Hoseasons Boating Holidays brochure 1984

[John Brightley]

10 hours ago, Athy said:

Some firms seem to soldier on with elderly fleets - which reminds me that, of the ones in your advert, Calcutt are still going strong and the boats even look the same now as they did 30 - odd years ago; indeed, I wonder if some of them ARE the same boats.

Thanks Athy. My guess is that, yes, some of the Calcutt boats are 35 years old, but have been very well maintained and refurbished when neccessary. It would be interesting to hear from anyone who can confirm that.

Here is the last batch of canals pages.

Edited April 30, 2020 by John Brightley

[Paddle]

10 hours ago, Derek R. said:

Where's £600 coming from?

Airbnb! I'm not referring to hiring a bare pitch, but to renting a tent in a field on Airbnb just outside Llangollen in August. Expect to pay almost £100 per night for that privilege. If you haven't rented a cottage for 12 years, and that was in the Highlands, then I'm afraid you've a nasty surprise coming to you for anywhere within reach of civilisation. (N.B. I love the Highlands and consider them to be extremely civilised, you know what I mean!)

[Derek R.]

I don't doubt some of that, but the Balbeag cabin was £650 in July 2008, and is £795 for August this year.

Others are as you say, stratospheric. Lived on Alvie at one time, have family all up there.

[Athy]

John, that's a mixture of still familiar names and a couple that I've never heard of. Ian Goode is an interesting one: about 15 years ago we went down the Stratford and we saw at least two of his boat out on hire. They looked like old boats which had had a quick coat of paint. We've never seen any anywhere else, or since, so I assume that he closed down some time ago.