Self drive holidays

Exploring miles of magical rivers and canals on a self drive holiday enables you to experience total freedom. It is like owning your own boat for a while.

Self drive holidays are great fun whatever your age or boating ability; no previous experience is necessary. The holiday operator will brief you on everything you need to know when they hand over the boat to you.

There are endless possibilities with self drive holidays as you are the boss. Jump aboard and unwind, sunbathe as you pass by the peaceful country side, spot the local wildlife or stop off at bustling market towns and lively pubs. You will also learn how to use locks; they’re easy to handle and great places to chat to other boaters.

There are a variety of self drive boats to choose from; from small family cruisers to larger 12 berth, traditional, canal barges for extended family or large groups of friends!                                             

Choosing a holiday company often seems to be more about luck than science, but help is at hand! The English Tourist Board have introduced the Boat Grading Scheme - companies that have joined the scheme have all of their boats inspected by the Tourist Board every year and given a grade on a scale of 1-5. When you choose a holiday operator, make sure that they are members of this scheme.