Narrowboat Nomads: Living the Dream on the English Waterways

by Steve Haywood

We were aware of a dreamlike quality to our trip. There was something far-fetched about it, something out of this world.


Austerity might be getting everyone else down, but Steve is waving his worries goodbye on another of his light-hearted trips around the picturesque English waterways.
This time it’s a bit different, though. This time he’s not just cruising with his cat, Kit, but with his long-suffering wife, Em, who’s given up work and wants her share of easy living too. They’ve rented out their home for the ups and downs of a life afloat, and there’s no going
back now as they cruise from the historic River Thames, through the Midlands and westward into the hills of Wales, meeting a familiar cast of eccentrics and oddballs along the way, and experiencing one of the hottest summers of recent years.
But how, after life in a four-bedroom house, do they manage to survive together squeezed into a space the size of a potting shed? Other books pretend to tell you about life afloat – this one shows you what it’s really like.

Genres: Nonfiction, Travel

321 pages, Kindle Edition

First published July 8, 2015

About the author

Librarian Note: There is more than one author by this name in the Goodreads database.

Steve Haywood is an award-winning TV producer and has worked on programmes such as Newsnight, Panorama and Rough Justice. Based in London, he writes a lively, provocative column for Canal Boat magazine.

Reviews

[Megalion · Rating 3 out of 5]

One of my favorite memories is a week long trip with my Dad and his friends on a houseboat.

Naturally, I was curious about narrowboats of England.

Steve focuses on the decision making process that he and his wife went through and the process of converting their life to fit the nomadic life on a boat.

After that, he's narrating their journeys and how regular life such as doctor appointments sometimes govern their days. Talks about the unspoken culture of full time narrowboat dwellers. Also some of the politics and policies that have been instituted on those who travel the rivers. The most interesting being the restrictions that essentially drove the poor off the river.

It was interesting but ultimately not what I was looking for. For example, I would have liked more specific details about narrowboats as they seem different than the houseboats of the US. The closest Steve came to talking about it was to praise his wife for being able to find space to stash everything they decided to take with them.

I decided not to finish at 29% because my TBR list is huge.
Yet I would strongly urge those interested in life on the water lifestyles to give this memoir a go. Especially if in England. A good 3 star read for me. Might have gone up even.

Recommended to anyone interested in boat life. Or the nomadic lifestyle.

Thank you to the publisher for the free copy of this book in exchange for this honest review.

[Ellie · Rating 2 out of 5]

Very light reading. Overall quite boring (although predominantly pleasantly so). Haywood can spend two pages describing something as mundane as brushing his cat or telling his readers that he can keep a fire going which slows the pace of the book. But maybe that’s fitting with the subject of narrowboating which isn’t the speediest mode of transport by any stretch of the imagination.

One thing to note - this is a narrowboating story from a very middle class perspective. I found Haywood’s judgemental comments about people of different social standing/background grating on me as the book went on. A few disparaging comments judging places by their quantities of charity shops struck a bit close to home.

Haywood uses some nice words which redeemed the book a little for me. It also gave some helpful insights into life on a narrowboat (which is what I was after and what I’d have liked more of) and inspired me to learn more about the history and culture of my surroundings in general.

[Fredrik · Rating 4 out of 5]

Delightful! I just want to get a boat and set off along those canals now. A good read and a good story told well.

[Cbe Milton Reynolds · Rating 4 out of 5]

Quite informative about the many places visited along the canals and waterways during their travels. Told with a keen sense of humour that will often make the reader laugh out loud. It is the adventures of the author and his wife plus their cat. After giving up work, they move from their spacious 4 bed London house which they do up and rent out, and whittle down their belongings to live on a narrowboat with their cat, who is constantly shedding hair. Their pace of life slows down to the speed of the boat, their journey becomes more important than their destinations and their land bound friends who are still governed by the clock have trouble understanding this when trying to arrange a time and place to meet up. Travelling the waterways at a walking pace means they start to appreciate the beauty of their surroundings which they did not previously see while speeding somewhere in their car. Despite finding their new home somewhat cramped and getting on each others nerves each day, they do not seem to regret moving on to the boat and find it has changed their outlook and made them more relaxed than they were living in their house in London.

[Kim · Rating 5 out of 5]

The story of a married couple who upon the wife retiring, moved lock, stock and cat onto their narrowboat. This is the story of almost their first year on the narrowboat. How they tried to move away from London but found that their meandering took them along the Thames almost back to where they didn’t want to be. Not really a technical book of boating but a couple’s story of getting used to being together in what is a small space.


I went on a holiday with friends on a narrowboat and to be honest, enjoy the memory of it more than the actual holiday. I am not sure this book would encourage me to go again. However what I have taken away from it, is that retirement can be a time that you can do what you want and at your own speed.

[Anna · Rating 4 out of 5]

Although I borrowed this library book to read primarily about life on the narrowboat it was also about the various places they visited. I would have appreciated a map showing where these canals and towns were and how they related to each other. This may, of course, be in another of the author's publications. I would also have appreciated more commentary on the cat 'Kit' who shared the journey. I struggled to correctly understand the workings of 'the towpath', 'lochs' and the 'cut' which I have assumed is the canal itself. A glossary would have benefited those who do not have detailed knowledge of the canal system. Very easy, relaxing reading nonetheless.

[BillReader · Rating 2 out of 5]

Couple sell house buy a boat and live on the canals. Steve Haywood writes for canal magazine so knows what he is talking about, but the book drags along. I think I prefer change if lifestyle books written by people I know or have some character unfortunately this is bland, gave it a good shot 180 pages but that's enough

[Margaret · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love following the narrowboat life. The people are interesting, the history is amazing. I know more now about Britain than I'd ever learn. Canals and waterways, seeing the towns, cities and villages from the waterside.

[Polly Krize · Rating 3 out of 5]

I received an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Downsizing, really downsizing! Selling their home and moving onto a narrowboat to cruise the inland waterways of Great Britain brings Steve and Emily both closer and further apart. Traveling towards Wales, they meet up with many eccentric characters, and also enjoy (?) one of the hottest summers Britain has ever had. Entertaining read.

[Rob · Rating 4 out of 5]

A very interesting travelogue, travelling from Banbury via London to Llangollen. Looking forward to reading another of Steve Haywood's travel tales. Thanks Sara for recommendation.

[Sara · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thoroughly enjoyed reading this, great to hear about their antics both on and off the boat :-)

[Nancie Lafferty · Rating 3 out of 5]

Interesting seeing what life on a longboat cruising the canals is like. Would like doing this someday.

[Owl · Rating 5 out of 5]

I need (want, rather...) a houseboat. There is no way around it. :-)