leeds boat trip

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• Skippered Boat Trips

30 minute boat trips along the Leeds & Liverpool Canal…

Just £5.00 per person.

Here at Pennine Cruisers we run 30 minute boat trips on the Leeds Liverpool canal and part way down the historic Springs Branch, a short arm off the Leeds Liverpool Canal.

Our boat trips run every day from 10.30am in peak season and 11.30am in the low season, and the cost is only £5.00 per passenger.

Trip boat “LEO” runs every day but trip boat “SAM” only runs when its busy. This means when both boats are running the trips will depart every 20 minutes, but when its quiet and only Leo is running they depart approximately every 40 minutes.

You do not need to book for our 30 minute boat trips, all you need to do is simply queue by the A Frame sign situated in our yard and pay the skipper after you’re seated on board the boat. At only £5.00 per passenger it’s a great addition to any day out in Skipton.

Our Narrow Boats

The narrow boat experience, gift vouchers.

Pennine Cruisers gift vouchers come in denominations to suit you and will result in hours of canal enjoyment. The perfect gift for boat loving friends and relatives!

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01756 795 478

19 Coach Street , Skipton, North Yorkshire, BD23 1LH

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Canal Holidays Guide to the Leeds-Liverpool Canal

The yorkshire dales.

The longest single canal in Britain and yet the least crowded, this canal is noted for its Yorkshire Dales scenery and famous canal landmarks such as the Bingley Five Rise locks. A one week holiday includes the best rural parts of the canal across the Pennines.

Cruising the Canal

Travel west from our Bases in the Skipton area and pass through the beautiful and dramatic scenery of the Dales countryside with its rugged moorland, limestone caves and gorges.

Turn at Foulridge and return past Skipton, with its 900 year old castle and ancient street market, towards the Bronte country around Keighley.

Take a steam train along the 'Railway Children' line to Haworth and its Parsonage, home of the Bronte sisters. Further east along the canal reach Bingley Five Rise, a staircase of 5 locks lifting the canal 60 feet from the Aire valley. If time permits, cruise to Saltaire, the Victorian village built by Sir Titus Salt for his workers, and visit the David Hockney exhibition in the former Salt's Mill.

In a more energetic week it may be possible to cruise as far as the thriving city of Leeds, mooring outside the new Royal Armouries attraction.

Distance, Time, and Locks

• A week allows ample time to cover the central section of the Leeds-Liverpool Canal around the historic market town of Skipton, 'Gateway to the Yorkshire Dales'.

Places of Interest

Skipton: Castle, market, shops

Gargrave village

East Marton double bridge

Foulridge Tunnel

East Riddlesden Hall

Worth Valley railway; Haworth; Bronte Parsonage

Bingley Five Rise Locks

Saltaire; Hockney exhibition

Leeds: Royal Armouries; Kirkstall Abbey; Art Gallery, Museum; arts, music, shops

Possible Holidays

One Week The central section of the canal described above is a good one week holiday.

Short Breaks Mid-week and weekend breaks are available from Bases 12 & 13(Silsden).

Longer Holidays In a two week trip it will be possible to extended the above route over the Pennines through Lancashire to Wigan Pier, or to Leeds, or if really energetic, possibly to both.

Narrowboat bases on the Leeds and Liverpool Canal

Click on a boat base below for more information and possible routes from that base.

Customer Comments

Read what some of our previous clients say about the Leeds - Liverpool Canal.

Start Point - Silsden "Well equipped boat; beautiful and interesting scenery; relaxing (yet active!) way to travel; great pub at Kildwick; beautiful moorings at Greenberfield top lock. DO visit the Bingley five-rise lock if you have time; DO traverse the canal between Silsden and Foulridge for its beauty; DO visit the White Lion pub in Kildwick; DO spend a day in Skipton (Venice in Yorkshire??); DO visit the Lock Stock & Barrel pub in Skipton, but DO NOT bother with the Black Horse; and if you want a night ashore in a lovely hotel with a very nice restaurant, stop over at Steeton Hall in Steeton (near Silsden)." JL, USA

