Shire Cruisers reviews 2013
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Experience
"We enjoyed people watching & connecting with people along the way. Also watching bird & animal life, the lush green foliage, wildflowers, gardens. A highlight was hiking a section of the Pennine Way & visiting Heptonstall. And generally just learning & enjoying the canal boat experience." - Mrs Davis, Devon (from Canada)
"The scenery was epic and beautiful. Everyone we met was very friendly, aspecially the Standedge Tunnel staff." - Mr Godwin, Northumberland
"Lovely and green countryside with generally fine weather. Plenty of pub/restaurants on the route. Fishing with grandchildren was especially enjoyed." - Mr Greenwood, Worcester
"Fantastic scenery, great pubs, real ales all the way. A brilliant lesson in social & economic history." - Mr Roberts, Warwick
"The scenery was beautiful, despite the weather, the locals were both helpful and friendly. We walked Burnt Acres wood and up to Heptonstall, worth the 1 mile climb up steep hill." - Mr Dickey, Devon
"Very nice scenery all the way but spectacular on the summit. Canada geese nesting, some with chicks. Very friendly people on the canal and in pubs visited." - Mr McCallum, Worcester
"Beautiful scenery. Friendly helpful people. Lovely wildlife. Plenty of pubs & shops to visit." - Mrs Stringer, Devon
"Two lovely walks to Stoodley Pike and Gibson Mill." - Mrs Jenkins, Stafford
"We had a fabulous time on Westmorland this weekend, or 'Old Westie' as we renamed her. We spent all day Saturday dressed as pirates and entertaining the locals by singing pirate sea shanties as we went through the locks." - Ms Berry, Westmorland
"Fantastic, lots of friendly people, went to South Pennine Boat Club show & met some great people." - Mrs Jackson, Stafford
"Walked to Heptonstall - lovely village." - Mr Hurst, Norfolk
"We had the best holiday ever on our English canals, much better than all my journeying abroad (around the world). We are already planning to do it again later in the year. Met lots of interesting people. 5 & 3 lockkeepers great help and fun. Learnt about locks & boats & boat companies. Saw amazing churches en route." - Mrs Ross, Warwick
"Scenery - amazing, almost picture perfect. People - friendly." - Mr Griffin, Leicester
"Thoroughly enjoyed the whole event. The scenery was fantastic and we worked alongside a great family who added to the experience." - Mrs Luckey, Norfolk
"Saw peregrine falcon on nest between locks 16 & 17." - Mrs Logan, Devon
"Canals & rivers the best we have experienced. People very friendly. Moorings interesting & enjoyable. Only stopped at one pub - friendly. Spent time fishing & walking dog." - Mrs Cole, Stafford - trip to Selby
"Walk to Calder Clough and play in the waterfall." - Mrs Berry, Devon
"Enjoyable with nice scenery, interesting canals and a good challenge." - Mr Osborn, Worcester
"Got soaked, got stuck, got tired... had the best time!!! Scenery lovely - changing colours of trees - people friendly." - Hereford
"Slow cruising. Nice and quiet, plenty of places to stop. saw some beautiful kinfishers and a random Highland cow." - Robin - Westmorland
Food & drink
"Stubbing Wharf, The Moorings: beer & food great." - Mr Lambert, Somerset
"Hebden Bridge lovely - great restaurant - The Olive Branch - yummy!" - Mr Farrell, Stafford
"Best pie at Kildwick pub." - Mrs Ross, Warwick
"Nice meal in White Swan in Hebden Bridge - value for money." - Mr Wheelwright, Westmorland
"Stomach bursting meal at Stubbing Wharf. Tasty Indian meal at Moonlight." - Mr Hope, Oxford
"Great Thursday night jazz band - Inn at Burnley Wharf." - Mrs Carter, Gloucester
"White Hart Todmorden v. good. Stubbing Wharf, Thai restaurant & many good restaurants in Hebden Bridge." - Mr Evennett, Dorset
"Shoulder of Mutton, Mytholmroyd - very good. Stubbing Wharf, Hebden Bridge excellent both times. White Hart, Todmorden v good." - Mr Lord, Hereford
"Stubbing Wharf had very good beer & food. This we visited on the way out and way back (must not be missed)." - Mr McCallum, Worcester
"Navigation Inn, Sowerby Bridge - v. good food.
Rodley Barge - good beer & view of canal which is rare.
Brown Cow, Bingley - v. good food.
Kings Arms, Heath,
Wakefield - bit of a way but fantastic beer & food."
- Mr Fielden, Gloucester
"Red Rooster wonderful as ever." - Patrick, Westmorland
"Border Rose Walsden - super food, lovely people." - Mrs Berry, Devon
"The Stubbings pub was excellent, Masons Arms in Gauxholme a gem of a pub. Olive Branch in Hebden is good too." - Mr Storey, Buckingham
"Pear Tree @ Battyeford was good as usual for food." - Mr Scott, Oxford
"The Crown, Hebden Bridge. Excellent food and very welcoming of dogs." - Mr Rodwell, Leicester
"The Moorings on last night was ecellent, great food & staff. The Village was also very good & great value." - North/Rogerson, Sussex
Service
"As always... excellent - I always recommend you, if people ask who we hire from!" - Ms Green, Stafford
"Talking to owner helped me choose your company. Found your honest and informative/knowledgeable approach great, Susan." - Mrs Ross, Warwick
"Very helpful indeed." - Mrs Wilkinson, Stafford
"Very helpful - when we had an issue with the rope your responded quickly and the engineer was lovely." - Mr Irving, Northumberland
"Very helpful! Prompt replacement of door key when lost overboard!" - Mrs Adlington, Oxford
"Rang once and called in. Susan was lovely when we called in on Tuesday, helpful & we got advice re turning." - North/Rogerson, Sussex
Information Pack
"Never had as much, very helpful and informative." - Mr Mabbott, Cornwall
"Gave a good introduction on which to build further skills." - Mr Hope, Oxford
"Very useful and straightforward to follow." - Mrs Stringer, Devon
"Very thorough. Knew what to expect and helped us overcome problems and we managed well thanks to forward planning." - Mr Cockerill, Leicester
"Well laid out and very useful." - Mr Hyem, Westmorland
Handover
"The handover was very comprehensive and took into account that we were not first time boaters. Everything was explained in detail but without being patronising." - Mr Godwin, Northumberland
"Colin was a delight to meet, very encouraging and he gave us much confidence in our handling of the boat." - Ms Berry
"Excellent - fabulous instructions - all positive." - Ms Dyson, Stafford
"Handover excellent, very friendly instructors who were clear and precise." - Mrs Stringer, Devon
"Very well. On boat briefing v good, also helpful through first 3 locks." - Mr Lord, Hereford
"The brief we had was very good with very clear instructions and got us off to a confident start. Well done Susan and Simon." - Mr McCallum, Worcester
"Simon was excellent - very relaxed style but informative & concise. Good tips given out. Very professional organisation." - Mrs Meadows, Oxford
"Richard put us at our ease immediately and was very clear in his instructions. All questions were answered and we were confident enough to go on our way." - Mrs Luckey, Norfolk
"Excellent!! You & your staff did a wonderful job of orienting us to the boat & providing info re the waterways." - Mrs Davis, Devon
"Tom is wonderful, very polite & helpful - a perfect gentleman." - Mrs Edens, Norfolk
"Good - Colin was friendly, efficient and professional in handover and training." - Mr Fulford, Dorset
"Excellent - both Susan and Tom were very helpful." - Mrs Loftus, Devon
"Dave was great, showed us the around the boat and first 3 locks." - Mr Wynsford-Brown, Norfolk