Canal boat holiday destinations from Silsden, near Keighley, West Yorkshire

Our narrowboat and broad beam boat hire base at Silsden is on the Leeds & Liverpool Canal, on the southern edge of the Yorkshire Dales National Park. From the peace and open space of the moorlands at the canal’s summit, to the vibrant city centre of Leeds, there’s a great choice of destinations from Silsden. You can reach two of the Sevon Wonders of the Waterways – the famous Bingley Five Rise Locks near Bradford, and the awesome Burnley Embankment.

The 127-mile-long Leeds & Liverpool Canal is the longest single canal in the country. It takes boaters across the Pennines and links the wide waterways of Yorkshire with those of Lancashire and the River Mersey. The Leeds & Liverpool main line has 93 locks and two tunnels.

3-night destinations from Silsden

Gargrave and back (23 Miles, 6 locks, 12.5 hours)

Head west along the Leeds & Liverpool Canal through the stunning scenery of Airedale. There’s a series of swing bridges along the way, including one an interesting memorial to the Polish crew of a WW2 bomber that crashed nearby. You’ll pass through the village of Kildwick with its White Lion pub and Bradley, home of the Slaters Arms. Next you’ll reach Snaygill and the Bay Horse pub. When you reach the ancient market town of Skipton, you can moor up to visit Skipton Castle. Three miles at Gargrave there are plenty of pubs and you can easily access the Yorkshire Dales National Park. Turn the boat around at the winding hole in the centre of Gargrave and return to Silsden.

Saltaire and back (18 Miles, 22 locks, 13.5 hours)

Head east from Silsden enjoying beautiful views of the River Aire. You’ll go through a series of swing bridges and the village of Stockbridge, home of Cliffe Castle. Next you’ll go through Riddlesden, passing the National Trust’s East Riddlesden Hall. Two miles later you’ll reach the Bingley Five Rise Locks, one of the Seven Wonders of the Waterways. Built in 1774, they are all joined together without ‘pounds’ in between them, making them the steepest staircase locks in the UK with a gradient of about 1:5 (a rise of 59ft 2in over a distance of 320ft).

A Canal & River Trust volunteer lock keepers are normally on hand to help. The Bingley 5-Rise are followed by the lesser known 3-Rise locks. Two miles later you’ll reach UNESCO World Heritage Saltaire, named after Sir Titus Salt who built the village to house and employ the workers in his textile mill. Saltaire is located on the outskirts of the town of Shipley where you can turn around (just after Junction Bridge 208) and return to Silsden.

4-night destinations from Silsden

Apperley Bridge and back (27 miles, 32 locks, 20.5 hours)
Follow the 3-night route to Saltaire and continue on through 5 more locks and 5 more swing bridges to Apperley Bridge. You can turn your boat around at Apperley Bridge Marina and then moor up to explore the town, where there’s a fish and chip shop and choice of pubs, including The Stansfield and Dog & Gun. There’s also at café at the marina.

7-night destinations from Silsden

Barnoldswick and back (38 miles, 30 locks, 27 hours)

Follow the 3-night route to Gargrave and continue heading west, enjoying views of the Yorkshire Dales. At Bank Newton there are seven locks to go through, taking you up onto the Pennines. Just over two miles later, you’ll reach East Marton, where you’ll find the Abbot’s Harbour restaurant. Then you’ll go through three locks at Greenberfield, surrounded by beautiful countryside. When you reach the historic market town of Barnoldswick, you can turn the boat around just before Long Ing Bridge No.153 and moor up to explore the town, where you’ll find a variety of independent shops, pubs, cafes and restaurants.

Foulridge Tunnel and back (45 miles, 30 locks, 29 hours)
Follow the 7-night route to Barnoldswick and continue cruising through the Pennines. You’ll go through Salterforth, home of the Anchor Inn. Just before the entrance to the 1.49-kilometre long Foulridge Tunnel, you’ll reach Foulridge Wharf. Passage through the tunnel works on a traffic light system which allows each boat 20 minutes to get to the other end. Turn around after the tunnel, just after Wanless Bridge No.145 and return to Silsden.

