The joys of a narrowboat holiday on the UK canals
Have you ever wanted first-hand experience of narrowboat life? Floating off-grid around the UK's canals, immersed in nature. Join us for a special episode where we take a nostalgic trip down memory lane, on the hire boat that started our entire adventure! 🚤📹
Thanks for checking out our video, please like and subscribe for to join us on our narrowboat adventure! 💕
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Thanks again to @WyvernShippingVideos for giving us Foxglove for the day 💕
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#narrowboat #narrowboatlife #narrowboats #travel #travelvlog #boatlife #boatlifestyle #tinyhouse #canalboat #offgrid #holiday #hireboat
Пікірлер: 179
Here I am, an 80 heard old man, and I can tell you for sure that nostalgia is just great. Thank you so much. You have got me remembering.
First time our dog went on a hire boat he jumped on the back, ran down the length of the boat, out onto the well deck and straight into the water! That's how we and him discovered he could swim lol. Needless to say it did not put him off and he loves cruising, as do we :) Great memories, thank you.
@BoatTime
2 ай бұрын
haha now that’s a dog ready for boatlife 😂 not phased by the water at all! Rufus would never
That was such a nice vlog that was genuinely about the enjoyment of being on the cut. We hired a narrow boat from Anglo Welsh many years ago and that started our love of the canals and life aboard. Like you, we also received a thorough personal briefing and taken through our first lock. We were eventually able to buy our own narrow boat and have never looked back. Wyvern are obviously a caring family company and you’ve shown them in a good light. So many hire companies (no longer do “the tour” or take you through your first lock; you’re sat in front of a video and asked to sign a form to say that you’ve seen it 😳😡. I admire your vlogs also because you’re not “doom merchants” like other vloggers (eg “oh no…we smashed into another boat in a tunnel”)…..that won’t make people hire, will it? That’s enough to frighten off anyone. Well done, you two, for showing the enjoyment of boat life that we feel also.
Best you've ever produced? It sure felt like it while watching. Such joy, Weyvern is smart to work with you and the gentleman interviewed was lovely! Everyone is going to be calling and asking for Foxglove. You were both so joyful and relaxed. Amy, how did you carry those beverages up the steps without sloshing? Excellent all around!
We love you two (and Rufus and Dupes)!!! From Dalton, Georgia USA
Myself and a friend hired from Wyvern Shipping a couple of years ago. The boat was great and we had the best time, so much so we extended our trip which Wyvern were very happy to do. Highly recommend the company and would definitely hire from them again. Loved this video, you guys are fab!!
She was a queen bee Wez you’ve no idea how much I love the fact you let her go free without hurting her she’s an amazing work to do and all on her own THANK YOU xXx🐝🐝🐝xXx
No disrespect to you, Wes, but Amy, you have one of the most beautiful happy faces I've seen in years! You really know how to broadcast pure joy! May people like you guys inherit the earth!
@debbierennox931
2 ай бұрын
She always has a smiley face lovely to see 😁❤️
@BoatTime
2 ай бұрын
🤭 very kind thank you
@BoatTime
2 ай бұрын
That’s very kind thank you! ☺️ Always try to keep smiling!
What a great video, i don't think i've ever seen you so happy and carefee, it has left me with a smile, thank you both xx
Love seeing you go through you nostalgia of your first narrow boat experience... it's so apparent you two are so happy and meant for narrow boat living... thank you for taking us along on the ride~! I am so excited to see your tv show... but living in Canada might prove difficult until you have a year or so under your belt. Please let us know how we can stream you and what channel... if I've missed that information I apologize! Just love you guys so much! ❤
So very glad you took that first cruise, and loved it. We now cruise with you, and we love it!
How wonderful, and such a lovely little boat. So nice to see. Nice to see you both so happy just to go back through such wonderful memories ❣️❣️❣️
We did one in the 80s on the Avon ,they just have you the keys and you just had to go for it ,ha,ha . Loved every bit of it . I would buy a boat if i ever win the lottery . Great video guys .
