Take to the water for a short holiday

For the best choice of river and boating holidays throughout the UK, it’s all-aboard with waterwaysholidays.com which offers live availability on more than 1500 UK narrowboats and cruisers and with more than 50 different start locations.

As well as a huge range of craft – sleeping from two to 12 – the website also offers lots of advice on boating holidays, plus listings of the latest special offers.

For example, on selected holidays on the Norfolk Broads taken before 15 July there are savings of £50 on week-long holidays; this means that rental of a ‘Gold Gem 08’ cruiser (sleeps six) from Stalham marina starting 10 July is now £557.

For more information and bookings, visit waterwaysholidays.com.

Kids travel free on all Irish Ferries crossings up to 31 August 2009 when booked by 14 July and 14 days before sailing.

And with a lead-in price of just £79 one-way for a car and driver and £20 for additional adults for midweek travel (Monday-to-Thursday), a family of four can cross the Irish Sea with their car – in peak season - for as little as £99.

These prices apply on the Pembroke/Rosslare cruise ferry crossing; add £10 for Friday and Sunday travel or £20 on Saturdays. On the Holyhead/Dublin cruise ferry the lead-in is £84 for car and driver or £99 for the fast ferry. All prices represent savings of up to 30 per cent.

For more information and bookings, visit irishferries.com.