‘Drift along, stop for a picnic and immerse yourself in nature’: your favourite boat trips in the UK and Europe

Broadly speaking, Norfolk is perfect for sailing

Hunter’s Yard in Ludham, Norfolk looks after a fleet of 1930s cabin yachts and day boats, some now with electric motors. Beautifully maintained and easy to sail, they provide a restful, beautiful holiday. I used to go on organised cruises in spring and summer as a teenager, then skippered boats for young people on the same cruises. Away from the obvious and popular spots, the Norfolk Broads remain wild and full of birds and animals. Go to your bunk early, with the sound of water, ducks and rigging. Get up early and sail past the sleeping gin palaces. Moor up early near a pub for your evening drinks. Hunters Yard staff are friendly and happy to advise; I’ll never forget the smell of wood and varnish in their workshops.
Rupert

Inspired to poetry by the Cheshire Ring

It was while cruising the Cheshire Ring on a narrowboat that I started to write poetry. Why? I had never seen such glorious, contrasting scenery in England from this angle before – from old mills and factories casting their shadows on the water, to gliding through verdant countryside watching wildlife, to hearing the hustle and bustle of street-life above the canal in Manchester city centre. The circular route is 97 miles long, incorporates six different canals and takes up to two weeks to complete. And, who knows, by the end you too may be writing poetry.
Graham Lilley

Guardian Travel readers' tips

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On the Elbe from Dresden to Saxon Switzerland

Catch the paddle steamer from Dresden, nicknamed Florence on the Elbe, to Bad Schandau (about €30 for adults) in Saxon Switzerland with its rock formations, views and its walking. The passing steamers welcome each other with a blast from their funnels, startling the somnambulant day trippers. As we wound our way through the river’s bends during the six-hour voyage we passed beautiful villages and regal palaces and sometimes were accompanied by birds in flight such as herons. The waiters ensured a steady flow of refreshment including pilsners and wurst.
Dave Henry

An idyllic escape on the River Wye, Herefordshire

Canoeing down the River Wye makes for an idyllic escape. Many companies offer trips ranging from half a day to four days, suitable for all levels of enthusiasm and ability. We chose the scenic stretch from Hoarwithy to Symonds Yat, camping overnight at picturesque Ross-on-Wye. The river is ideal for novice canoeists – it’s calm throughout, surrounded by constant, stunning scenery. Drift along, stop for a picnic and immerse yourself in nature. A perfect summer adventure – just remember, canoes don’t offer much shelter from the elements.
Harry Crane

No locks but plenty of joy on the Lancaster canal

My two boys and I had a four-day break on the Lancaster canal, where you don’t encounter locks for the entire 41 miles. It was an absolute joy; the boys enjoyed it and didn’t look at their phones once. Even in the rain it was great fun. We hired our boat from Bluebell Narrowboat.
Tony

Sun rays and vineyards in Portugal

My 12-hour, €70 river cruise along the Douro River last autumn was a beautiful way to embrace the benefits of slow travel and enjoy the subtle, soulful vibe of the colours and atmosphere of Portugal. We chugged out of Porto and were soon sliding past rolling green vineyards, tinged with yellow and gold as the September sun cast its rays and magical shadows on deck. Sitting there watching the sun set over the hills and valleys as we glided along felt surreal. The village of Pinhão was a delight, with the grape harvest drawing a lively crowd for festivities.
Yasmin

Seabirds on the cliffs of East Yorkshire

Forget the blue lagoons and glass-bottom boats beloved of Mediterranean tourist resorts and step on board the Yorkshire Belle (adults from £25) at Bridlington. This historic boat will take you out around the craggy bulk of Flamborough Head to the vertiginous cliffs at Bempton for a puffin’s eye view of one of the largest sea bird colonies in the UK. The sounds and the smell will hit you first before the boat takes you within touching distance of the cliffs where during the nesting season you will see thousands of gannets, guillemots, kittiwakes and of course puffins, wheeling and diving above and below the water. Back on terra firma a short distance north of the town you can see the birds from a viewing area on the grassland above the cliffs where you may spot the burrows housing the puffin chicks.
John

Birders’ delight in the Scottish Highlands

I recently enjoyed a superb cruise on Loch Shiel near Fort William, the fourth longest in Scotland and one without a road running along it. The cruise offers beautiful scenery but for birders it’s extraordinary, with a good chance of seeing white-tailed eagles, golden eagles, black throated divers and more. A variety of cruises by Highland Cruises on the MV Sileas are offered, from about 90 minutes long to a full day, and cost from about £25, but consult the timetable to find one that suits you.
Pete Dale

From Italy to Switzerland across Lake Lugano

Last year, while travelling around northern Italy, I took the advice of a waiter in Milan and headed out to the pretty lakeside village of Porto Ceresio and waited for the public boat to Lugano in Switzerland. From the open-air deck of the gleaming white boat we could see pine-clad hills and snow-topped Alpine peaks soaring up in the distance. The journey took just over an hour. There was enough time to explore the town and have a swim in the clean energising lakeside waters before returning. This was also brilliant in the early evening light.
Nick

Winning tip: kingfishers and vines in western France

We hired a cottage in the Marais Poitevin (known as the Green Venice), which is partly in the Vendée between La Rochelle and Niort, which came with its own large canoe. Rather than exploring the wider area as planned, we spent almost the entire week paddling up and down the marsh’s canal network with its lush, green backwaters full of kingfishers and, in places, with vines laden with grapes hanging down to the boat.
Jo Baker