Aww, what a fabulous experience again for you, and to bring back so many memories too. I bet it was slightly wierd cruising past your boat on another, almost like you felt guilty I would imagine.
Thats was so cool, and glad you had a good day out too. She was so well equipt and assume it had an inverter, as you used as toaster and hairdryer. Great little boat.
😊can't wait for monday C4 Hope rufus is in the program i just love your Mut😊
Thank you so much for that little taste of what it’s like to be on a hire boat. That is my dream! However, I live in Florida in the US and I’m not sure this dream will come true. We do enjoy traveling and travel for 3 months in the summers throughout US and Canada. I absolutely love your channel and watch every episode. I thought I was subscribed and was shocked to realize I wasn’t! I remedied that in a hurry just now! Any tips you can give on your channel about narrow boating would be lovely. I want to learn all I can about this fabulous lifestyle. I love both of your beautiful smiles and how you enjoy life. Keep up the good work.
Great vlog guys, so nice to see 2 happy people lol, good editing and very well explained 👍
Wasn't my first, but sailed that exact boat a few years back. Great video!
There boats look well maintained and super cosy too.🤗 I want one!😁xxxx
@BoatTime
2 ай бұрын
We genuinely loved them 🥰 very cosy indeed!
How lovely to relive your cherished memories.Nice to see some shots of your original trip.
@BoatTime
2 ай бұрын
Glad you enjoyed it 🥰 I think we look exactly the same haha!
I hired many years before getting my boat. My boat is actually an ex hire boat and I get to bump into people who enjoyed holidays on her and share stories. People never forget their first boating experience.
What a fabulous advert for the hire company, especially as you feature on the TV on Monday. Loved the episode. 😊 ❤
I'll never forget my first narrowboat holiday 24years ago. It was life changing in so many ways.
Such a cute video and so well done! Really enjoyed this 😊 nostalgia and handy hints all rolled into one, very clever 😊 I would sooo,love to do this one day.
Foxglove is truly a very nice boat. Looks like you all had a great time. 🩷🩷
@BoatTime
2 ай бұрын
It really is! 🥰 thanks for watching! Hope you are doing well xx
This one really hit me in the feels. You two are so awesome! This is definitely on my bucket list of dream trips to make. 🫶🧶
@BoatTime
2 ай бұрын
Aw thank you so much, glad you liked it! 🥰 Its a lovely holiday!
Loved our holiday with Wyvern last year, awesome time. They really are so very helpful and kind. You brought back those memories going through the locks and cruising. Keep smiling.
What a great day out you had! Our first hire boat was almost 30 years ago but it took us this long before we did it again. Bought a boat last Autumn. The hire company we used has changed hands and we sometimes wonder where our first little hire boat is now. Something like 40 foot and called Laurel, hired from Middlewich. It would be good to see her again but I expect she's, er, 'retired' now. Say no more.
@BoatTime
2 ай бұрын
It sure was! 🤩 Ooo that’s exciting congrats! Aw yeah that could be the case… but you’ve got the memories 🥰
This puts a smile on my face ,seeing your joy of recreating a fond memory ❤️
I’ve just started watching your videos and what a joy it is! This one is exceptional, I love seeing where you started with the process of trying it out, the joy radiates from the clips of your first trip. I can see why you chose this life and I’m happy to see all your adventures. ❤
@BoatTime
2 ай бұрын
Thank you so much! 🥰 we absolutely loved it, and continue to do so! Thanks for joining us!
Great video. We are also looking at buying our own boat. Plus we have booked your hirer boat for a short hol in sept..😅🎉
Memories for me too. I've been on a few narrowboat holidays many years ago.Great fun xx
@BoatTime
2 ай бұрын
They’re such a special experience, totally agree 🤩
Outstanding. Thanks so very much.
