Holiday hire boats on the Scottish Canals
HIRE boats on Scotland’s canals were busier than ever in 2021 despite the pandemic in the background.
But they carried a different type of customer as UK-based holidaymakers replaced the overseas customers, many taking to the water for the first time.
On the Lowland Canals, the hire boat base at the Falkirk Wheel represents ABC Boat Hire, Black Prince Narrowboat Holidays and Marine Cruises, all offering boating holidays along the Forth & Clyde Canal towards Glasgow and beyond and, always popular, the opportunity of riding the Falkirk Wheel up on to the Union Canal and sailing to Edinburgh.
The 2022 season here will open on April 1, a bit later than pre-pandemic to ensure that all winter works are complete before holidaymakers take to the water.
In the heart of Edinburgh’s city centre, Four Sisters (thefoursisters. co.uk) offers unique luxury holidays aboard static widebeam boats, the Four Sisters and the Camillia. The boats can be booked separately or together for larger parties and can be hired for events as well as overnight stays. Those booking Camillia can take advantage of a short trip along the Union Canal, if booked in advance.
In the Highlands, Caley Cruisers, a family business established in 1970, operates a large fleet of modern, high quality motor cruisers for holidays along the Caledonian Canal from their base in Inverness. The online booking system at caleycruisers.com shows live availability for pet-friendly and pet-free vessels, which all get booked up quickly.