A trip to the city of Bath in the Southwest of England is a must for any traveller of the United Kingdom. With its beautiful architecture, historic Roman baths and proximity to Stonehenge, the city is a superb place to spend a weekend exploring. Bath is situated on the River Avon (given the fact that the UK is host to several ‘River Avons’ it is often referred to as the Lower Avon) ensuring that it is possible to enjoy a leisurely session of river travel, in particular, punting. Punting is a form of boating that makes for a unique experience and an enjoyable way to soak up the tranquil atmosphere that surrounds the area.
Bath Boating Company
The Bath Boating Company runs a small and friendly business, the Bath Boating Station, around a twenty minute walk Northeast of the city centre. Once you have arrived, you head through the main gates and down towards the river’s edge where the friendly staff are available to offer advice on what form of boating would be best suited to you and your party.
Three different craft are available at the Boating Station: skiffs, canoes/kayaks and punts. Skiffs are long and slender rowing boats adapted for use on slow-moving inland waterways. Canoes and kayaks are the traditional Canadian style with regular or double ended paddles available. The punt is a long, narrow, flat-bottomed boat with squared ends, which is propelled through the water using a long pole. Upon enquiry, the chap manning the booth offered the advice that, given the crisp stillness of the Sunday morning air and the fact that punts are not as common as the other two models, a session of punting may just provide the most rewarding experience.
Punts
Punts date back to medieval times where they were used as a stable vessel to transport goods along rivers too shallow for other conventional craft. They were later adapted to be used as pleasure craft and can be found dotted around riverside cities in the UK such as Bath, Oxford and Cambridge. Punting is a popular form of leisure for tourists as it offers a new and pleasurable experience to many who have rowed or sailed, as well as a fun few hours of river cruising for beginners.
After a short demonstration from the assistant, you are pushed away from the moorings and set off on your journey upstream. Heading upstream is definitely advisable on the Avon. It is not as deep as it is downstream, thereby making the use of the pole easier and, in addition, the bulk of the hard work can be done against the current, with the return journey a little more relaxing as the flow of the river assists your passage.
Technique
The technique of punting is simple and easily picked up by a novice. One person acts as the punter and stands at the rear of the punt controlling the pole. The other person (although solo travel is also common) sits near the front and enjoys the ride, perhaps using one of the small oars to help out with steering. The pole (made from wood and around 4-5 metres in length) is dropped vertically into the river alongside the punt. As it hits the riverbed, the punter pushes against it and propels the punt forwards. Steering is achieved by dragging at least half the length of the pole behind the boat and moving it in the same way as a rudder and is surprisingly effective.
Once you have had a few drop-and-push trials, it becomes quite easy to fall into a pattern and travel up the river gets underway. Although it seems quite leisurely, heading upstream does provide a decent amount of exercise to the arms and legs. Even so, slowly cruising along the river and taking in the sights, sounds and smells of riverside life is extremely peaceful and enjoyable. The experience makes for a pleasant morning in Bath and is recommended to anyone visiting the area: singles, couples and groups are all catered for.
Details
The Bath Boating Station hires punts at reasonable rates: £7 per hour for adults and £2 per hour for every further hour. Discounts are offered to children and senior citizens and all day hire is possible. The Station also offers a restaurant and accommodation, and guests are offered a free afternoon of boat hire during the season. The season runs from approximately Easter to the end of September.
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