Browns Rowing Boats

About Browns Rowing Boats

Browns Rowing Boats has hired out traditional wooden rowing boats on the River Wear from its boathouse at Elvet Bridge for generations, with roots in the boat-building business established by Joseph Brown in the late nineteenth century. Gliding beneath the old bridges with Durham Castle keep rising above you is one of the city's most memorable experiences, and it suits families with children old enough to sit safely in a boat.

The boats are hired by the hour and the operation is seasonal and weather-dependent, so it is worth checking before you set out. The boathouse sits right by the riverside path below the peninsula, making it easy to combine a spell on the water with a walk beneath the cathedral or a picnic on the banks.

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Family Activities in Durham: Days Out with the Kids

A roundup of the best family days out in Durham, from riverside walks and rowing boats to museums, soft play and big attractions just outside the city.