Inland waterways vary enormously. Some are sweeping and grand, some small and intricate (and some, it has to be said, can be unvarying and dull). Generally speaking, the bigger, wider routes are less personal, with electrically operated locks, and stopping points that are often miles apart.

On the Nivernais canal, where we operate, there is a continuous variety, with many places to moor, and quaint, hand-wound locks where we can meet the resident keepers, admire their vegetable gardens and, if we wish, take a stroll along the old towing path, to the next stone-built bridge or lock, before joining the barge again.

What is not often said, is that, with the passage of time many of the older, more attractive waterways in Europe have become shallow. Bridges, too, are often lower, with narrow stretches of waterway in between. This is particularly true of the Canal Du Nivernais - larger, deeper craft cannot get into it! Hence our own 'Luciole': specially developed to meet these demands, she provides a passport to an entrancing region.