The Lock-Keeper Blog
The Lock-Keeper has gone viral! Every few weeks we will be blogging about the Hotel barging experience; From the history of our hotel barges to some of the off the beaten track excursions we visit. Intrigued? Then read on...
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Have you ever wondered how the eponymous sparkling wine of Champagne became one of the most exclusive beverages in the world? Nowadays it’s used to toast the New Year, christen new ships and douse victorious sport champions. It will also welcome you when you step aboard the hotel barge Panache for your cruise through the Champagne region with European Waterways. It was not always the case, however, that the drink was associated with luxury and celebration.
The idea of eating minced lamb, oatmeal, onions and spices cooked in a sheep’s stomach is not to everybody’s taste, so here is a recipe for Cullen Skink, a very tasty soup which is also often served on Burns’ Night. This soup has its roots in Cullen, a small town on the Moray Firth coast and is traditionally made using Finnan haddock.
You may well already know about our elegant new lady, ‘Spirit of Scotland’, a hotel barge that will soon be embarking on voyages of discovery on Thomas Telford’s Caledonian Canal and lochs of the Great Glen. A cruise aboard her encompasses the true ‘spirit’ of Scotland and is a special addition to our collection.
An anniversary – perhaps a wedding milestone, a special birthday or a memorable date with personal significance – is the perfect opportunity to gather together your nearest and dearest to celebrate. If you’re looking for a unique way to commemorate this special event with your loved ones, chartering a hotel barge on one of the peaceful inland waterways of Europe could be the perfect solution.
Bordeaux has recently been voted the best city to visit and it’s easy to understand why. This capital of the most renowned wine-growing region in the world has much to offer, including the new Cité du Vin, a truly innovative wine museum sited on the banks of the River Garonne “where wine comes to life through an immersive, sensorial approach, all set within an evocative architectural design.
Back in May this year we wrote about France’s most beautiful villages, which are recognised by the independent organisation Le Plus Beaux Villages de France. There are strict criteria for a village to be given membership of this association: the total resident population must be fewer than 2,000 people; it must be situated in a charming rural setting; and the village must boast at least two national heritage sites.
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