Fans of water sports, seascapes, and boat tours won’t want to overlook what Britain has to offer. From scenic lochs in the Scottish Highlands to languorous canal boat trips, the UK is home to a number of fantastic, one-of-a-kind boating holidays. (Our featured image is by David Hughes.)
Norfolk Broads
Rent a canal boat on the Norfolk Broads where you can sail the vast expanse of waterways. Seven million visitors a year boat on the 200 km of the Broads. If you don’t fancy navigating by canal or motorboat, you can go on walks and hikes, stop off at country pubs along the way and see an array of wildlife along the riverbanks.
The Isles of Scilly
The Scilly archipelago is located just off the tip of Cornwall and comprises a small collection of wild islands. Many of them are uninhabited, so you can admire untouched nature by boat or pursue a host of water sports. Largely deserted beaches and bays, and miles of rugged coastline, make water-based activities a must.
Farne Islands
Descended from generations of fisherman, Billy Shiel is the man to show you the best of the Farne Islands scenery. Hop on board with Billy and see the famous sea and puffin colonies at Seahouses, some of the largest in the world, before stopping off on the islands to get up close and personal with the local wildlife.
Seahouses is close to the chocolate-box town of Bamburgh, home to picturesque Bamburgh castle. Holy Island is nearby, where the Lindisfarne gospels were written and is only accessible via a causeway, which floods at high tide. You can also visit Alnwick castle, where parts of Harry Potter were filmed, and the quaint town of Alnwick.
Punting in Oxford
If you don’t fancy trying your hand at punting you can hire a chauffeured boat to manoeuvre those tricky winding turns of the Cherwell. Sights to look out for include the Botanic Gardens, Angel and Greyhound meadows, Christ Church Meadow and the Isis.
Stop off at the Victoria Arms pub for a refreshing glass of Pimm’s before heading back. And when you’re not punting, you can enjoy Oxford’s historic sights, cobbled streets and take a look round one of the most prestigious universities in the world.
Loch Ness Boat Tour
Take a trip to the stunning Scottish Highlands and see if you can spot the monster that lurks beneath the waters while on a boating tour of Loch Ness. Nessie may not be real, but there’s nothing fake about the landscape, which is stunningly rugged and begging to be explored.
The Loch is linked at the south to a portion of the Caledonian Canal, going right down to the breathtaking Glenfinnan Viaduct.
Written by insider city guide series Hg2 | A Hedonist’s guide to… whose guides covers the best hotels, restaurants, bars, clubs, sights, shops and spas.
