Charter a Boat in the Homeland of Classical Maritime

Editor

Rotterdam, Netherlands

Created on May 8, 2023

May 8, 2023

Categories: Destination

Contrary to the general belief in the UK, you do not encounter very harsh weather conditions, you can enjoy the magnificent nature without getting too hot, especially in summer. One of the UK's best boat rental areas is the Isle of Wight, which is also described as the maritime capital.

How about a trip to the Isle of Wight during Cowes Week?

The UK has a maritime culture and therefore maritime events are like huge festivities involving the entire public. If you are not only fond of the sea and the beach, but also passionate about maritime culture and sailing, you should not miss the opportunity to rent a boat in the Isle of Wight. Cowes is a small town on the Isle of Wight, an island close to the mainland in the English Channel on the south coast of England. But what a town! You can fly to Southampton to reach the Isle of Wight and the town of Cowes. By chartering a boat from Southampton, you arrive in Cowes with a cruise of 9.5 nautical miles. Although the cruise is short, you should know that the Solent Channel can be challenging both in terms of wind and tide.

Cowes Week, one of the oldest sailing races in the world, held since 1826, brings the town to life in August every year with the participation of nearly 40 races, more than 1,000 sailboats and thousands of sailors. During Cowes Week, 20,000 people come to town to watch the races, and the view of the sea is like a flower garden formed by sailboats. Many challenging races are held for 7 days. The reason why these races are difficult is that the competition is high because very good sailing teams participate and of course the Solent Canal, where the races take place, is also a struggle against the winds and currents. Of course, it is these features that make these races so famous. Cowes is a very special island town as it is the birthplace of America's Cup race. The town of Cowes stands out with its seafaring venues at any time of the year, but the dose of work increases during race week. Restaurants, cafes and shops in the town are carefully prepared to welcome sailors. In addition to the sailing venues, the island also features event spaces and large screens. In addition, concerts continue until late in many places.

The town of Cowes turns into a very crazy place during the race with caravans where you can find almost every kind of food and beverage, and dozens of beer taps installed above the bar with a length of 50-60 meters. If you want to feel the British seafaring tradition at the heart of the business, you should definitely consider adding Cowes Week to the beginning or end of your Cowes boat vacation. Unless, of course, you say that you will participate in races... It is not enough to be a good sailor to compete at Cowes Week; Since many people rent boats during Cowes Week, you should make your reservation in advance. We also recommend visiting the Cowes Maritime Museum on your Isle of Wight sea vacation.

Yarmouth with the island's oldest architecture and fascinating heritage, Shanklin, a charming and picturesque seaside village on the southeast coast of the island, and Ventnor, with a rich Victorian history and a vibrant coastline, are among the places you can stop by on your British sea vacation. Filled with vintage boutiques, independent galleries, inviting restaurants and bars, Ventnor will be a pleasant stop for your boat vacation. Again, we suggest you take a boat to Steephill Cove, a small and sweet cove in Ventnor, and eat Crab Shed's very famous and wonderful fresh crab dumplings. With a short walk from this bay, you can also go to Ventnor Botanic Garden, where you can see subtropical plant species. You can also stop by the port cities of Gosport and Portsmouth on the mainland on your cruises to the Isle of Wight by chartering a boat from Southampton.

Of course, you can choose to enjoy the Jurassic Coast, which stands out with its natural beauties, by heading southwest from Southampton on your UK seaside holiday. The Jurrasic Coast is famous for the coastal structures that have been shaped by the tides over millions of years, making the area a UNESCO World Heritage Site, and the paleontological remains that give the area its name. You should also see the world's most famous stone arch, the Durdle Door, located in Lulworth Bay, 45 nautical miles from Southampton. Formed by the sea by piercing Portland limestone over 10,000 years, this arch marks what once stretched an ancient coastline. You can spend a long time in Lulworth Bay on your boat vacation on the Jurrasic Coast, because in this bay, besides the rock formation, the beach is also very beautiful and popular. These coasts offer many places to explore, with ports and towns as far as Devon and Cornwall.

You might consider scheduling your UK boating holiday to coincide with the UK's largest Southampton Boat Show, one of the world's most important boating shows that takes place in October each year. However, October can only be an alternative for experienced sailors. After renting a boat from England, it is also possible to reach Cherbourg on the coast of Normandy, France, with a 105-nautical-mile cruise from the Isle of Wight and an 85-mile cruise from Solent.

Boat Charter Routes in Scotland

Renting a boat in Scotland is a very beautiful and special sea holiday alternative with its magnificent nature, cute fishing villages, seaside towns and historical buildings. One of Scotland's most beautiful boat rental regions is the Firth of Clyde, where a very intense maritime culture and delicious seafood are added to all of this. Moreover, this region is protected from the Atlantic Ocean by the Firth of Clyde, the Kintyre Peninsula, located at the mouth of the Clyde River. This provides you with an environment for your Scotland boat holiday, where you can not struggle with rough seas, as many people think, but where you can have a pleasant cruise on calm seas without tide restrictions.

