Just Add Water

An inspiring guide to activities and adventures to re-energise and boost your mood, by our rivers, lakes and canals. While Britain's rivers, lakes and canals have long been co-opted by fitness enthusiasts for the physical benefits they can bring, it's only relatively recently that we've given much thought to their impact on our mental state too. 'Blue health' - the idea that having access to an area of water can benefit a person's whole wellbeing - is gaining traction. These waterside places are fundamental to the kind of stuff people now realise they need in their lives - exercise, solace, natural beauty and new places to socialise - with so many of them on our doorstep. Just Add Water is your guide to the many mood-boosting and wellbeing activities, adventures and escapes that our inland waterways have to offer. Nearly 200 destinations are featured, organised into 15 core activities, covering the length and breadth of the UK, making this the ideal companion for anyone planning a day trip or boating holiday. Expert journalist Sarah Henshaw explains how the activities can re-energise, inspire and relax, weaving their wellbeing benefits with practical information to help you get the most out of each experience. Accompanied by stunning images, the handbook includes everything from mudlarking to wild swimming, fishing to foraging towpath hedgerows, paddleboarding to learning how to paint canal folk art. There are also inspirational first-hand accounts of the many ways our waterways have made a difference to people's day-to-day lives - including a high-flying exec who finds commuting by water a great way to manage stress. This guide showcases the multiple ways to be on, in, under or next to water, and how it can enhance the whole spectrum of lived experience.

Sarah Henshaw was deputy editor of Waterways World magazine, and editor of the society magazines of the Inland Waterways Association and River Thames Society. She has written for the Telegraph, the Independent and Elle Decoration, and previously ran a floating bookshop. Having lived on a narrowboat for five years, she is now on terra firma in France.

Introduction 1) Stretch your legs: Why our waterways make such excellent walking routes and best places to walk. 2) Holiday afloat: Guide to hiring a narrowboat including costs, what to expect, recommended routes for novices etc. 3) Take a dip: How wild swimming is growing in popularity including how and where to do it. 4) Pack a picnic: The best picnic spots next to water, towpath foraging tips, waterside restaurants etc. 5) Row your boat: Kayaking and rowing on the inland waterways, including profile of the Canal & River Trust's new coast-to-coast kayak trail. 6) Visit a festival: Why our river and canal festivals can be a great way to tap into the waterways community and the benefits these social interactions can bring. 7) Sleep under the stars: The best waterside campsites and overnight stays on static boats. 8) Feed the ducks: Ten great sites to see ducks and wildfowl, a profile of Slimbridge Wetland Centre. 9) Volunteer here: A day in the life of a volunteer lock-keeper and other volunteering opportunities. 10) Walk on water: How the Hawaiian sport of paddleboarding became a canal crossover. 11) Learn a waterways skill: Build your own coracle, learn the art of traditional roses & castles canal painting etc. 12) Hitch a ride: Overview of the most iconic passenger/trip-boats in Britain and inland ferries. 13) Go fishing: All you need to know about getting started, where you can and can't do it. 14) Make a day of it: Day-trip ideas by the water for the whole family. 15) Call it home: The wellbeing benefits and practicalities of living on water.