Summer Holidays

[Abdoulaye's Twin]

i've always wanted to do the canal boat thing - but always fought shy of it with small kids... but - hey - now i don't have any small kids!!

How small? They're mostly only about 4ft deep. I went on a canal boat last year and it was pretty good fun. We didn't come across any locks which I was a bit disappointed about. You can only go about 4mph but it's not like you're in a rush to go anywhere, and whether it's technically legal or not I reckon it makes it pretty safe to drink and drive (or drink and tiller?).

Many years ago we did a stag weekend on a couple of canal boats down to Bath. We of course stopped off at pretty much every pub on the way. I had a go on the tiller and wasn't far off bouncing off the sides like those 10 pin bowling side bars for kids We ended up moored up outside Bath Rugby Club and ended up crawling under the gates for a game of footy in the early hours. Managed to set fire to the stag (technically it was the barman) and got into much trouble with the bride afterwards

All in all a fine weekend, though the locks in the pissing wet wind with a hangover wasn't a highlight.

[Prufrock]

I'm planning on visiting a few European cities later this year, and see which one has the best Christmas Market whilst I'm there. I guess the week you've got booked off is too early to do something similar.

Oh I don't know. I'd be surprised if the one in Manny isn't on already.

Some great ideas there, chaps. Cheers. Plenty to think about.

Is anyone on here a member of The National Trust? Is it worth it?

And Will - yes, let's do that. Do you know anywhere good en route / nearby for lunch?

General - Me and a mate have been saying for as long as I can remember that we'll do the canal boat thing. Many thanks for the link.

If you're treating it as a purchase rather than a charitable donation then I don't think so unless you use it lots. Not sure how much stuff there is up in the NW, but I had the cheaper young person's membership for a few years. Using it a few times a summer in Cornwall for free parking and reduced entry probably saved money, but not enough for full membership I don't think.

[thebish]

i've always wanted to do the canal boat thing - but always fought shy of it with small kids... but - hey - now i don't have any small kids!!

How small? They're mostly only about 4ft deep. I went on a canal boat last year and it was pretty good fun. We didn't come across any locks which I was a bit disappointed about. You can only go about 4mph but it's not like you're in a rush to go anywhere, and whether it's technically legal or not I reckon it makes it pretty safe to drink and drive (or drink and tiller?).

i wasn't worried about drowning them - but about them getting bored and not having much space to run about. The attraction (to me) is chugging slowly and lazily all day down a canal - stopping off fof a pub lunch or to explore a town/village stop... that wouldn't really have mixed well with having small children! not MY small children anyway!

[Beefheart]

i've always wanted to do the canal boat thing - but always fought shy of it with small kids... but - hey - now i don't have any small kids!!

How small? They're mostly only about 4ft deep. I went on a canal boat last year and it was pretty good fun. We didn't come across any locks which I was a bit disappointed about. You can only go about 4mph but it's not like you're in a rush to go anywhere, and whether it's technically legal or not I reckon it makes it pretty safe to drink and drive (or drink and tiller?).

i wasn't worried about drowning them - but about them getting bored and not having much space to run about. The attraction (to me) is chugging slowly and lazily all day down a canal - stopping off fof a pub lunch or to explore a town/village stop... that wouldn't really have mixed well with having small children! not MY small children anyway!

I see, I guess your kids weren't massive Rosie & Jim fans like I was when I was very young. I think going through a lock, on an actual canal boat, at that age would be too much excitement for my parents to handle.

[General Mannerheim]

id love to have a dab at it too. did the river cruisers on Norfolk Broads once. that was alright. but i can only go a few days before i crave some adrenaline.

[William the White]

i've always wanted to do the canal boat thing - but always fought shy of it with small kids... but - hey - now i don't have any small kids!!

my neighbour used to do it - and he reckoned it was the number one most relaxiong thing he ever did...

I've got a friend who's done it all over UK and in France. He absolutely loves it.

[bobo the clown]

I did it once, for 2 days & one night. There are loads of canals & basins round here & it's beautiful countryside.

It was intolerably dull. After about 2 hours I couldn't wait for it to be over.

[boltonboris]

My Dad went last year to the Norfolk broads (he's 61). He was bored off his tits

[Bruce Rioja]

See, I'd absolutely love the chance to see bits of the country from a completely different angle.

[thebish]

See, I'd absolutely love the chance to see bits of the country from a completely different angle.

ahh - but you're not an all-action adrenalin junkie like our Bobo...

[bwfcdan94]

Cotswolds. Can't be beaten.


... or let me help Bish overcome his shyness and I invite you down to Torquay !! The restaurants in Dartmouth are cracking.

You're welcome.

Though, thinking about it .... advice on a week travelling in the UK. Dan's your man, Shirley.

Bruce and Dan's Shitholes in 7 days DVD out soon

Only a week, you would struggle to go to every sh*thole in a week, a month yes but a week no.

[Abdoulaye's Twin]

Cotswolds. Can't be beaten.


... or let me help Bish overcome his shyness and I invite you down to Torquay !! The restaurants in Dartmouth are cracking.

You're welcome.

Though, thinking about it .... advice on a week travelling in the UK. Dan's your man, Shirley.

Bruce and Dan's Shitholes in 7 days DVD out soon

Only a week, you would struggle to go to every sh*thole in a week, a month yes but a week no.

You need to save some shitholes for the 2015 and 2016 editions. Assuming Bruce hasn't throttled you by then

[bobo the clown]

See, I'd absolutely love the chance to see bits of the country from a completely different angle.

Bruce, next time you're in Erbistock pop to Trevor Basin and rent one. You can take it over the Pont ... a canal bridge with no rail on the water side and a drop of about 120'. It's truly amazing. Then come back and follow it along the more typical route toward Llangollen and I assure you that after a period of relaxed tranquillity when you feel there is little better on God's green Earth you'll begin to lose interest.

A two, maybe even four hour hire is great & I recommend it. Then get off, drive up Panorama, into Llan', have a bite and plan a game of golf at Llangollen GC & forget this canal nonsense.

[Bruce Rioja]

Crikey. See, this is where I hate having a fear of heights. That looks fantastic........ from here. The reality is though that I'd be hiding away in the cabin, facing the floor, whilst someone else navigates.

The rest of it sounds cock-on, mind.

[thebish]

it just takes a fat man to jump in either end - and the wash would take you over....

[thebish]

Near here is the Granite Way cycle path - it goes over the Meldon Viaduct - it looks spectacular!

I'll be doing that sometime in the near future...

[bobo the clown]

^^^ Railings are for wimps !!

[thebish]

^^^ Railings are for wimps !!

there are plenty of anti-cyclist drivers around our Devon twisty roads who would be in favour of removing those railings!!

[Montreal Wanderer]

Well, Fall holidays really. My boys went off to Munich for the weekend for Oktoberfest. I have just seen some pictures.

My ancestors would turn in their grave if they knew my older son, Rob, the scion of the family, was prancing round Europe in lederhosen ffs.





Fortunately his younger brother seems to be sticking to beer.

[General Mannerheim]

never had to worry about term times before but its half term week ending the 31st Oct. I was just looking at doing something for a few days, like maybe take Thurs & Fri off and stay till Sunday?

original thought was Centre Parcs but i could literally get a weeks all inclusive in the canaries for less cash! next thought was a caravan somewhere South Coast / South West? Cornwall, Devon, Dorset? all places ive never explored, which makes choosing tricky. also mostly only offer 4 nights mon-fri & 3 nights fri-mon neither of which really work. also wanna take the dog.

Please inspire me?