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Located in the picturesque village of Bathampton on the Kennet & Avon canal. Walking distance to Bath city centre, also perfect cycle route/commute to Bath or Bradford-on-Avon.
Larkspur is a generously sized fully furnished 10x65 houseboat. Brand new, just recently been fitted out as a liveaboard with modern fixtures and fittings through out. It is permanently moored in Bathampton near The George Inn, St Nicholas's church & the Boat Cafe.
The boat has 2 double bedrooms (1 x double and 2 x single beds) plus a further sofa bed in the lounge. There is one family bathroom (2 sinks & large shower and toilet) and a spacious open plan lounge/kitchen/diner. The main bedroom features doors that open out to a seating area at the front of boat, with outdoor storage lockers. There is also plenty of ...Located in the picturesque village of Bathampton on the Kennet & Avon canal. Walking distance to Bath city centre, also perfect cycle route/commute to Bath or Bradford-on-Avon.
Larkspur is a generously sized fully furnished 10x65 houseboat. Brand new, just recently been fitted out as a liveaboard with modern fixtures and fittings through out. It is permanently moored in Bathampton near The George Inn, St Nicholas's church & the Boat Cafe.
The boat has 2 double bedrooms (1 x double and 2 x single beds) plus a further sofa bed in the lounge. There is one family bathroom (2 sinks & large shower and toilet) and a spacious open plan lounge/kitchen/diner. The main bedroom features doors that open out to a seating area at the front of boat, with outdoor storage lockers. There is also plenty of room for guests to sit out at the back of the boat. The kitchen area features a 'duck hatch', suitable for feeding ducks and swans whenever the moment arises too! There is also plenty of wardrobe and storage space for holiday essentials.
The width of our boat (ten foot) compared to the normal sized hire 'narrow boats' of 6ft makes the journey and experience much more pleasurable for everyone to move about and socialise, not to mention bags of room to relax, sleep, cook and play games!
Larkspur is available for hire throughout the year as detailed below for up to 6 people.
Weekly hire of the boat is from Saturday10am to the following Friday 5.30pm (ie you sleep 6 nights but you get 7 'cruising' days!).
Sometimes we can also hire for part of the week (minimum 3/4 nights Sat - Tue/Wed 5.30pm) if you would rather do a shorter break. If so, please call us/email us if you would like to arrange this or specify this on the booking form via our Bloomsbury Boats website. The turn around day is Saturday but we may be able to be flexible.
Staying on canal boat is a unique experience and Bloomsbury boats aim to give you a very pleasant stay! Our canal boat ‘Larkspur’ like most other boats on the Kennet and Avon is moored in an ‘off grid’ fashion – ie it generates it’s own electricity through sunlight and from powering the engine to charge it’s batteries. This means that guests will be briefed in what to do so they have enough energy throughout the day eg charging the engine and turning on/off a few switches. You will be able to charge your phone or ipad but only use our hairdryers (max 1000W) as generic 2000W ones will ruin the batteries of the boat!
Also, it holds it’s own water for washing, showering etc rather than having a mains supply piped in so guests do need to go easy on water consumption but hirer’s moving the boat will be able to fill up at water points if they run out!
Your main source of heat will by using the wood burner throughout the day and a diesel heater at night.
Hiring a canal boat is a wonderful way of life. Eco friendly, people friendly and duck friendly living! Tuition is given before you set sail!
House Rules
Pets not allowedKid friendlyNo smoking
No parties or all male/female parties. Families preferred.
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Just wow! It’s hard to put into words how wonderful our experience was on the beautiful Larkspur! Angus was amazing showing us (complete novices) how to manage the boat, locks and swing bridges. Larkspur is a magnificent boat and the interior decor and furnishings were of very high quality. We cannot wait to book with Bloomsbury Boats again. If this is something you have thought about doing don’t hesitate as it was one of the best experiences of our lives!
Visited August 2023
Written 27 August 2023. This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
MsOrewa
Auckland, New Zealand56 contributions
Luxury on the Canal
Visiting from NZ. Angus gave us great tuition on the boat and locks before we set off. Boat very spacious and the interior is beautiful. Everything you need is onboard. The English countryside was very relaxing to travel through, with lovely stops at towns and pubs along the way.
Coming from Nz, I highly recommend this company. Canal boating is something we will never experience at home so thank you Angus for giving us the opportunity . You are A +.
Visited July 2023
Written 23 July 2023. This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
Emma C
1 contribution
Fab weeks cruising
Larkspur is superbly fitted out and well equipped with cosy duvets, sofas and full range of kitchen equipment as well as lovely and snug with the wood burner lit in the evenings.
We had extended family on board for some of the week but then coped with two of us for the remainder of the trip , getting as far as the bottom of the Caen Lock flight and then a more leisurely return trip with an afternoon exploring Bathampton on the way back.
