Malcolm Morrison finds the perfect home from home for messing about on the water

I'm going to have to admit it - I've been seduced by a rather large lady. Normally the more slender, narrow model is my type of girl, but Medusa... well,I just couldn't resist.

Medusa lives on the Kennet and Avon Canal, near Bath, and she's a 55ft by 10ft beauty of a barge.

Until a few years ago Medusa was home to Nikki Weir, who now lets her out through her company, The Moonraker Narrowboat Company.

Nikki is a woman of taste and, being her former home, Medusa comes equipped with everything you might expect from a luxurious, bit homely pad.

From the wonderful double cabin aft with the raised bed, so you can look out over the water while you have a lie-in, to the comfortable and spacious living area and galley, Medusa just oozes quality.

There is a luxurious, if small, bathroom and a second cabin that can sleep four with all its bunks in place. More sleeping accommodation is available on the king-size sofa-bed in the lounge.

The boat is lined internally with warm oak panels that give a reassuring feeling of strength and quality, and the shiny tiller and kitchen taps makes you itch to get out the Brasso (no, really!)

But, of course if you hire a canal boat for a week or two, you'll want to take to the water and explore.

Bath is within easy reach, and the canal offers the best views possible of this beautiful city, or you could head further west, to Bristol, or east to Devizes and beyond, passing through some stunning countryside.

Medusa handles well and working the locks and swing-bridges present little problem. And if you've never been on a canal boat holiday before, you'll get full instructions from Nikki before you're let loose on your own!

Fuel is include in the hire cost and the only maintenance you'll need to carry out is to check the weed hatch daily - and make sure you keep the water tank topped up, too!

If ever you've hired a canal boat fom one of the big holiday companies, I can't emphasize too much how different the Medusa experience is to the majority of them.

Nikki provides a superb personal service and your trip can be tailored to make your holiday something really special. If you're planning your hometmoon, for example, you'd be hard-pressed to find a more romantic experience. You can even have a gourmet meal cooked for you on board.

Medusa - and her brand new sister ship, the magnificent Moonbeam, at 65ft by 10ft, complete with Jacuzzi an en-suite shower - can be hired for short breaks, by the week, fortnight or more, all year round.

Personally, I can't wait to get back to polishing those taps.

By Emma Cooney

CANAL life is not usually associated with living in the lap of luxury.

But one boat-lover was so besotted with it that she launched a company hiring out narrowboats.

The Moonraker Narrowboat Company rents out to holidaymakers who are greeted with fresh flowers, chocolates and wine when they board.

Now the firm's founder, Nikki Weir, has launched her second vessel, the Moonbeam, which also includes a Jacuzzi Bath and en-suite shower room.

The 65ft-long craft sleeps nine people and has ample space to hold dinner parties while travelling along the waterway.

Ms Weir, who lived on the Kennet and Avon Canal for 18 months, said she never did things by halves.

"I'm aiming for the top end of the market where people who want extra are prepared to spend to get something special," she said.

"Hire boats cost a lot and I want people to feel they've had their money's worth."

Ms Weir launched the firm when she became disenchanted with teaching, with the former primary school deputy headteacher saying she started losing interest because of the restrictions of the national curriculum.

"I've never looked back," she said.

She still occasionally does supply teaching because she enjoys it, but her passion for boats became a full-time business five years ago and she has clients from across Europe and the USA.

She now has two boats - As well as the Moonbeam there is the 55ft Medusa - and wants to expand to four, saying her next vessel would focus on honeymooners.

"What I love about the canal is everybody is so wonderful and helpful and friendly towards each other. You get the odd misery, but they're the exception." she said.

Special boating holidays are possible with balloons, Champagne and cake for family parties and even takeaway and breakfast delivered if clients require.

Everyone is taken out on the water, but only after being trained to drive the boat.

"There's no way I'm letting anyone take out my babies before they know what they are doing, for the sake of the boat and their own enjoyment," she said.

" They go at a sedentary pace, no faster than walking speed, and the boat manouevres beautifully.

"It's really rewarding for me - the feelgood factor is really positive when people walk on and gasp.

" I like seeing their jaws drop to the floor."

She added people often turned to the canal for a holiday to escape.

A high-powered US lawyer recently switched off his phone and travelled around with his 15-year old son with no distractions.

"Often people arrive really stressed out by a long journey full of delays and they find the boat really cathartic."

The luxury of the Moonbeam is a far cry from how the mother of two started out on the canal.

"I lived in a shell and it was a bit of a hovel. I eventually had electricity and then a bath. I fixed it up slowly whenever I could," she said.

Ms Weir added the canals round Bath were perfect for a relaxing water holiday.

"We have a beautiful stretch of canal and river from Bristol to Honey Street and Pewsey," she said.

Brunel had a tremendous amount to do with the waterway, as a lot of it was moved across to make room for the railway line.

"I imagine Victorian ladies with their parasols parading Sydney Gardens watching the trains."