Silsden - Foulridge "The boat was excellent, very clean and tidy and had everything we needed. We headed right from the boatyard (standing in the boat yard looking towards the canal) and then came back passed the yard and continued on towards the Bingley five rise. I think this was an excellent choice. From Silsden to the mile long tunnel is lovely scenery and just enough locks!! Back the other way towards Bingley is slightly better scenery but not far before you reach the five and three rises and they would be particularly hard work. Make sure you stop for a curry in Skipton and don't forget to try a pint of Timothy Taylor's Landlord bitter. Saltair is worth walking to and Morrisons do a good breakfast!" SLW, UK

"This was a fantastic holiday - a week was too short. Where else can you literally 'push the boat out', 'rock the boat' and touch people with barge poles (or not)!!! Things we learned during the week: plan your route before you go and allow plenty time for locks. Buy a guide book! We didn't and regretted it." MC, USA

"Staff were friendly & helpful and gave good instruction for beginners. Scenery is beautiful & varied. So who needs good weather?!" CH, UK

"Fellow holiday makers and walkers were really friendly and to be able to moor and go to the supermarket or a pub was a pleasant novelty! The countryside was delightful and we saw a great deal of wildlife - some rather tame ducks made for an entertaining morning!" MP, USA

Canal Holidays, Bowers Wharf, Skipton, BD23 2PD, United Kingdom

FEATURED motor cARS

An amazing experience. The boat was superb. Tuition before we left was excellent and we had a fantastic time!

The Johnsons

The best family holiday ever, it was a real home away from home and the boat was beautiful!

Your adventure starts here

Our newest addition —"new dawn", an escape from the everyday.

River Dancer

Beginners guide to canal boats

What’s included, our favourite trips, ‘an amazing experience’, ‘a wonderful weeks holiday’, 'the best family holiday ever', an escape from the ordinary, some of our favourite journeys, 3 night stay → saltaire.

Visit the World Heritage village of Saltaire for traditional pubs and Salts Mill art gallery.

4 night stay → Bingley

Scale the famous Five Rise Locks, enjoy the beautiful landscapes and multiple parks.

7 night stay → Kildwick

A beautiful little canal-side village, situated between Skipton and Keighley.

11 night stay → Skipton

Visit the historical sites of Skipton Castle and nearby Bolton Abbey or enjoy the picturesque Kilnsey Park.

14 night stay → Hebden Bridge

Full of great pubs, picturesque walks and independent shops – named 'Greatest town in Europe'.

Discount applied automatically when booking.

• One way canal routes

One Way Canal Holidays

Water shortage - 18 july 2022.

After months of exceptionally dry weather and decreasing water supply, Canal & River Trust has had temporarily to close the Rochdale and Huddersfield Narrow Canals - and the Leeds & Liverpool from Gargrave to Wigan. Till rainfall patterns and water levels are restored, the one way trip onto the Leeds & Liverpool will terminate at Kildwick.

For experienced boaters

We cannot tell you the start point till the week before your canal holiday. We arrange minibus transfer, at extra cost. It is not possible to book two one-way boats at once. You must tell us your intended route when you book.

Distances and times shown (for guidance) are for the complete trip. Information we provide about specific waterways or suggested routes is for general reference only. Please see more about route availability .

We also have some rewarding Rings , from 11 to 21 nights.

Boats for these routes start on Friday or Monday at 1pm and finish 9am.

Leeds & Liverpool

79 miles 79 locks 45 hours

Explore Yorkshire's rivers, and cross the backbone of England through an endless variety of West Riding town and countryside.

Huddersfield Pioneers

33 miles 97 locks 40 hours

Cross the Pennines through the longest, highest and deepest canal tunnel.

Rochdale Pioneers

38 miles 100 locks 40 hours

The broad Pennine crossing with romantic views and charming towns.

Lancashire Lads

103 miles 136 locks 65 hours

A pretty demanding schedule for the most committed boaters, via Wigan.

The charity making life better by water

Making life better by water

Leeds Waterfront

Parts of Leeds Waterfront were once almost derelict. Now regenerated with vibrant waterside cafés and bars, a world-class museum, art galleries and public art, it's a great place to visit. Look out for the Royal Armouries Museum, Leeds Art Gallery, The Tetley, Granary Wharf , Brewery Wharf and much more.