It was everything I had hoped for ... green fields, and open spaces, ducklings and herons , en route and canal side walks - do walk up alongside the ponds at Caen hill for great views. Lovely way to unwind in between the lock and swing bridge activities and un sticking from the occassional mud patch ! All canal folk we met were very chatty and helpful and Angus ' instruction s very comprehnsive ..
Visited April 2019
Written 12 May 2019. This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
Clare M
Bristol, United Kingdom1 contribution
Floating bliss
Every bit as lovely as we hoped. Despite frosty mornings we were snug as a bug in a rug - having the log burner (and all the wood you could possibly need) was wonderful as were the super comfortable beds and linen.
Angus was very accommodating, met us the weekend before our booking to show us the ropes and was on hand as we set off too which was really reassuring.
The stretch of canal was beautiful and the pace of life a delight.
We all (two couples) recommend this to anyone and Larkspur is as good as it gets.
Visited October 2018
Written 31 October 2018. This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
maddieosta
Wingrave, United Kingdom6 contributions
Brilliant for families
First time of booking a narrow boat holiday with the family, highly recommend the boat had great space for the 5 of us everything required was available and good quality fittings etc. Angus gave really good instruction so felt confident on driving the boat along the canal and how it all worked. lots of really good pubs to stop at enjoyed the slow pace of the weekend had great catch up family time.
Visited September 2018
Written 17 September 2018. This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
Richard P
Glossop, United Kingdom2 contributions
Canal holiday with Bloomsbury
Can fault the boat or the care and preparation Angus goes to, to ensure you have a good holiday. Would recommend this company to anyone, thanks Angus.
Visited June 2018
Written 25 June 2018. This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
mikeharper19652018
Bournemouth, United Kingdom1 contribution
Superb
Superb boat spacious and well kitted out. KA Canal very pretty and Induction training by Angus brilliant. You have no need to feel anxious about locks or steering the boat. It will all be explained. We had lovely weather which helps massively but as we all know the weather cannot be pre booked! Lovely pubs on the KA but lunches onboard as the view from the boat beats most views!
Visited June 2018
Written 14 June 2018. This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
Ali H
London, United Kingdom15 contributions
A very enjoyable stay
We had a very enjoyable week on Larkspur - we were even lucky enough to get some sunshine. Angus has clearly spent a lot of time and thought on fitting out the boat, which means that it's really comfortable to stay on. He gave us some great tuition before we set off and the boat manual and guide to the area helped us find everything and choose some lovely places and pubs to visit. Thanks Angus!
Visited April 2018
Written 28 April 2018. This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
Steve T
17 contributions
When only the best will do
We enjoyed Larkspur between Christmas and through the New Year for a week. Angus is so passionate about canal boating, ensuring we had an excellent experience. Fantastic teacher, knowledgeable, patient, kind and full of enthusiasm. A joy to communicate with, offering the level of friendly support, assistance and service you can only receive from a person who actually owns, and fitted out, the boat.
Boating in the winter with a log burner and central heating providing total comfort in 22 tonne of luxury is idyllic. There is so little traffic that we easily reached the top of Caen Hill locks and had a wonderful stay in Devises.
10 feet wide with an extensive steering platform means you could never go back to a standard 6 feet wide traditional narrow boat. 2 private bedrooms, comfortable beds and bedding, full head room, flush toilet, beautiful wooden fitout, 240v power, main saloon next to the steering platform and a full kitchen rather than a galley.
Just so impressed with Angus and the whole experience. I completed extensive research before choosing Larkspur and I can assure you--look no further-- you will be delighted.
Steve Tilley
Visited December 2017
Written 28 February 2018. This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
Sarah L
12 contributions
No need to worry about the cold outside!
We booked our off season weekend in February some time last year - before we realised it would be the coldest February on record! We packed all our snowboard gear and thought we would make the best of it... well we needn't have worried. When we met Angus on the saturday morning the central heating was pumping hot water throughout the radiators and the woodturner was roaring away. We quickly boarded and put our things in the well equipped kitchen and beautifully clean and laundered bedrooms. We soon got underway with Angus on board who gave us around an hours tuition through the locks to Bath. By the time he left we all felt confident in handling the boat and all her equipment.
We spent the rest fo the weekend taking it in turns on the stern navigating through the beautiful countryside of the K&A or sweating it out in the super cosy but very spacious main cabin. The kitchen was well equipped so we ate onboard for every meal and even when the weather was miserable outside it really did matter. Will defiantly book for longer next time, a weekend didn't feel long enough - now we have been on a wide beam boat we can never go back to a narrow boat!
Visited February 2018
Written 25 February 2018. This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
Located in the picturesque village of Bathampton on the Kennet & Avon canal. Walking distance to Bath city centre, also perfect cycle route/commute to Bath or Bradford-on-Avon.
Things to know
Check in / out timings
Check in after 10 am • Check out by 5 pm
Cancellation policy
100% refund within 24 hours after booking (provided the stay is at least 60 days away).
No refund available once booking is confirmed
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