to turn a canal boat around.
🧧🐇 GONG XI FA CAI 🐇🧧 🎊🐇 HAPPY LU 🧧🐇 GONG XI FA CAI 🐇🧧
🎊🐇 HAPPY LUNAR NEW YEAR 2023! 🐇🎊

This year's new Moon occurs in Asia on Sunday, January 22, marking the start of a new lunar year. As with many winter solstice celebrations, the symbolic darkness of night is banished by the light of fireworks, lanterns, and candles....and lots of reunions over delicious food.

With Asia's borders open for outbound travel, we'd love to introduce Asian travellers to a tranquil escape on England's canals with a Blue Otter Holiday.
 
Book our award-winning holidays in the January sale:
Blue Otter Yorkshire / Skipton
https://lnkd.in/gE9bMpCd

Blue Otter Warwickshire / Wootton Wawen
https://lnkd.in/gGc3G7UT

#chinesenewyear #lunarnewyear2023 #januarysale
Are you signed up to our newsletters? Hop onboard Are you signed up to our newsletters? Hop onboard for details of the January sale in our latest issue. Sign up on our website. 
#newsletter #blueotterboats #januarysale #canalholidays
Who remembers the Evergiven and the Suez Canal blo Who remembers the Evergiven and the Suez Canal blockage? 

Our guests over the new year were helped by a gust of wind to replicate it on the Stratford Canal. Just for a brief moment, and much to the entertainment of guests at the Premier Inn and McDonalds. 

We can confirm that no boats were delayed, no wildlife harmed and everyone saw the funny side of novice boating. 
(Er-hem it happens to even the most experienced as well). 

If you fancy a winter cruise, Blue Otter Wootton Wawen is bookable throughout the year. 
January sale now on for both boats on all 2023 holidays. 
#canalholiday #boatingadventures #ithappenstousall
A winter excursion to see @helixfalkirk Kelpies. I A winter excursion to see @helixfalkirk Kelpies. Impressive from every perspective. 
Wishing our followers a very Happy New Year
We wish you an otterly wonderful Merry Christmas a We wish you an otterly wonderful Merry Christmas and hope you’ll join us onboard or online for another year of cruising adventures in 2023!

Many thanks from all the Blue Otter team,
Ben, Liz, Dom and Charlotte
#christmas #festivegreetings #canalholidays
It’s not too late to get a last minute Christmas It’s not too late to get a last minute Christmas present for that special someone. 
#christmas #canalholidays #bucketlistadventures #blueotterboats
It’s beginning to look a lot like Christmas 🎄 It’s beginning to look a lot like Christmas 🎄 🎄

Blue Otter Wootton Wawen is cosy and warm inside, and can be reserved for static stays throughout winter. 
#canalboat #winterbreak #escapetothecanal #warwickshire
It's that time of year when the numbers do the tal It's that time of year when the numbers do the talking...so have a go at the sums to find out which activity your next holiday should include.

#holiday2023
Not everyone can claim to be Nauti and Nice at the Not everyone can claim to be Nauti and Nice at the same time, but if Luxlife Magazine says so, who are we to disagree?

We are delighted to have received this recognition from the inaugural Nautical Tourism Awards 2022 as Best Canal Boat Holiday Experience - England!

We would like to thank all our Blue Otter Boat guests for their reviews on our booking agent page at Hoseasons, as well as engagement on our social media pages across facebook, instagram, LinkedIn, google and twitter. All feedback is welcomed and we constantly strive to improve our service and keep the boating experience fresh.

2022 marks our fourth year of operations. During that time we have been faced with operational challenges from droughts restricting boating movement, canal closures due to sudden lock failures, to pandemic-induced lockdowns and new hiring proceedures. Guest safety and enjoyment of the canals has been of paramount importance to us from day one, so we are particularly delighted to be recognised for providing an excellent holiday experience.

Blue Otter Boats are in the Starboard collection of @hoseasons, where boating enthusiasts are invited to "Experience our first class fleet of contemporary and stylish boats; you'll get heads turning." Contributing to our award-winning canal boat holiday experience, we only accept bookings through our agent @hoseasons, as this offers our guests an additional peace of mind that their holiday is protected.

We look forward to welcoming new guests and some familiar returning faces to our boats in Skipton and Wootton Wawen.

Thank you for your continued support, it really is greatly appreciated.
#awardwinning #canalboathire #canalboatsuk #blueotterboats #privatecharter #selfdrivehire
Cruising back from the bi-annual nip-n-tuck hull b Cruising back from the bi-annual nip-n-tuck hull blackening on Blue Otter Wootton Wawen. 

Winter cruising holidays available through our agent @hoseasons Highlights include Hatton flight, Shrewley tunnel, Kingswood junction. Cruising from Knowle bottom lock to the Hatton flight - no lock for 8 miles! Plus 3 lovely pubs en route (black boy pub in Knowle, Tom O The Wood and the Hatton Arms).
#wintercruising #boatmaintenance #warwickshire #shakespearescountry @shakespeares_england @canalrivertrust
Gorgeous #autumn day for cruising along the Leeds Gorgeous #autumn day for cruising along the Leeds to Liverpool canal from #skipton on Blue Otter
10 days narrowboating between the locks in Yorkshi 10 days narrowboating between the locks in Yorkshire. What does that look like? Our recent guests had this to say…
#guestreview #canalholidays #blueotterboats
All ready to welcome our next cruisers in #Skipton All ready to welcome our next cruisers in #Skipton. 
If you were going boating…
1) Who would be your cabin partner?
2) Chocolates or fruit first?
3) Red or white wine?
4) Sofa or chair?
#canalholidays #narrowboatlife #bespokenarrowboatholidays #blueotterboats
Sunset or sunrise? Doesn’t really matter, it’s Sunset or sunrise? Doesn’t really matter, it’s gorgeous autumnal scenery from the Blue Otter in #warwickshire. 📷 @dragonseetoh 
#narrowboatlife #blueotterboats #canalholiday #canalsofengland #narrowboatholiday @hoseasons @canalrivertrust
Wildlife on the water, captured by our guests in # Wildlife on the water, captured by our guests in #warwickshire on Blue Otter Wootton Wawen. @dragonseetoh 
#canalholidays #narrowboatlifestyle #wildlife #blueotterboats
Congratulations to our honeymooners currently crui Congratulations to our honeymooners currently cruising through Shakespeare’s country in Warwickshire. 

Blue Otter Wootton Wawen pulled out all the stops for a fitting welcome to their holiday. Our bespoke Blue Otter chocolate is popular with all our guests. 
#honeymoon #narrowboat #canalholiday #warwickshire #shakespearescounty
Skipton swans flocking around the Blue Otter. Some Skipton swans flocking around the Blue Otter. Sometimes they tap the side of the boat first thing in the morning. A natural alarm clock looking for breakfast. 
#swan #skipton #breakfast
Autumn is in the air this morning. Waking up in #S Autumn is in the air this morning. Waking up in #Skipton. 

#leedsliverpoolcanal #canalholiday #canalboathire #canalmemories #september #yorkshire #yorkshirecanals
Thank you Ma’am. Today marks the end of an era. Thank you Ma’am. 
Today marks the end of an era. May she rest in peace HRH Queen Elizabeth II.
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