👍👍👍👍👍 like like like like love I look forward to your vlogs. No canals or narrow boats on this little bit of the planet ... but was telling family about you and hiring a narrow boat is definitely on the “to do” list if I ever make it to the UK. You’ve opened up a wonderful way of life for me and I enjoy sharing in your adventures.
No way! Our first Narrowboat holiday was in October of 2020, on the Brec & Mon canal. Then a year later we hired on the GU and went to the 3 locks pup!! 😆.. Now look at us 😊 ❤.
@BoatTime
2 ай бұрын
Ah no way! Hire boats definitely seem to be a gateway 😅💕
We hired NB Oak from Wyvern about 15 years ago and got all the way to Bulls Bridge and back in a week. One of my favourite hire boats.....and I've hired quite a few...x
@BoatTime
2 ай бұрын
ooh that’s some good going! A great route too with some lovely towns along the way ☺️ so glad you enjoyed! they are very cosy boats
Love this! Our long term plan is to own and live aboard our own narrowboat. We hired a day boat on the Shropshire Union and had a smashing day but often cringe with embarrassment now as we didn't know the tickover rule when passing moored boats 🫢 but we're learning all the time through all the fabulous KZreadrs like you! We're planning another day very soon. We haven't done any locks yet as the section we were on doesn't have any, just bridges so at least we learned how to use a windlass 😊xx
@BoatTime
2 ай бұрын
Thank you! 🥰 Oooh dont worry, we did the same thing at times 😬 Ah amazing, hope you have a great time when you do and the sun is shining! 🥰☀️
@Roo-s_Life
2 ай бұрын
@@BoatTime 🥰
thank you ❤ it was as fun to revisit your first hire boat I had memories of your moving day on to GG 🎉
@BoatTime
2 ай бұрын
Thank you! It was very nostalgic, glad you enjoyed! 🥰💕
Wonderful video, you always cheer my day up thank you
What a great video! Really enjoyed the interview with James Griffin and boat time tips throughout.
@BoatTime
2 ай бұрын
He was great! 🥰 really glad you enjoyed it! Thank you!
Hi Wes and Amy. Brilliant that you were able to take a trip down memory lane with Foxglove. Wyvern looks like a great place to hire boats from if you’re in the area 🥰Take care. Nick
💜💙💚 So excited!
This was a brilliant video full of enthusiastic joy for narrowboating.
@BoatTime
2 ай бұрын
Thank you so much! 🥰 we love the lifestyle!
You guys looked so happy,glad the day went well.see you on the next one,much love from texas.
@BoatTime
2 ай бұрын
Thank you so much for watching, have a great weekend 🥰
That was very lovely 😇
What a great video, thanks for sharing your memories
Great fun!; thankyou for taking me along.
Just seen the advert on channel 4 for the programme your are in next Monday . Can't wait 😊
@BoatTime
2 ай бұрын
Oooo we’re so excited!! I don’t think we appear until the 3rd week but we’ll be watching every episode!
@dorothygraham4579
2 ай бұрын
@BoatTime Binge watching the first 5 on all 4. Cant wait for yours 😀
Awww...... That's cool you returned to the source of your enthusiasm. You are Old Hands now. So glad you decided to be Boaters and take us along on your adventures. To be continued....... E x
@BoatTime
2 ай бұрын
It was such a great experience to re-live, we’re very grateful! Thanks for joining us 🥰
Thank you for a great video. Canal life is awesome ❤️
Foxglove!!!!!! 😍 So lovely to see her again, and clips of your previous time on her!
I just love when one of your videos pops up on my feed. You two are so entertaining and also educational. Thank you for another great video ❤
Loved this thank you
@BoatTime
2 ай бұрын
So glad you did! thank you ☺️
FANTASTIC !!
