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All posts tagged: "well-being"

    Five ways a narrow boat holiday is good for your mental well-being

    By CEO / 23rd January, 2022 / Blog / No Comments

    The Health Benefits of Being By Water

    Be it a canal, a lake or an ocean, scientists are quantifying the positive cognitive and physical effects of water and why it induces a meditative state that makes us happier, healthier, calmer, more creative, and more capable of awe.

    Many a scribe, poet, painter, and sailor have attested to the feeling of wellness and joy when they’re in, or near, water. Albert Einstein had his most important realisations while sailing—water taught him physics principles, and though he wasn’t much of a sailor, he spent as much time as possible in a boat.

    In 1908, when Kenneth Graham wrote his classic novel ‘The Wind in the Willows’, he already knew then about the benefits of boating. Ratty informs Mole, “Believe me, my young friend, there is nothing – absolutely nothing – half so much worth doing as simply messing about in boats.”

    More recent research, coined Blue Mind Science—the study of aquatic environments’ health benefits – has revealed that being around water could offer the natural cure for your stress, anxiety, anger or general mood swings.

    One thing the world can agree on, the pandemic has taken it’s toll on us all; lockdowns, quarantine, isolation and travel restrictions have amplified the importance of looking after our mental well-being and for this, many of us have taken to the therapeutic vistas of the great outdoors.

    In addition to water’s natural therapeutic effect, we thought we’d share the National Health Service’s recommended five steps to mental well-being, and explain just how a Blue Otter narrowboat cruise can help provide you with that all important daily dose of joy.

    5 steps to mental wellbeing

    1. Connect with other people

    When you are on a narrowboat everybody waves from the towpath and don’t be surprised when complete strangers call out with a cheery ‘Hello’. According to the NHS, connecting with other people helps you to improve your well-being by sharing positive experiences.

    A narrowboat holiday presents the perfect opportunity to get away from it all…and meet new people through new experiences. Simply passing the time of day with a pedestrian on the towpath when opening a bridge, chatting with a lock-keeper or spending quality time with people in a more relaxed environment can be just the tonic to give your mental well-being a boost.

    1. Be physically active

    Wayfinder on the Leeds Liverpool Panal in Gargrave, Yorkshire, citing The Pennine Way and Malham Cove.

    A relaxing holiday doesn’t necessarily translate to being lazy. Canal holidays require tiller work, hopping on and off the boat to open swing bridges, working the locks, all while savouring the views and then mooring up wherever the mood takes you.

    Canals also intersect with hiking routes, such as The Pennine Way in Gargrave, Yorkshire, so you can spend a day exploring the Yorkshire Dales or hiking a hill before heading back to your floating home.

     

    1. Learn new skills

    Lock entrance into Stratford-upon-Avon

    With Blue Otter Boats we give all our first-time guests full tuition on boat handling, spending the first few hours literally teaching them the ropes. From how to pilot a boat, navigate bridge openings, traverse the locks and the mechanics of lock paddles, to mooring up for the night.

    We only leave our guests to go it alone when they feel confident with the new skills they’ve acquired. A strong wind can play havoc, especially when you’re trying to navigate a series of bends. But that’s all part of the fun, and you’ll feel at ease when going through a series of locks, opening bridges and emerge out of dark tunnels smiling.

    1. Give to others

    Random acts of kindness offer a sense of reward, purpose and enhance positive feelings. It doesn’t have to be a grand gesture, small acts of giving will help to improve well-being. Helping out a fellow boater at a lock or offering advice about narrowboat cruising, a tip about a shop or restaurant at the last town you cruised through, all these are hugely appreciated by boaters. Such is the sense of community on the liquid highways, it’s another reason why narrow boat cruising is good for your well-being.

    And if you enjoy your canal holiday so much that you don’t want to stop there, The Canal & River Trust has a wide range of volunteering opportunities that also help you to connect with others, learn more skills, be physically active and give of your time – four ways to improve your well-being!