Leeds and back (44 miles, 54 locks, 31.5 hours)

Follow the 4-night route to Apperley Bridge and continue heading east along the Leeds & Liverpool Canal, following the Aire Valley. When you reach Rodley, you’ll find three pubs – the canalside Rodley Barge and the Railway Inn and Owl Inn in the village. At Newlay there are three more locks and the canalside Abbey Inn. Then you’ll go through the Forge Three Locks before reaching Kirkstall with its Cistercian Abbey ruins and Abbey House Museum. When you reach Leeds, you can moor up in Leeds Dock to explore the city’s museums, Victorian shopping arcades and excellent choice of places to eat. Turn around and return to Silsden.

Burnley and back ( 63 miles, 44 locks, 32 hours)

Follow the 7-night route to Foulridge Tunnel and continue cruising through the beautiful Yorkshire countryside. You’ll go through 7 locks at Barrowford, where there are shops, fish & chips, restaurants and pubs, including The White Bear Inn. You’ll see Pendle Hill in the distance and in Barrowford you’ll find the Pendle Heritage Centre, with an exhibition on the famous Pendle Witches. There’s a tea room overlooking the restored 18th century walled garden, the Pendle Art Gallery, and the Forest of Bowland Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty.

Four miles later you’ll reach the famous mile-long Burnley Embankment which carries the canal over the town and includes an aqueduct at its middle. Burnley Embankment is considered to be one of the Seven Wonders of the Waterways. At the end of the Embankment the canal turns to the right to the Weaver’s Triangle. Here you’ll find tall brick chimneys, old loading wharves and historic canalside warehouses, engine houses and spinning mills, making it one of the best-preserved 19th century industrial districts in the UK. You can visit The Weaver’s Triangle visitor centre and walk into the town centre. Turn around just before bridge 130 and return to Silsden.

10/11-night destinations from Silsden

Riley Green and back (106 miles, 56 locks, 48 hours)
Follow the 7-night route to Burnley and continue cruising towards Liverpool. You’ll soon reach the 559-yard-long Gannow Tunnel. Now cruising through the Calder Valley, you’ll pass the village of Hapton with its popular Hapton Inn. You’ll go through 3 more swing bridges before you reach Clayton-le-Moors, a suburb of Accrington. When you reach Rishton, you’ll find a choice of places to eat.

Two miles on at Eanam, you’ll enter the suburbs of Blackburn, where there’s plenty to do, including visiting the Museum & Art Gallery where there’s a series of rooms demonstrating the development of the textile industry. There’s a flight of 6 locks at Blackburn, once thought of as ‘the weaving capital of the world’. As the canal leaves Blackburn, it crosses a high embankment before reaching the village of Riley Green and the Royal Oak pub. Turn around at the wharf and return to Silsden.

14-night destinations from Silsden

Adlington and back (135 miles, 72 locks, 60 hours)

Carry on from Riley Green and you’ll soon pass through Withnell Fold and then you’ll reach the flight of 7 locks at Johnson’s Hill and the Top Lock pub. There are pubs and shops at Chorley and at Adlington you’ll find The (Bottom) Spinners Arms and the White Bear Marina café. You can turn your boat around in the marina and return to Silsden.

Hebden Bridge and back (133 miles, 144 locks, 81 hours)

Follow the 7-night route to Leeds and then transfer onto the Aire & Calder Navigation. Cruise for 7 miles through 4 locks to Fall Ing Junction, passing the Canal & River Trust’s Stanley Ferry lock gate workshops and the Stanley Ferry pub. Transfer onto the Calder & Hebble Navigation and travel for 2 miles to Sowerby Bridge Junction, passing the Hepworth Wakefield Gallery. Transfer onto the Rochdale Canal and cruise for 5 miles through 7 locks to Hebden Bridge Wharf. Along the way you’ll pass through Shepley Bridge, Mirfield, Brighouse and Elland.