@BoatTime
2 ай бұрын
yaay thank you! ☺️
Grand you were able to relive such a super time Rufus too I bet you will inspire others to try a narrow boat holiday tc all luv from the oldies 🤗🤗🤗🤗🌟🌟
@BoatTime
2 ай бұрын
Thank you! It was such a great experience 🥰🥰
It is good to go back to one’s roots and give confidence to new boater showing where you started from well done.
@BoatTime
2 ай бұрын
Definitely agree! We figured this might help people who are new to it 🥰
Aww that was so sweet. Lovely cruise and vlog.
@BoatTime
2 ай бұрын
Thank you! 🥰🥰
Love your videos.
@BoatTime
2 ай бұрын
Thank you! ☺️
😊 love your enthusiasm
@BoatTime
2 ай бұрын
Thank you!! 🥰
Really great vid especially helpful if you were thinking of taking a hired narrow boat out
so ironic after watching last weeks video, Foxgove came past us the very next day at Bliisworth!
@BoatTime
2 ай бұрын
Ahh we must’ve seen her out on the same trip as she went past us a few days ago too! 🤭
Excellent vlog. So interesting - thank you!
@BoatTime
2 ай бұрын
Thank you for watching!! 🥰💕
Tremendous stuff! We started doing narrow boat holidays 4 years ago and we’ve done 3 trips so far and we have our 4th booked later this year. We love it and this video shows why we do. Well done both 😂.
@BoatTime
2 ай бұрын
Woah that’s awesome! 😀 I’m glad you could relate to our experience! They’re such a special type of holiday
What a nice little boat. How nice to go back and relive those memories. 💚
@BoatTime
2 ай бұрын
Agreed!! Foxglove is a lovely little boat 🥰
Hey you guys have a good day
@BoatTime
2 ай бұрын
Hope you have a great day too! 😊
Enjoyed! & recognised everywhere you went from my childhood.🤗
@BoatTime
2 ай бұрын
ah nice! 😊 a lovely area
What a nice guy!
@BoatTime
2 ай бұрын
He really was lovely! ☺️
My favourite KZreadrs ❤️
@BoatTime
2 ай бұрын
Thank you Andy! 😊
@Andy2024.
2 ай бұрын
@BoatTime have a nice weekend, I look forward to seeing you on your new tv series, too 😊
Loved your vlog, been watching you since the beginning my how you’ve mastered cruising 😊 Will definitely look into a holiday on the cut x
@BoatTime
2 ай бұрын
Thank you for watching and for being with us for so long, it really means a lot ☺️♥️ You should, we think you’d love it! 🤞🏻
Great video ❤❤❤
@BoatTime
2 ай бұрын
Thank you! 🥰💕
@BoatTime
2 ай бұрын
Thank you! 🥰💕
What a lovely looking boat! Looks like they get a good tuition too 👍
@BoatTime
2 ай бұрын
Foxglove is a beauty! 🥰 yeah definitely! Really informative inductions
Hey Amy you 2 are so amazing it’s crazy I love you both so much I was crying all the way through the video because of how much I love you both keep safe you 2 amazing people xxxxxxxxxx ❤❤❤
@BoatTime
2 ай бұрын
Take care Jack 😊 thank you
Aww - glad you got to reminisce for the day ☺️. I'm still waiting for my first canal holiday (just logistically a bit more difficult to hire as a solo boater with pets🤷♂️).
@BoatTime
2 ай бұрын
Thank you! ☺️ Ah yeah that would make it more difficult but we have seen others solo with pets often! I guess you could shut them inside for locks. Hope you and the pups get to do it one day! ☺️🐶
Hi guys I’m quite new to your channel which I love so much I’ve started binge watching from episode 1 keep it up x
@BoatTime
2 ай бұрын
Welcome! 🥰👋🏻 So glad you are enjoying! Hope you enjoy the videos, thanks for going back it means a lot! 💓
Love your adventures. Great to watch your memories of your first boating experience experience. Fabulous shots as always. Jane and kev and Kiki Dog.❤
@BoatTime
2 ай бұрын
Thank you so much!! 🥰 it was great to take a trip down memory lane
Great memories of hiring with Wyvern. We hardly slept the night before doing our first solo lock at the Three Locks. We were concentrating so hard we forgot to get back on the boat and then realised it was at the bottom of the lock without us on board. Had to pull it through by rope ….