    1. Be present

    Enjoy some down time on the bow of Blue Otter Skipton

    Paying more attention to the present moment, also known as mindfulness, has been shown to improve mental well-being. Canals are fascinating water highways, forming a network which offers travellers a glimpse into a very different way of life as it weaves it’s way 2000 miles across England’s landscape.

    Long or short, straight or surprisingly bendy at times (our Skipton guests in particular enjoy a ‘Curly Whirly’ stretch of the Leeds to Liverpool canal between Gargrave and East Marton), canals transform your world into one where the top speed is 4 mph, often even slower. Taking the time to soak up your surroundings – the countryside, the wildlife, the old mills and the industrial history of the landscape – within minutes on board, you’ll see things differently.

    It’s little wonder that The Canal & River Trust’s slogan is ‘Life’s better by water‘. The only thing you now need to worry about, is how to pack for your well-being holiday on the canals?

    We’re able to help you with that as well…

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Sad news about the Heathrow airport strikes planne Sad news about the Heathrow airport strikes planned for July and August. Meanwhile on the canals it’s getting to that time of day… Around now, if you haven’t already moored up for the night, you have about another hour’s cruising daylight into the sunset. Tough choices when on holiday 
#narrowboatlife #canalholidays #blueotterboats #sunsetcruising #sunsetcruise #nostrikesforus
Blue Otter Wootton Wawen has sleeping arrangements Blue Otter Wootton Wawen has sleeping arrangements for families, two couples or just the two of you. June and july availability to cruise into Stratford-Upon-Avon and beyond.
Lovely to find this note from our guests leaving t Lovely to find this note from our guests leaving today on Blue Otter Skipton. 
New guests have already settled in to their first narrowboat experience, leaving in the morning with a couple of hours training on steering, navigating bridges and locks, and most importantly, how to moor up. 
#blueotterboats #happyguests #narrowboatholidays #canalholiday #skipton #newexperiences
Snacking on the go. Name your favourite cruise ne Snacking on the go.  Name your favourite cruise necessities for the pilot and crew. 
#narrowboatlife #canalcruising #blueotterboats #narrowboatholidays #summervibes #summer #summerholiday #foodiesontour
You could go glamping like it's 2020, or you book You could go glamping like it's 2020, or you book a glamping upgrade to pilot your own narrowboat and stay somewhere different every night. 😀 

Explore more on your holiday this year and book a canal journey. 
Save up to £238 on June and July cruises booked by May 31st for Blue Otter Wootton Wawen.
Ideal for families and couples, check our 2023 availability:
Book here: https://www.hoseasons.co.uk/boat-holidays/boww

You could also head to Skipton in Yorkshire. Cruise east to Leeds, the home of Opera North, Northern Ballet, award-winning restaurants and traverse past the National Turst East Riddleston Hall, down the Bingley Five Rise Locks and through the UNESCO Heritage Town of Saltaire. 

Cruise west towards Liverpool through breath-taking open countryside and in a week you can expect to get to the other side of Foulridge tunnel, maybe a little further for experienced boaters. Enjoy scenery featured in the most recent series of All Creatures Great and Small.

SUMMER AVAILABILITY - ideal for Couples:
Weekly prices from £1019 to £1365 includes fuel, bedding, hot water showers, welcome pack and boat-handling training.
Sunday July 16 – July 23
Sunday July 23 – July 30
Sunday July 30 – August 6
Sunday August 27 - September 3
Sunday September 3 - September 10
Sunday September 10 - September 17
Book here: 
https://www.hoseasons.co.uk/boat-holidays/blot
#blueotterboats #blueotterwoottonwawen #blueotterskipton #glamping #holiday #boating #narrowboating
Name your co-pilot for a summer cruise on Blue ott Name your co-pilot for a summer cruise on Blue otter Skipton. 
@hoseasons #sunsetcruising #narrowboatlife #narrowboat #canalholiday
To Leeds or Liverpool? Narrowboats travel at a max To Leeds or Liverpool?
Narrowboats travel at a maximum 4mph, so in a week from Skipton you can expect to get to Leeds and back, but not Liverpool. 

