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Monday/Friday boats Wakefield

Midweek Break boating holiday to Huddersfield

For everyone

Midweek boating holiday to Huddersfield

Yorkshire Canal Map Four night midweek break 34 miles 50 locks 25 hours

This trip gets you to the bright lights, with a huge choice of pubs, clubs and restaurants. The boating bit is interesting, too...

Navigation notes

This is one example of routes which our customers enjoy. Distances and times shown are for the return trip. You can vary the distance to suit you, because there are plenty of turning points ('winding holes') marked in the guides on your boat. Information we provide about specific waterways or suggested routes is for general reference only. Please see more about route availability.

This route includes a short section of river navigation. In normal conditions the rivers are placid but in prolonged wet weather they can flow too fast for safe navigation. In such cases boats wait at safe moorings while flood water recedes - usually quite quickly.

Monday

Lock instruction from Shire Cruisers Boating near Halifax on the Calder & Hebble Navigation

Elland 3 miles 5 locks 3 hours

Arrive at our base in one of the 200-year old canal warehouses at Sowerby Bridge. After a thorough briefing, you set off, and travel along the side of the valley to Salterhebble Locks, where we meet you and take you through your first three locks. You then do another two locks on your own, hidden away in the trees. At Elland you have a choice of two canalside pubs, one with food, or lots more in the town up the hill - along with shops, takeaways and a Co-op supermarket. and of course good pubs and restaurants.

Tuesday

Narrow boat weekend break on the Huddersfield Broad Canal Aspley Wharf in the centre of Huddersfield

Huddersfield 9 miles 18 locks 8 hours

Next day you head down, past glimpses of lakes, to Brighouse, a busy small town with interesting shops and a Sainsbury's with its own moorings and of course good pubs and restaurants. From Brighouse you go down into the River Calder, and pass under a towering motorway viaduct. A couple more locks take you back into the river, then bear right into the forgotten world of the Huddersfield Broad. This still has a taste of how urban-industrial canals used to be, but the hissing pipes and intoxicating (in some cases literally) smells have given way to creeping greenification, and the canal passes through an attractive park and an amazing lift bridge (sadly, you miss the rush hour) before emerging quite suddenly by the ever-expanding University. Your moorings are very close to the city centre, so you can easily do the extensive shops as well as innumerable pubs, clubs and restaurants. Don't miss the stunning railway station, outside which you will find Harold Wilson.

Wednesday

Leaving Huddersfield Cooper Bridge on a weekend break to Huddersfield

Shepley Bridge 7 miles 11 locks 5 hours

Go down the Huddersfield Broad and turn right into Cooper Bridge flood lock, then down the river to Mirfield. Visit the Ship Inn and useful shops in Mirfield, including a proper hardware shop.

Thursday

Leaving Huddersfield Cooper Bridge on a weekend break to Huddersfield

Salterhebble 9 miles 16 locks 8 hours

Turn here and head back most of the way. Take in more details of this historically important navigation, significantly older than most of the canal system - partly designed by John Smeaton, of Eddystone Lighthouse fame. You have splendid views of the hills. At the top of the last lock, detour right along the short Halifax Arm, and overnight here (Brewer's Fayre and ordinary pub).

Friday

Sowerby Bridge Wharf, on a midweek boat hire break Reflections on a midweek boating holiday in Pennine Yorkshire

Sowerby Bridge Wharf 2 miles 0 locks 1 hour

A short sail without locks brings you back to base by 0900.

This trip has quite intense boating and longish days, but gets you to the night life in Huddersfield.

How to Book

Use this form to check availability. When you find the boat you want, click 'Book this holiday now' and you can pay your deposit or hold for 48 hours - or ring 01422 832712.

The counties are the names of the boats, not where they start from! Click the map for routes, and the boat for details

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Trip Reviews

"Chilled for four days. Boated a lot." - Mr Todd, Leicester

"Enjoyed the scenery, visited the Barge & Barrel in Elland and Jeremys at the boathouse in Brighouse. Pleasant route with good stop off points along the way." - Mr & Mrs Ryan, Buckingham

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