@BoatTime
2 ай бұрын
Yes!! Ooo yeah I bet it was intimidating the first time! The ropes are always such a useful fallback 😅
This is where I first went on a narrowboat too. X
@BoatTime
2 ай бұрын
Ah nice! Seems to be the wyvern effect haha 🤭
Oh wow I appreciate this video, very nostalgic. Wish I lived in UK, maybe one dayi could get to try narrowboating ❤
@BoatTime
2 ай бұрын
So glad you liked it! thank you ☺️ ooh yes it’s definitely worth doing at least once if you can! 🤞🏻
Great to see where you first started on your boating journey hiring one for a holiday. We've just got back from our 3rd narrowboating holiday, 2 years starting from stockton near Warwick and this year on the Mon & Brec. Already looking forward to the next one.
@BoatTime
2 ай бұрын
Ohhh nice! We can’t wait to do those areas too! Enjoy your next trip!! 🥰
Good luck for Monday night 😊😊😊😊😊😊😊😊😊😊😊😊😊 you deserve great things 😊😊😊😊😊😊😊😊
@BoatTime
2 ай бұрын
that’s so lovely thank you!! ☺️ luckily we’re not the first to feature, our episode will be in may so we can see how the others get on first haha
@andreahickling1368
2 ай бұрын
@@BoatTime I am certain you will both do narrow boaters, yourselves and your families proud. xxx
I found this video very emotional
@BoatTime
2 ай бұрын
I hope in a good way haha! ☺️
@arkadventure2
2 ай бұрын
Yes in a very good way. Especially when Wes was sitting at the front of Foxglove. I thought he was going to tear up a little.
@BoatTime
2 ай бұрын
@@arkadventure2 aww thank you 🥰 it was a real moment for me!
I like how you're implying that Rufus would be embarrassed by falling into the canal, but Rufus is probably thinking, "Don't know what you're talking about, I had a nice little swim."
@BoatTime
2 ай бұрын
😂😂 it could very well be the case!
Hi Both and one of the kids😊 Before I bought my narrowboat I went out for a few days when I was in the girl guides ALONG time ago.Loved it. But I was naughty has I had never spent the night on one. But bought one anyway. It's BRILL and won't change living on a narrowboat for the world. Thank You, Great watch and the music fitted. My house rabbit is now a boat rabbit❤XXxx
@BoatTime
2 ай бұрын
Thats so cool that you got to experience that and then re live it on your own boat! 🥰 And a fellow boat bunny yay! 🐰
Thank you for this video. One of my bucket list is to hire a narrow boat spend 4 or five days.
@BoatTime
2 ай бұрын
thanks for watching ☺️ hoping for you to be able to one day 🤞🏻♥️
Hey you three love your vlogs . Thanks for sharing thus regarding a narrowboat holiday we want to do this due to looking at purchasing a NB . I have just checked the website out and looked at foxglove to hire in June or July.. We are going to Crick first x
@BoatTime
2 ай бұрын
ah sounds so exciting! ☺️ hope you get to enjoy a narrowboat holiday before your move. It’s good driving practice too not in your own boat haha! We’re really looking forward to crick this year, hope to see you there ☺️
@deballen6147
2 ай бұрын
@@BoatTime yes be good to meet you guys x
OMG We did exactly the same thing. Same hire company. Our boat was sapphire. We went away for my 40th birthday in 2021 and now me live on our own narrowboat.
