In the children’s book The Wind in The Willows, one character says to another, “Believe me, my young friend, there is nothing — absolutely nothing — half so much worth doing as simply messing about in boats.”
Without a doubt, there’s a unique sort of peace to be found when paddling a boat or, more particularly for me, a coracle.
Lightweight River Vessels
Coracles are small fishing vessels designed to carry just one person, and they’re usually made from natural and locally sourced materials. The shape of these tiny boats can vary slightly, depending on local customs and the type of water they’re used on, but one thing all coracles have in common is that they’re easy to transport and are light enough to be carried on a person’s back.
Here in the United Kingdom, we see the coracle as something quintessentially Welsh. (The Welsh name for these little vessels is .) Most Welsh people, like myself, feel the coracle is a unique part of our culture. The tradition of fishing from coracles in Britain goes back to at least the Bronze Age, possibly further.
