Earlier this week, I travelled to Droitwich Spa Marina to see one of the country's eco-friendly boat hire companies, Cafwin Cruises.

It was the first time I had met its owner, Catherine Armstrong, in person, and it could only happen on Monday - as that's turnaround day.

Cafwin Cruises' two canal boats are available to hire for a minimum of one week at a time, with bookings traditionally starting on Mondays which means Catherine and her team of cleaners and engineers have a busy morning of preparing each boat for their new guests.

I arrived as the work was complete, and was in awe of how plush and cosy the interiors of Cafwin Cruises' electric-hybrid boat, Ollie Oil, was. Renovated to a high specification, the boat has everything you could need to sustain yourself for your journey through Worcestershire's and the West Midlands' impressive canal system.

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A fully-fitted kitchen with all the necessities, dining space, a television, sofa (which converts into a bed), and a fully-equipped bathroom. The little extras impressed me too, such as a fresh range of eco-friendly toiletries, a bottle of prosecco, and sweet treats for each booking.

Fortunately, the couple who had booked onto Ollie Owl for that day were happy to have me aboard for the start of their journey toward Stoke Prior, where they were aiming to reach before nightfall.

These guests were returning clients of Catherine, having hired her original boat, Arthur Owl, two years prior. Catherine sends every guest plenty of instructional videos beforehand to get them familiar with the boat (and driving it), but the handover is extensive once they arrive too.

I've heard the rumble of diesel-powered canal boats before, but never experienced an electric-hybrid, and as we set off toward the first lock I was amazed by how silent Ollie Owl was.

Ollie Owl has a minimum of six hours battery life before his backup diesel power would be required, and an onboard digital screen keeps guests informed of the boat's condition.

This was my first experience, but for the guests it promises a week of peace and relaxation.