Best holidays/outings in the UK featuring BOATS?

[BreadstickBurglar]

My amazing dad has a birthday coming up and we want to arrange a family holiday for him. He’s boat mad. First thought was maybe a canal trip but I’m not sure. Desperately need ideas for either a) staying on boats b) probably preferably spending time on boats.

It’ll be two late 70s, 3 in our 40s, 1 toddler and possibly dog.

Thank you!

How about a trip to Norfolk and going on a boat trip on The Broads? Lovely scenery and lots of lovely pubs etc to stop at as you go along.

There are boats you can hire for the day and others you can stay on. I think you can also hire some holiday homes along the broads that come with a boat for use, but not 100%.

Norfolk is lovely with lots of great nature/beaches/days out too that may suit everyone

The Broads are boring!

We’ve hired a cruiser for long weekends on the Thames a few times, either side of Oxford.
Where in the U.K. are you?

I agree. There are no locks on the Broads, so it's easier to get around.

That sounds amazing, Oxford is a few hours but no problem, do you have any companies you could recommend?

A tour round the Hebrides on boats large and small?

Thank you! Hadn’t considered Norfolk - where is a good starting point?

DP and I visited Maldon in Essex for the day and saw loads of gorgeous old boats and ships that you can do various trips on. I just googled it and here’s one result. https://www.visitmaldon.co.uk/boat-trips/

https://waverleyexcursions.co.uk/plan-your-cruise/timetables/
When is his birthday? Could you do something that might fit in with the SS Waverley schedule? ( They do trips every year)

Also Dartmouth/Totnes/Torquay /Paignton have lots of opportunities for boat trips . If he likes steam trains also he'll love a trip there, maybe staying in Dartmouth.

Isle of wight? You need to get the ferry, if you could combine with Waverley next year, that would be good. Also combine with visiting Portsmouth Historic Dockyard . ( HMS Victory , . The Warrior, and several other boats plus boat sheds museums etc all in one place . You can do Harbour tours and the Submarine museum at Gosport all on the same ticket . Also one ticket will give you re- entry over several days .. there's lots to see.

I recommend the South Oxford Canal.

If locks are a problem there are also plenty with only one or two canals.

Or have you thought of Europe boating holidays?

Dogs are good on these holidays! Toddlers ok but would need lots of supervision

All of these kinds of trips you can do for a day, long weekend or a week. Or even just a few hours!

Btw I agree the Broads are a bit boring. And I'd recommend going when it's likely to be decent weather

https://www.cotswoldboat.co.uk/

With a toddler, I think you need to seriously consider whether you want to be confined to a boat and the risks associated with being on a boat. Other than when the toddler is asleep, you need to be “eyes on” all the time.
Then what sort of boats does your DF like. Mine likes yacht sailing but doesn’t enjoy dinghy sailing. He finds boat trips along parts of the Thames interesting as there is something to look at. A canal boat holiday would drive him to despair with boredom.
There are loads of places in Cornwall & Devon where you can hire various boats for the day, whether motor boats or some sailing boats. Motor boats you tend to just be able to hire on the spot (depending on availability) but sailing boats you usually have to pre-arrange and show the appropriate qualifications or somehow evidence your skill level.

Any kind of boating holiday with a toddler would be a nightmare.

I really fancy this but its not child friendly:

https://themajesticline.co.uk/

What about a holiday on the coast thay incorporates a boat trip or two?

The Broads are lovely, if you’re at all interested in wildlife, and there are some very nice hire boats. We’ve been 3 times in the last few years together with our 20-something DD and her BF, we’ve used Norfolk Broads Direct who are based in Wroxham.

one thing to check is re mobility - getting in and out of some boats can be difficult for some older people. But some of the cruisers are quite easy if you’re moored stern on, some older couples manage one by themselves. A few of the boats are too tall to comfortably go under Ludham Bridge to go up the river Ant, which is a very nice bit - if you go it’s something to check with the hire company.

we were going to do the Thames last year but it was when there was a lot of flooding, during which the river becomes unnavigable. So we persuaded LeBoat to change our booking to the Caledonian canal for this year, and went on the Broads instead.

caledonian canal is good - it’s sections of ship canal linking the lochs along the Great Glen including Loch Ness. But obviously you have to get to it - dd and the bf came up to Fort William on the sleeper train.

If you’re wanting to hire a boat just for the day on the Broads, you can get an electric boat at potter Heigham and go under the bridge to access Hickling and Horsey Broads which are much quieter than the rest because very few cruisers can now get under potter Heigham bridge.