In Yorkshire, the Leeds and Liverpool canal passes through grand unspoilt Pennine scenery, and many waterway marvels such as the Bingley Five Rise locks.

 

Three canals cross the Pennines, each with its own character, but all showing the determination of two centuries ago to get goods moving across the hills and build prosperity. Parts of this network have recently been restored, and our communities are justly proud of their achievements. Today on your narrowboat holiday you can see history all around as you travel, but also how the West Riding is adapting to 21st century life.

Our bases at restored wharves in Sowerby Bridge and Foulridge give you ideal start points for exploring all the Pennine canals.

SAMPLE ROUTES. Routes suitable for each boat can be seen on the availability search.

SHORT BREAK
Hebden Bridge & Todmorden 20 miles 34 locks 16 hours

Day 1 4 miles 5 locks 3 hours
Arrive in our historic canal basin to take over your boat. After our detailed briefing, we take you up through the first three locks, including the deepest one in the country. You then sail off along the side of the valley, through two more locks, to unpronounceable Mytholmroyd, where you moor for the night. Here you have two pubs with food, an upmarket café and convenience stores.
 
Day 2 6 miles 12 locks 5 hours
Next morning travel on to Hebden Bridge. This old mill town nestles in a fork in the hills, houses piled tier upon tier. Hebden is the original plastic-bag-free town, and has not succumbed to a big supermarket, so has an amazing variety of shops, cafes, restaurants and pubs. It's full of surprises – everything from horsey clothing to hand-made pottery, and not one but two bookshops. Keep on through the town and gradually wind up the valley, with woods, crags and the Calder running alongside, and views of the moors high above. Pause perhaps at the Stubbing Wharf pub, but keep going in order to reach Todmorden, a town schizophrenic as to whether it’s Yorkshire or Lancashire, wool or cotton. Moor at the Fielden Wharf visitor moorings below Lock 19, just beside one pub though don’t neglect the other pubs, restaurants and the busy market. Don't miss the Town Hall and many other fine Victorian - and much older - buildings, all dominated by a curving railway viaduct.

Day 3 8 miles 14 locks 6 hours
Turn below Lock 19 and head back to Luddenden Foot (pub and Indian restaurant). The valley looks quite different on the way down, and you'll see things you missed on the way up.
 

Day 4 2 miles 3 locks 2 hours
You need to get up early to be at the top lock for 8am, then back to base. This trip gives you time for walks, the pub or simply to sit and unwind, especially if you go Monday-Friday.

ONE WEEK OUT & BACK from Sowerby Bridge
Selby 96 miles 68 locks 40 hours

Sail down the leafy Calder & Hebble Navigation past Brighouse, and through wide river sections and narrow cuttings to Wakefield, where there are good moorings not too far from the bright lights. Then on to Stanley Ferry to see the famous aqueducts and two very convenient and contrasting pubs. You are now on the Aire & Calder, which is still a thriving commercial waterway, though there are now many more pleasure boats than barges. Electric locks and a wide channel help you speed to Castleford; keep on the main line of the Aire & Calder Navigation towards Knottingley. This section briefly passes through an industrial hinterland, but is full of interest because much water-borne freight comes through - in barges, push-tows and tankers. At Bank Dole you leave the main line and its electric locks, to drop into the Aire as it winds through farmland, stopping occasionally at pretty brick-built villages. And so to Selby, where you can explore the ancient Abbey and market, before taking the train to York – you could have time for a full day there.

ONE WEEK OUT & BACK from Foulridge
Bingley 58 miles 30 locks 30 hours

This route winds along the contours on the side of Airedale, with extensive views of sheep country, and stone growing out of the landscape – farmhouses, barns, stone walls in all directions and the occasional village or small town. At Greenberfield, you leave the summit level, and paradoxically pass into the wildest scenery, where you could moor for days with no human contact but the occasional passing boat, walker or cyclist. Across the valley, you may see a boat behind a stone wall, apparently heading in the same direction as you on a parallel canal – only to find that you meet on a hairpin bend, and pass. Then the Bank Newton flight leads you round and down into Gargrave, an unspoilt canal village. From here it’s level all the way to Skipton, with views of the hills and lots of swing bridges. Quite suddenly, you are in Skipton, and can moor right in the centre of town. Explore the castle, cattle and street markets and shops. Then carry on along the side of the Aire Valley, with extensive views through the trees. Pass through the romantic village of Kildwick, clinging to the hillside with the canal going placidly through the middle. Silsden is a bigger town, with shops and eating places. Keighley Golf Course has astonishing rhododendrons in May. Moor at Bridge 197A and walk down to East Riddlesden Hall NT, a 17th century manor house with fine garden; or get a bus to Keighley Station, and take the steam train (of Railway Children fame) to Haworth, and walk up the steep hill to the Bronte Parsonage. Turn at the top of the Five Rise.

ONE WAY TRIP
Between Sowerby Bridge and Foulridge, via Leeds by the Leeds & Liverpool Canal. 82 miles 79 locks 45 hours

One of the great canal journeys, this takes you across the backbone of England and through the heart of the West Riding, in scenery varying from the timeless calm of the L&L summit to the hubbub of just-built waterfront Leeds. Sail down the leafy Calder & Hebble Navigation past Brighouse, and through wide river sections and narrow cuttings to Wakefield, where there are good moorings not too far from the bright lights. Then on to Stanley Ferry to see the famous aqueducts and two very convenient and contrasting pubs. You are now on the Aire & Calder, which is still a thriving commercial waterway, though there are now many more pleasure boats than barges. Electric locks and a wide channel help you speed (relatively) round to Leeds, where you sail past the regenerated waterfront. Then join the Leeds & Liverpool Canal which quickly escapes along its own way through fields and woods, with spectacular views of old West Riding industry - particularly Sir Titus Salt's Italianate mills and model town at Saltaire, with its Hockney museum. There are several staircase locks along the way, which culminate in the Five Rise Locks at Bingley, one of the Seven Wonders of the Waterways. Carry on past the Five Rise and discover some of the most spectacular scenery anywhere on the canals, with extensive views of the edge of the Yorkshire Dales. Skipton makes a splendid place to moor while you explore the Dales by bus or on foot. Then the canal wanders through the moors before the last three locks lift you to the summit pool and so bring you to your mooring by Foulridge Tunnel - 1640 yards driven through the top of the Pennines.

Navigation notes: Suitable for active, experienced crews only. Transfer will be arranged at extra cost. Full details on the availability search results.