There's nothing quite like messing about in boats!

Towns and villages are seen from a totally different approach as you sneak silently through them, or maybe tie up alongside.

Once a lifeline of industry and commerce, canals and navigable rivers, criss-cross the length and breadth of Britain, meandering for more than 2,000 miles.

Even today it is possible to travel by boat from Bristol to York, from Oxford to Cambridge or even London, across the Pennines, through Scotland from coast to coast and into the heart of Wales and the remote corners of the Black Country.

You don't have to be interested in our industrial heritage or in the history of canals, but when you realise that they were man-made and that many of the original features still stand after almost 200 years, you can't help but see them in a different light.

Before the advent of the railways, canals were at their busiest with working boats transporting goods up and down the country, pulled by horses along the towpath. Now these same waterways have found a new purpose as a focus for leisure pursuits and particularly holiday cruising.

Don't worry that locks are technical and difficult. It's true there are some slight variations in their operation, they really work on the same simple principle and require very little physical effort.

Just like the roads, there are speed limits on the waterways - a sedate four miles per hour! And you must observe the rules of the 'road'.

For instance, slow down when passing other moored boats or anglers, on shallow sections, in tunnels, on sharp bends and, of course, passing through locks takes time.

If you've 'wetted' your appetite for more, there are several canal museums, most notably at Stoke Bruerne, at Gloucester and at Ellesmere Port, where you can relive the heyday of the canal age and find out about the bargees and their families who made their living on the canals and lived their whole lives afloat on their working narrowboats.

Or maybe you'd prefer the hands-on-deck approach to explore both the traditional landscape with its old inns and cottages and the exciting legacies of the Industrial Revolution.

You can decide whether to take to the rivers of Britain and Ireland or cross the Channel to France to explore the French canalways. There's a river to suit everyone.

Prices vary but generally won't break the bank. For example, four people mum, dad and two children under 13 can take to the Norfolk Broads in September for around £350 for one week. That includes boat hire, insurance, fuel and car parking.

Or get together with friends and lower the cost in the peak season. Two families of four on an eight berth narrowboat on the canals would pay around £900 between them.

As the first rays of summer descend upon the country, what do we Brits do? We rush out and book holidays abroad with the intention of lying on a beach for a fortnight.

But what if something more active interests you? Camping brings connotations of leaky tents, cold nights and renditions of ging gang goolie round the campfire. But these days it can really be what you make it.

If you are planning on going camping then read on for our essential list of what basics you will need to take with you.

The most obvious item will of course be your tent. These now come in a variety of shapes and designs with a size to suit everyone.

Prices start from £49.99 for a basic one-man tent. It is worth investing in a decent one as they are durable and will last a long time.

Do not let all the technical jargon put you off, simply ask someone who works in the shop. Specialist camping and outdoor shops such as Millets and Cotswold are ideal places to buy all your essentials as the staff are fully trained and often have experience of camping themselves.

You will also need to take a sleeping bag as the nights can get pretty cold. Most makes are now insulated and many have been designed to withstand sub-zero temperatures and now come very compact, which is ideal for keeping luggage to a minimum.

Camping shops will also sell little luxuries such as foam mattresses or airbeds if you feel that sleeping on the floor is too basic.

Gas cookers are an essential if the idea of cooking over an open fire does not appeal to you. I have found through my own experiences of camping that it just takes common sense as to what kitchen utensils you need to take.

Pots and pans are a key item, as is a washing up bowl and a tin opener.

Believe me, this will come in very handy. As with sleeping bags, all this kind of equipment can be brought in a compact form, saving you room. Camping shops are also full of other modern gadgets to make camping easy and fun.

Gas lights are very useful in the evening, giving out warmth as well as light. But remember not to leave them on in your tent while you are asleep, as this is a fire hazard. The handiest item by far will be your torch, especially when you have to traipse across a field at 3 o'clock in the morning to go to the toilet.

And remember your spare batteries!

Once you've got all your equipment ready and packed, where do you go?

There are hundreds of campsites all across the UK.

Reputable ones with decent showers and toilets can be found on www.good-accommodation-guide.co.uk which lists all the campsites, hotels and guest houses in the UK and Ireland.

If you want to try further afield and camp in Europe there are guides that can be bought in camping shops.

Some campsites offer activities if you are feeling slightly more adventurous, such as rock climbing, abseiling or archery. To ensure your own safety, check that you are being taught by qualified instructors.

If you are intending to take your pet away with you then it is best to check with the campsite beforehand, as many of them do not allow dogs on site.

So if you are bored with beach holidays, or just fancy a change, why not consider camping? Whether you are going away with a group of friends or taking your family away for a break it is up to you how much or how little you do. And if you really get in the mood, sing campfire songs all night long!