Lack of Christmas boats

INITIAL reports of the Christmas boating activity are showing a lack of boat movement even on the most popular waterways.

During the Christmas period many stoppages are lifted to allow boaters to take advantage of their holidays, and this year with temperatures, we are told, the highest for years, should be a good opportunity for boaters to enjoy their boating.

Lack of boaters

But it seems, not so, as we have had many reports about the lack of boaters taking advantage of the holidays and the good weather, with Kit Rhodes who cruised the Southern Oxford over Christmas relating:

"We always try to get out at Christmas, to have a cosy time on our well heated narrowboat, and people are usually extra friendly, but this year both Stan and I were surprised at the lack of boats, the Oxford was dead, passing one moving boat all day."

Llangollen

And the most popular of all the canals—the Llangollen, Phil, of  narrowboat Fly Fifer told us:

"Should anyone like a peaceful cruise, the Llangollen Canal is the place to be at the moment. We have lived on the side of the canal for 15 years at Chirk Bank and this year is the quietest it has been for this time of year.  Only seen two boats."

We picked the Oxford and Llangollen from the many emails we received, as they are the most popular cruising canals.