@BoatTime
2 ай бұрын
Yaaay! That's so exciting! Must be the wyvern effect haha 😊
Always film herons! I did not know that. They certainly look important. ;^)
@BoatTime
2 ай бұрын
Hehe yep, all us vloggers can’t resist a heron shot 😅
Thanks for saving the bumblebee. 🐝 I found a dead bumblebee in my house just a few days ago. No idea of how or when he came in. 😢
@BoatTime
2 ай бұрын
oh they can be silly sometimes when they get stuck in places! we always try to help them when we can ♥️🐝
Bought our Narrowboat in 2022 and were living in Leighton Buzzard at the time. Whilst our boat was being blacked (appeared in one of your previous videos out of the water even!) I popped by Three Locks and spent some time chatting with one of the Volly Lockies. Was a great beginning to Narrowboating.
@BoatTime
2 ай бұрын
ah lovely! what a great area to begin boating! ☺️ so cool that we accidentally captured your boat out the water!
@revelationofapencil
2 ай бұрын
@@BoatTime we’d only just discovered your channel too, like maybe a week before we picked up our boat? Then a few months later as you went passed the marina we bought it from, “that place looks familiar, oh it’s that marina. Wait, is that our boat?!”
@BoatTime
2 ай бұрын
@@revelationofapencil haha that’s cool! was it debdale?
Looking forward to your T.V debut in a few days... Got the timer set. 📺
@BoatTime
2 ай бұрын
eeee very close now for the show to start! Woop woop 😊
We are going to hire one this year in Chester ❤
@BoatTime
2 ай бұрын
Oh nice! A great area to pick! Enjoy!!
We went past you yesterday but you were not in south of Milton keans but I’m sure we will meet again 😢
Fun
@BoatTime
2 ай бұрын
Thanks! 😀
We're a tad long in the tooth but would love to have a bash one day (help with locks 🤔) ❤
@BoatTime
2 ай бұрын
CRT are always after volunteers to help with the locks! Would be a good way to keep fit for sure 💪🏻
I LOVED your post today. However- would you please explain the workings of a lock for this old lady from the middle of Kansas, please. I understand that the locks are the method of going up and down the levels of the canal. But how do they actually work? Why do you sometimes crank things, and sometimes you walk backwards pushing big timbers? And what does “left the paddles up” mean, and is that good or bad? What is a paddle?? And why do you have to stay behind a line so the boat doesn’t sink, and the MOST stupid question of all: when you empty a lock, where does the water go, or when you fill a lock up, where does the water come from, and do you ever run out of water, if so, then what? Etc.,etc.,etc.! And if you wanted to be really nerdy- how do those giant timbers who are hundreds of years old keep from rotting??? AND - if I wanted to mail you something, like a sweatshirt so Wes can get rid of that silly NC State sweatshirt (that needs to be taken BACK to the charity shop, IMO 👀😳😬🤣) and have a nice Jayhawk sweatshirt (google that) how can I make that happen???
@BoatTime
2 ай бұрын
Haha! Now that is a lot of questions, all very good ones though. We do actually plan on doing a 'narrowboat basics' series so that would be a very good start and we will add it to the list! 😊 Sadly we don't have a way of receiving post so Wes wont be able to rep your football team, but thank you for the kind offer anyway haha! 🥰
Hire boaters get a hard time but usually they not been told some companies take your money then dont really care (abc for one). I am ex liveaboatd missing the life (but love my life living in a static by the sea) miss the people.....i may hire a boat to take the grieve missing MY boat away xx
Just like being on a hire boat you didn't stop at every waterpoint though😂
@BoatTime
2 ай бұрын
haha yes, as a live aboard the rule is never pass a water point without topping up 😂
I've always, always wanted to take a trip on a Narrowboat, but I'm a wheelchair user so I don't know whether or not I could do it.
@BoatTime
2 ай бұрын
Oo yes you definitely can! There are companies who specialise in wheelchair access hire boats. I think a lot of them are wide beams but you still get the experience. We saw a couple of them on the K&A and I think there might be one on the Leicester line of the grand Union 😀
Wes still has the same haircut as in 2020 I see