Thomas C King

Yet at the same time, their click-bait titles contain words like "disaster". I don't think people coming onto the canals because of YouTube cause enough (or any) problems to "ruin" the canals. Probably the sheer number of new people, in general (because of housing costs), are causing problems. But we're relatively new to the canals so have no past to compare them to. Most of the YouTuber's channels are awful though. I have no interest in watching two people talk to the camera followed by some footage of scenery that I see every day.

We were in Bath heading towards Bristol last summer. Much of what was said is what we found, on the canal. However, after the canal (on the river) there are places where few other hirers and liveaboards moor. In Bath, on the river below the Bath lock (i.e., in the centre near the train station) there was usually space, you just need to climb a ladder to get off (probably why people don't moor there, but it's right in the centre). Around Saltford, near the yacht club, we found a few good spots There are some "no mooring" signs (because of a dispute with residents), but look carefully and you'll find permissible spots near a road within walking distance of pubs. The biggest problem is that there are stretches after Saltford on your way to Bristol where the pontoons will probably be taken, and amongst the reserved "fishing spots" there are only a few unused "wild" mooring spots with a steep climb up a bank (doable, but not ideal). It's a mixed bag, but not a complete disaster.

The first bit also requires the person to be selfish enough to not cleanup their mess. Something I'm getting pretty sick of. I've encountered quite a few who don't seem happy with their lifestyle, but they remain liveaboards (presumably for years, by the looks of things) because they have nowhere else to go.