Leeds Dock, on the Aire & Calder Navigation , was once a vast complex of store yards and warehouses busy offloading coal and goods from the barges that plied this wide canal. It was a nerve centre providing a vital cross-Pennine link from Liverpool along the Leeds and Liverpool Canal (which connects through a lock onto the Aire & Calder Navigation here in Leeds) to the North Sea.

More information about what you can enjoy at Leeds Waterfront

Things to see and do

Planning your visit.

Leeds Waterfront, Leeds, LS10 1JQ

Once you've parked up you can enjoy a walk around the waterfront for free

The Royal Armouries, The Tetley and in the many pubs, restaurants and cafes.

Getting here

There are many pay and display car parks around the waterfront, including The Tetley and Royal Armouries.

Leeds station is practically on the Leeds & Liverpool Canal towpath and just minutes by foot to the Aire & Calder Navigation towpath.

The water taxis cost £1 per person per journey, under 5's free, and run every 15 minutes between Leeds dock and Granary Wharf

Nine regions to choose from - over 120 fantastic places to visit

Clarence Dock, Leeds

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• Canal Trips

We all associate Skipton as a market town but not everyone is aware of the town’s central role in the busy waterways of the industrial revolution. Hop on a narrow boat to gain a deeper understanding of this rich heritage experience Skipton from the Leeds to Liverpool Canal.

From short skippered trips, day hire boats, afternoon tea on the water or evening dinners, stepping on board a boat is a lovely way to enhance your time in Skipton. You can also hire narrow boats out for holidays over night with full boat handling training given to complete novice boaters.

Skipton Boat Trips

Blue Otter – Canal Boat

Craven Swimming Pool & Fitness Centre

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Book Our Delicious Evening Fish And Chip Cruise!

Quick Details

• Hour Glass Duration: 2 Hours

Fish & Chip Dinner Cruise

Enjoy traditional fish and chips as you sail through the Yorkshire countryside

• Two-hour dinner cruise
• Cash licensed bar on board
• Award-winning fish and chips
• Gluten Free, Pescatarian, & Vegetarian options available
• Gift cards available

Sample Skipton’s most popular fish & chips on our dinner cruises!

Skipton boat and dinner cruises have teamed up with Bizzie Lizzie’s to offer you an unforgettable experience on the Leeds & Liverpool Canal. Departing from our wharf in Skipton’s picturesque canal basin, you’ll travel along the canal, where drinks from our fully licensed bar, including a range of local beers, will be served to your table.

You’ll then be served award-winning Yorkshire fish and chips, with the option of that Northern staple, mushy peas! Meals come right out of Busy Lizzie’s straight to your table all piping hot and freshly wrapped in paper. As you enjoy your river cruise dinner, you’ll travel through the beautiful Yorkshire countryside, arriving back in Skipton after two hours, feeling content and well fed!

Vegetarian and Gluten Free alternatives are available, as well as the choice of sausage instead of fish.

Related Trips

• Hour Glass 2 Hours
• Calendar Mar - Dec

Drinks Ahoy Cocktail Cruise!

Grab some friends and join us aboard the Dalesman canal boat for a Drinks Ahoy cocktail cruise! 

• Hour Glass 3 Hours
• Clock 11am , 3pm

Christmas / Sunday Roast Dinner Cruise

Take a leisurely cruise down the Canal while enjoying a traditional roast dinner served to you on board. This makes for a great gift voucher or surprise for someone special.

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LEEDS DOCK WATER TAXIS

Our water taxis run everyday..

Our two Dutch Water Taxis ferry residents, workers and visitors to and from Leeds Dock and Granary Wharf. Twee & Drie (the boats) have sailed over from Amsterdam to ferry our Leeds Dock passengers.

To catch a ride on a cheeky yellow boat exit the train station via the New South Entrance or walk under the arches to Granary Wharf and the Doubletree by Hilton hotel. The taxis are on the lower water level, hidden out of view – just cross the lock bridge in front of Bar Brasil and hop on!

The water taxis run every 15 minutes from either stop. £3 per person, per journey. Children under five can ride for FREE and dogs are welcome too!

Don’t forget to share photos of your journey with #LeedsDock. To pinpoint each boat’s location, please visit www.taxitrak.co.uk.

WATER TAXI STOPS: Leeds Dock (by Armouries) Granary Wharf (South Entrance of Station)

RUNNING TIMES: Mon – Sun: 10am – 6pm

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