Canterbury Punting Company

Punting on the Stour is one of those rare activities that feels properly timeless. The Canterbury Punting Company operates from the heart of the medieval city, where you propel a flat-bottomed boat along the same stretch of river that's been ferrying people since long before tourism was invented. It's gentle, it's slow, and that's entirely the point.

You'll glide past the cathedral's buttresses, under low stone bridges, and alongside gardens that have no business looking this good in the middle of a market town. The pole work takes a few minutes to get the hang of - expect a few ungainly jabs at the riverbed before you find your rhythm - but that's half the charm. If poling sounds like hard work, they do chauffeur-punted tours where someone else does the graft.

It suits families with older kids and anyone who enjoys moving at a pace where conversation actually happens. Very young children might fidget after twenty minutes, and anyone prone to getting wet should sit in the middle. Allow an hour minimum, though two hours is far more satisfying. There's a real stop-and-stare quality to it that disappears if you're rushing.

The nearest camping spots - Canterbury Camping and Caravanning Club Campsite is just 1.5 miles away - make it ideal as a half-day activity while based locally. Pair it with the cathedral and a wander through the old town, and you've got a proper summer afternoon sorted. Weather dependent, obviously, but even overcast days work. Just don't go expecting white-knuckle thrills.