In The Wind in the Willows, Ratty says to Mole that “there is nothing – absolutely nothing – half so much worth doing as simply messing about in boats”. And so it was with Le Boat, where we – and some four-footed friends – spent time simply dawdling along the river from Chertsey. This really is slow travel at its best, especially when it is blessed with sunny weather. With each pooch safely strapped into their life jackets, we boarded a four bedroomed, three bathroomed ‘Magnifique” cruiser and headed out into the sunshine. You don’t need any boating experience – Le Boat explained the essentials and stayed with us until we felt confident enough at the wheel to go exploring. Pootling along at a little over walking pace is a delightful way to admire the meadows and properties lining the waterfront (now which house would we most dream of owning?) and the dogs loved watching the world go by every bit as much as we did – no need for kennels or pet-sitters on this trip. Up on the top deck, we had the perfect vantage point from which to enjoy the scenery, cup of coffee in hand, thanks to the kitchen below decked out with everything we needed (particularly the fridge). Four-nights self-catering in June 2023, starting and ending in Chertsey, cost £1,689, plus £75 for each four-legged friend.
Le Boat (023 9222 2177, www.leboat.co.uk)