Cruise east to Leeds, the home of Opera North, Northern Ballet, award-winning restaurants and traverse past the National Turst East Riddleston Hall, down the Bingley Five Rise Locks and through the UNESCO Heritage Town of Saltaire. 

Cruise west towards Liverpool through breath-taking open countryside and in a week you can expect to get to the other side of Foulridge tunnel, maybe a little further for experienced boaters. Enjoy scenery featured in the most recent series of All Creatures Great and Small.

SUMMER AVAILABILITY - Weekly prices from £1019 to £1365 includes fuel, bedding, hot water showers, welcome pack and boat-handling training.

Sunday July 16 – July 23
Sunday July 23 – July 30

Sunday July 30 – August 6
Sunday August 27 - September 3

Sunday September 3 - September 10
Sunday September 10 - September 17

Book here: 
https://www.hoseasons.co.uk/boat-holidays/blot
#blueotterboats @hoseasons #blueotterskipton #canalboatsuk #canalboathire #narrowboatholidays #yorkshire #leedsliverpoolcanal
Otterly Marvellous May Savings Continues! Save up Otterly Marvellous May Savings Continues!
Save up to £238 on June and July cruises booked by May 31st.

Ideal for families and couples Blue Otter Wootton Wawen is just a day's cruise away from Stratford-Upon-Avon.
Book here: https://www.hoseasons.co.uk/boat-holidays/boww
#canalholiday #maysale #familyholiday #narrowboat #boating #blueotterwoottonwawen #blueotterboats #awardwinning
Blue Otter Skipton is ready to welcome the next gu Blue Otter Skipton is ready to welcome the next guests, take a walk through with us. This is what you can expect to arrive to when cruising with us. #canalboat #canalholiday #narrowboatliving #blueotterboats #blueotterskipton #bespokenarrowboatholidays
A gorgeous time of year for cruising. Bluebell woo A gorgeous time of year for cruising. Bluebell woodlands, goslings, roe deer, herons, ducklings, lambs and cricket spectating from the boat. 

All aboard Blue Otter Skipton (pets accepted)
NEXT AVAILABILITY

Sunday May 21 – May 28

Sunday July 23 – July 30

BOOK HERE: https://www.hoseasons.co.uk/boat-holidays/blot
#narrowboatholidays #canalboat #canalholiday #yorkshire #leedsliverpoolcanal #blueotterskipton #canallife #blueotterboats @hoseasons @canalrivertrust
Curious to see Blue Otter Wootton Wawen? Take a pe Curious to see Blue Otter Wootton Wawen? Take a peek…
Lovely review about cruising in April from our gue Lovely review about cruising in April from our guests on Blue Otter Skipton. 
Next availability Sunday May 7th for 7 nights with a 10% discount. 
#canalholiday #leedsliverpoolcanal #blueotterboats #blueotterskipton #narrowboatholiday
FIND US IN THE HOSEASONS SALE! Limited time offer FIND US IN THE HOSEASONS SALE!

Limited time offer with up to 15% discount in the @hoseasons Spring Summer Sale. Book early to secure your preferred cruise dates.

Blue Otter Skipton (pets accepted)
SPRING SUMMER AVAILABILITY

Sunday April 30 – May 7
Sunday May 7 – May 14
Sunday May 21 – May 28

Sunday July 23 – July 30
Sunday July 30 – August 6

BOOK HERE: https://www.hoseasons.co.uk/boat-holidays/blot

Blue Otter Warwickshire (children go free)
SPRING SUMMER AVAILABILITY
Sunday April 30 – May 7

Sunday May 14 – May 21
Sunday May 21 – May 28

Sunday June 4 - June 11
Sunday June 11 – June 18
Sunday June 18 - June 25
Sunday June 25 - July 2

Sunday July 9 - July 16
Sunday July 16 - July 23
Sunday July 30 – August 6
Sunday 27 August - Sept 3

BOOK HERE: https://www.hoseasons.co.uk/boat-holidays/boww

#canalholiday #narrowboating #blueotterboats #summerholiday #holidaysale
FIND US IN THE HOSEASONS SALE! Limited time offer FIND US IN THE HOSEASONS SALE!