On your Firth of Clyde boat vacation, where you can meet seals and dolphins, you will feel that you are alone with an untouched nature while watching the coastal views and at the points where you land. In addition, there is no doubt that Scottish pubs, cafes and, more importantly, even whiskey shops will embrace you with the hospitality of the Scots.

Another of the most beautiful features of the Firth of Clyde; hosting many beautiful ports close to each other. You can start your Scotland sea vacation with the boat you will receive from Largs Yacht Haven; You can easily navigate between fishing towns and islands with a half-hour cruise distance between them. Before sharing the cruise notes, let's add that you will be pleased with the restaurants in Largs Yacht Haven, one of the best marinas in Scotland.

By chartering a boat from Largs Yacht Haven, you can reach Millport, the only town on Cumbrae Island just a few nautical miles away, the so-called "jewel of the Clyde". This place has great opportunities for shopping, golfing, fishing and cycling. Millport also has a beautiful beach that little kids will love. Also located 6 nautical miles from Largs Yacht Haven, the Kyles of Bute Canals will take you to many beautiful towns on your Scottish sea vacation. These two delightful canals separate the island of Bute from the mainland and surround the island. Here we recommend stopping by the beautiful and lively fishing towns of Rothesay, Olintraive and Tighnabruiach by boat.

When you turn the route a little further south, you will arrive at the Isle of Arran after 16 nautical miles. On your cruise on Arran, you first arrive at Lochranza Village in the north of the island. You can moor in the bay and tour Lochranza's impressive castle and whiskey and observe wildlife. On the opposite side of Arran, 20 nautical miles from the mainland, you can visit Troon, famous for its golf course, on your Scottish sea vacation, and enjoy the delicious cuisine of Scotts Restaurant at its marina, Troon Yacht Haven.

Of course, when you charter a boat in Scotland, you can also embark on a Kintyre adventure; You can sail to the atmospheric fishing village of Tarbert and Loch Fyne to see the region's magnificent historic castles. If you are planning to cross the Kintyre peninsula on your sea vacation in Scotland, we strongly recommend that you turn on the song Mull of Kintyre, written by Paul McCartney for this unique cape, while greeting the Mull of Kintyre lighthouse at the southeast end of the peninsula.

You might also consider taking a 70-nautical-mile cruise from Mull of Kintyre to Oban. Oban, a small town on the country's west coast, is a very popular destination for boat charters in Scotland. Highlights include its museums, 13th-century Dunstaffnage Castle and the distillery of Oban, Scotland's smallest but world-renowned whiskey brand. This region with its magnificent nature Skye, Mull, Islay, Jura Island, Staffa and other small islets will be a good alternative for your Scotland sea vacation. On Islay Island you can explore the city and visit the Laphroaig whiskey distillery. The long and narrow Island of Jura, located on the west coast of the mainland, will impress you with its mountains, dense forests and whiskey, as well as an interesting demographic of 300 people and 7,000 deer! You should definitely visit Jura, the hometown of George Orwell, on your vacation to Scotland.

From the Firth of Clyde you can sail south to the Isle of Man or take an hour's cruise to Northern Ireland. Chartering a boat in Ireland promises an unforgettable holiday with Celtic ruins, Medieval castles and magnificent coastal views. You will also love Ireland with its legendary Irish-style bars, good music and pleasant people.

Boat vacation in Henley-on-Thames

37 km southeast of Oxford, Oxfordshire, the authentic English town of Henley-on-Thames on the River Thames is an ideal starting point for those wishing to tour the heart of England by boat. Famous for its music festivals, this beautiful town with its cafes and shops will keep you busy before your Thames boat holiday.

More than just a touristic tour, you will witness England's traditional way of life, natural beauty and rich history on charter excursions from Henley-on-Thames. You can feel the atmosphere of the Edwardian Period by taking small walks on the Thames Trail, which stretches from Oxford to London, and you can have a picnic by watching the swans and boats, leaving yourself on the grass by the river as in the British period movies.

You can tour magnificent abbeys, ornate churches, historic watermills and the towns of Henley, Sonning, Wallingford, Bray, Marlow, Reading, Pangbourne and Windsor, and more by chartering a boat on the Thames.

If you stop by the Beale Wildlife Park between the villages of Pangbourne and Lower Basildon on the banks of the Thames, you can see many small exotic animals such as Carpathian lynx, meerkats, squirrel monkeys, and bird and farm animal collections in a magnificent natural beauty.

Weather for Boat Charterers in the UK

The yacht charter season in England lasts from April to October. The UK is known to be rainy all the time, but we cannot say that it reflects the truth. It doesn't always rain in the UK and it doesn't get too cold. However, the weather is certainly changeable. So follow the weather closely and have your raincoat in your bag.