Marine Division

Direct Care are now able to offer holidays on board our narrow boat ‘Merlin’.

Merlin is a 40 foot narrow boat based on the river Nene near Peterborough. We often take our tent, bikes and fishing equipment with us on a cruise. From its mooring Merlin is able to access the entire river Nene and the many canal waterways beyond. These include the Grand Union Canal and Norfolk Broads. Side trips can be made to all the local places of interest.

Merlin is a four berth craft with living area, washing and toilet facilities and kitchen area. Merlin is ideally suited for one or two young people to be accompanied by the same number of adults. Young people will have single beds in a shared area. The space by its nature is intimate but gives young people access to the great outdoors in a unique and immediate way.

Merlin can be used for periods of up to 28 days but has shown to be most successful for day trips, weekends and week-long breaks. The boat serves as a great vantage point from which to survey the river Nene but also as a base camp from which our Young People can enjoy all the activities that we can offer such as camping on the river bank, biking, fishing and orienteering, besides enjoying barbecues and evenings around the camp fire.
This opportunity could also involve educational trips around museums. The Nene Valley Way Centre has its own instructors that provide white water circuit training, kayaking, canoeing and raft building from basic skills up. We see this as an activity holiday.

We can explore the full length of the navigable Nene as it winds its way gently past a series of ancient villages with spired churches and old watermills through the beautiful counties of Northamptonshire and Cambridgeshire to the fenland rivers and canals beyond.

Why not come and have a look first? Just give us a call and we can arrange a time for you to visit. You can have a look round the boat and we will try to answer any questions you have. The Nene is a beautiful river, which is much under used at present. We hope you will use this lovely facility that we know most young people will find very enjoyable and unforgettable.

We would very much like to discuss the opportunity of providing holiday care for your Young People. Costs to be confirmed.

Four of our Managers and Carers have the necessary training and experience of handling a four berth narrow boat.

More picture of our Merlin narrowboat here...