Limited time offer with up to 15% discount in the Hoseasons Spring Summer Sale. Book early to secure your preferred cruise dates.

Blue Otter Skipton (pets accepted)
SPRING SUMMER AVAILABILITY

Sunday April 30 – May 7
Sunday May 7 – May 14
Sunday May 21 – May 28

Sunday June 11 – June 18

Sunday July 23 – July 30
Sunday July 30 – August 6

BOOK HERE: https://www.hoseasons.co.uk/boat-holidays/blot

Blue Otter Warwickshire (children go free)
SPRING SUMMER AVAILABILITY
Sunday April 30 – May 7

Sunday May 14 – May 21
Sunday May 21 – May 28

Sunday June 4 - June 11
Sunday June 11 – June 18
Sunday June 18 - June 25
Sunday June 25 - July 2

Sunday July 9 - July 16
Sunday July 16 - July 23
Sunday July 30 – August 6
Sunday 27 August - Sept 3

BOOK HERE: https://www.hoseasons.co.uk/boat-holidays/boww
#petholiday #familyholiday #canalholiday #narrowboatholidays #blueotterboats
Still no sign of port delays and another early dep Still no sign of port delays and another early departure on Blue Otter Skipton. This time heading for Kildwick for the first night before turning and venturing west to go through Foulridge Tunnel. 

We still have some May bank holiday availability, so if you want to discover life off the grid and on the canals, book a boat! 
#canalholidays #blueotterboats #dogholiday #familytime #yorkshire #warwickshire
No port delays for our guests today… in fact the No port delays for our guests today… in fact they will be casting off an hour early at 3pm from Skipton! 
#easterholidays #canalboathire #blueotterboats #englishcanals #narrowboatholidays #staycationuk #canalboatsofinstagram #leedsliverpoolcanal
Navigation necessities, the open canal, cruising p Navigation necessities, the open canal, cruising past those in traffic jams, locks, and a rewarding break at an idyllic mooring for quality rooftop sunbathing time. 
All in a day’s cruising! 
When are you joining us?
#canalboatsofinstagram #blueotterboats #canalboatliving #narrowboatholidays
@canalrivertrust @hoseasons @visitengland
The herb and flower pots on Blue Otter Skipton hav The herb and flower pots on Blue Otter Skipton have been spruced up for the season. Excellent plants from the nursery at Twin Locks in Gargrave. 
Sage, thyme and chives make for tasty seasoning when our guests cook on board. 
#herbgarden #boatinglife #blueotterskipton
Not a traffic jam in sight - simply the best way t Not a traffic jam in sight - simply the best way to travel over a bank holiday. 

There isn’t even a border control checkpoint cruising from Yorkshire into Lancashire! 😊

Happy Easter, wherever you chose to be.
Lovely trip to Kildwick today as we took a test cr Lovely trip to Kildwick today as we took a test cruise on Blue Ofter Skipton. Joined by some friends and Chris from Sri Lanka clearly revelled in the experience of piloting a narrowboat. He was a natural within the first hour at the tiller
Lovely lunch at the White Lion Pub in Kildwick. Magical to spot a deer in the woods…wild garlic beginning to sprout, soon to be followed by blue bells in May. 
Cruising season begins April 2nd. 
#narrowboatholidays #awardwinningboats #blueotter #blueotterboats #skipton #kildwick #yorkshire #canalsofengland  @hoseasons @canalrivertrust
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