Essex and Hertfordshire, canal holidays at River Stort

Accessible canal boat day and holiday hire in Essex and Hertfordshire

What would you find if you chose to take one of the fleet of boats operated by The Canal Boat Project from Burnt Mill on the River Stort?

Stort Challenger is the flagship of the fleet. She has a spacious bow deck which will accommodate five people sitting in wheelchairs. She has access to all parts of the boat and boasts a fully functional wet room and disability toilet. Hoists are also available should you require them. She sleeps up to 12 comfortably.

The most exciting aspect of the boat is how it can be steered. You are able to skipper her with a conventional tiller, or from a seated position, possibly from a wheelchair. To do so the individual uses the stern wheelchair lift so that they have a comfortable and clear view down the length of the vessel. Then a flat control panel is used to control the throttle, steering, bow thruster and the horn.

Red Watch is best described as a floating hotel. Disability access has recently been improved following her refurbishment in 2008 and now allows better access to the wet room and galley. She is a very capacious and well-appointed boat, which can sleep twelve people in comfort.

Our fees for holiday hire also include full training and hand-over sessions given by our experienced and qualified skippers, to ensure you can safely handle the boats.

The Project also has two day-trip boats, which are fully crewed by our qualified skippers and crew, but we actively encourage our users to get involved in all aspects of boat management. Whether that being taking a turn at the tiller or helping to change the locks, we are sure you will enjoy yourself.

Stort Daybreak is our specially commissioned disability access boat. Launched in 2007 she has become a firm favourite with our regular customers.  She can accommodate up to 12 people and has a fully accessible galley, toilet and shower room. She also has a day bed and joystick controls.

Dawn Treader has disability access to most parts of the boat with a fully equipped galley and wheelchair accessible toilet. She can seat up to 12 people, with everyone having a panoramic view of the river as it gently floats by.

So consider your position, are you in a friendship or community group, club or a family setting where any of your members have a physical disability, learning difficulty or disability, problems with mental health issues. Could you imagine taking a holiday, or fully crewed day-trip on the beautiful Rivers Stort and Lee on the Essex/ Hertfordshire border or travelling further afield into the London canal system? If you can contact us or find out more from:

email: admin@canalboat.org.uk

website(day hire): www.canalboat.org.uk

website(holiday hire): www.lockviewholidays.org.uk

tel: 01279 424 444