Canal boat holiday routes in Yorkshire
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NARROWBOAT HOLIDAYS ON YORKSHIRE'S WATERWAYS
Shire Cruisers- the Yorkshire narrowboat holiday company
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CANAL BOAT HOLIDAY ROUTES
Discover a new view of Yorkshire, where the scenery is grander, the waterways less crowded - and the beer cheaper!

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. Today on your Pennine 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 are ideal start points for exploring all the Pennine canals.

First time afloat? get the basics on boating holidays.

Pennine & Yorkshire Waterways
Pennine & Yorkshire Waterways
A Shire Cruisers narrowboat holiday above Hebden Bridge, Yorkshire, on the Rochdale Canal
 
THINGS TO DO
As well as boating itself, there are loads of boating things to do, sights to see and attractions to visit.
PLACES TO GO
Canal places to go - for a taster of the towns and villages you can visit to discover Yorkshire life in all its variety and vitality
EAT AND DRINK
See the Yorkshire canal pubs and restaurants our customers enjoy


Near Hebden Bridge, Yorkshire, on a narrowboat holiday on the Rochdale Canal with Shire Cruisers - boating holidays

Where do you want to go?
Our varied waterways offer a fresh discovery round every corner.
Leeds & Liverpool Canal on the edge of the Yorkshire Dales The Leeds & Liverpool Canal, to the north, passes through glorious scenery from major cities to the edge of the Dales. The solidity of its locks and bridges matches the grandeur through which it strides. And now we have a base actually on the summit of the L&L (suspended till March 2011 because of the exceptional drought).
 Leeds & Liverpool Routes, Longer Out & Back Routes, One Way Trips, Rings
Rochdale Canal at Brearley The Rochdale Canal, in the middle, was fully reopened in 2002. Boaters marvel at its romantic scenery and stone-built towns as they climb towards the summit. At the far end is Manchester, with its busy new canalside life.
 Short Break Routes, Out & Back Routes, Longer Out & Back Routes, One Way Trips, Rings.
Marsden locks on the Huddersfield Narrow Canal  The Huddersfield Narrow Canal, to the south, mixes wooded countryside, moorland views, and reminders of the textile industry, from weavers' cottages to giant mills reused for today's needs. It climbs towards the longest and highest canal tunnel in Britain.
Out & Back Routes, Longer Out & Back Routes, One Way Trips, Rings.
River Calder below Brighouse, on a canal holiday with Shire Cruisers These three canals are linked on the Yorkshire side by river navigations. The Calder & Hebble is an old navigation, hidden in the trees. The Aire & Calder is a modern waterway which mixes growing pleasure traffic with environmentally friendly bulk transport.
 Short Break Routes, Out & Back Routes, Longer Out & Back Routes, One Way Trips, Rings.
Part of this network - the Rochdale and Huddersfield Narrow Canals - has recently been restored, and our communities are justly proud of their achievements.  To find out more, or offer your help, see our Links.

How long have you got?
However long or short your holiday, here are routes to suit you.
Hebden Bridge - a great place on a Yorkshire canal boat holiday route Short breaks A short break on a boat really is the fastest way to slow down. It's also ideal for your first trip. For an experience-packed yet relaxing weekend, go up the Rochdale Canal to Todmorden and back, or, a little more gently, down the valley to Mirfield. And remember that the midweek break gives you an extra day for free!
 Short Break Routes
Near the summit of the Rochdale Canal on a Pennine narrowboat holiday One week out and back narrowboat holidays You can go up the Rochdale Canal nearly to the summit, then back down to Brighouse. A gentler trip is by river to Selby. Enthusiasts like the trips to Bingley or Rochdale and back, or onto the Huddersfield Narrow- hard work but great fun.
Leeds & Liverpool Routes, Sowerby Bridge Out & Back Routes
Bingle 5 Rise Locks on a canal boat holiday route in Yorkshire 10/11 day narrowboat holidays This gives you longer to enjoy one of the week routes, or you can attack something more demanding, such as Skipton and back. The very experienced can do the South Pennine Ring (see below), though we normally recommend a fortnight.
 Out & Back Routes, Longer Out & Back Routes
Greenberfield Locks on a Pennine narrowboat holiday Fortnights This really gives you the chance to explore. Our fortnight customers go in all directions; some make very long journeys, and others take the chance to do some serious relaxing. You really can choose which you'd like to do!
Out & Back Routes, Longer Out & Back Routes, One Way Trips, Rings, Leeds & Liverpool Routes.
Manchester's new canalside buildings Rings We have a good choice of rings, all with stunning scenery and lots of locks. Our rings are suitable only for crews with experience of canal locks. The shortest can be done in 11 days by seriously organised crews, but we recommend two weeks for some routes and three for others.
 Rings
Old Sag - viaduct over the Huddersfield Narrow Canal on a narrowboat holiday with Shire Cruisers, Yorkshire One Way Trips You can choose from three routes, each of which crosses the Pennines in a spectacular but different way. These trips are suitable only for crews with experience of canal locks. We arrange transfer by minibus at reasonable extra cost.
One Way Trips

Narrowboat Holidays with Shire Cruisers, The Wharf, Sowerby Bridge, West Yorkshire HX6 2AG, England
tel: 01422 832712 - Overseas tel: + 44 1422 832712 fax: 01422 839565 email: info@shirecruisers.co.uk

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