alice narrowboat purchase family photo canal cruising
The perfect blend of abundant wildlife, calming water, and space to take a deep breath away from the hubbub of the world up there, is what draws so many of us to the canals, myself included.
As a child I grew up in a city that has the Grand Union Canal running through its heart so in the summer holidays my mum would often pack a picnic and we’d stroll together along the towpath exploring the different species of trees and grasses, flowers and butterflies.
By the time I was in my late teens and working in offices throughout that same city, I would head off during my lunch hour to seek out the canal. Perhaps with a book in hand, or on a winter’s day, for a brisk stroll. For me, the canals have always provided solace from a busy world and throughout all the years spent travelling in other countries, it’s always the waterways of England I most long for.
If you’re looking to experience a pretty town in the Fenlands where a waterway runs straight through, you might check out March:
www.visitcambridgeshirefens.org/fenland-towns/march-14
After one such trip back in 2010 where, along with my little family, we had tired from 18 months travelling in a campervan and decided the time was right to put roots down, the waterways were presented as the perfect location.
alice narrowboat at home with nature
My husband and I had long enjoyed trips out on a friend’s narrowboat and when he suggested that perhaps our budget could stretch to a canal boat to live on, our eyes were opened to a new way of living; a way that would enable us to have our own permanent home yet still with a sense of freedom, and allow our young daughter a natural environment within which to grow. We were sold!
Planning on going narrowboat shopping?
If you’re planning to go narrowboat shopping but are a novice, it’s always a good idea to enlist an “in-the-know” friend to accompany you. When we first went looking for our perfect floating home such a friend was invaluable, advising us about key things to look out for such as checking the inspection hatch for water in the hull, whether pumps were all working properly and of course, offering all important advice on water tanks and loo systems. It was also reassuring to have an ally with a little more expertise when negotiating offers and surveys and generally. Having the benefit of someone else’s knowledge gave us confidence in a world that, at that time, was completely new to us.
I’m pleased to say we successfully bought and moved onto our first narrowboat in spring 2010 and having boater friends by our side along the way—as well as buying from a reputable marina—made the process fun and fuss-free. We’ve never looked back!
Being able to appreciate the jewel that is England’s waterways from the back deck whilst meandering on a spring day, or sitting out on the front deck listening to the buzz of insects on a summer’s evening, to every window being graced with the oranges, reds and yellows of an autumnal season, and laying in bed with the sound of ice cracking in winter…we never take our first tentative step into this watery world, for granted.
If you’re in the position to build your dream from scratch, then be sure to check out Fox Narrowboat Building Services:
www.foxboats.co.uk/marina/boat-building/
Or if you’ve found your dream boat and would like to find an equally dreamy mooring, then maybe pop your name on the waiting list for Fox Narrowboats modern boating marina situated in the heart of the Middle Level Navigation in March.
www.foxboats.co.uk/marina/moorings
Alice Elgie is a writer who splits time between a narrowboat on the waterways of England, a cottage in France, and a camper on the open road. She shares words about this life on her blog: slowintotheseasons.substack.com
