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Experience - Sowerby Bridge start
"Lovely scenery on Rochdale, extraordinarily friendly people." - Katy Weitz, Stafford
"We were elated to reach the summit and relished its scenery. Fascinating to see the industrial landscape of the Rochdale in a narrow valley between high bare and beautiful hills. We also found the Calder & Hebble a delightful surprise." - Mrs Price, Huntingdon
"Fantastic time. Laughed & laughed. Beautiful scenery and places. Great experience. Would do it again!" - Jenny Moor, Westmorland
"Walked to Hardcastle Crags from Hebden Bridge - a fair walk but Easter trail and walk back along the river path." - Mrs Hopkins, Rutland
"Mainly happy on & around the boat - seeing wildlife & scenery, play places etc." - Mrs Bence, Northumberland
"Scenery - was beautiful, watching birds.
People - 4/5 different boats all very friendly and helpful.
Pubs/places - loved Brighouse, park for dog, good pubs." - Mrs McDade, Devon
"Scenery in most places (South Pennine Ring) beyond our expectations. People mostly friendly & helpful. Pubs were good. Places interesting & full of history. We explored as much as possible within our time limit." - Mrs Stringer, Hereford
"Beautiful scenery, great weather. Good to work together with another boat. Brighouse nice - saw Tour de Yorkshire. Halifax arm pretty, but decided Sowerby Bridge better for dinner - it was!" - Mr Briggs, Suffolk
"We walked up to summit and thought the views were spectacular." - Mr Peak, Oxford
"Great canal - wonderful scenery - would like to do it again." - Mr Carter, Cornwall
"1 night at Hebden Bridge - 'drink?' for ales - excellent! Up 10 locks to Todmorden, ate at Kava. Walked around fleamarket on Thursday. Back down to Stubbing Wharf for large pub sandwich. Hebden Bridge for 2 nights - Mooch, Greens for dinners/lunches.Walked up to Heptonstall and Hardcastle Crags (on separate days)." - Mr & Mrs Peters, Suffolk
"4 star canal." - Mr Lane, Dorset
"Magnificent ridges!)." - Mr & Mrs Marshall, Norfolk
"Good variation of scenery from rural countryside to industrial areas. Travelled on the Sheffield tram system (all routes). Good wetherspoons in Meadowhall centre. Looked round Goole Docks. Met some ex barge skippers." - Mr & Mrs Penny, Somerset
"Really liked Hebden Bridge. walked to Stoodley Pike from Bridge 25, & Heptonstall. Both great. Liked scenery at Summit." - Mrs Wilson, Warwick
"Lovely scenery. Really liked Hebden Bridge - worth a day or two stopover. People very friendly and helpful. Enjoyed walking and looking at scenery." - Mr & Mrs Bibby, Huntingdon
"Scenery beautiful. People very friendly & helpful. Walked arounf market (small but OK)." - Lesley Walker, Devon
"Two good visits were Saltaire & Hepworth Museum in Wakefield." - Mr & Mrs Grinyer, Suffolk
"Gorgeous scenery, friendly people, happy dogs." - Mr & Mrs Ellis, Oxford
"Fab weather, goslings, ducklings. Barrel & Boat. Secret Picnic Place magical overnight with barbecue." - Mrs Husband, Westmorland
"Lovely views even with the rain. Visited different restaurants & cafés in Hebden Bridge. Walked round the quaint village, nice old traditional ways, friendly villagers and fellow holiday boaters. Coupled up with WARWICK for a lot of our Day 2 & 3 travel." - Mrs Tabor, Devon
"Met very nice people, very friendly. Great scenery, interesting towns & villages." - Mr Bearne, Buckingham
"Fantastic scenery, lovely welcoming/helpful people along the way." - Mr Clements, Sussex
"Great natural scenery & stone buildings to admire." - Mrs Martin, Hereford
"Nice scenery. we liked the small towns & villages, especially Todmorden, Hebden Bridge, Heptonstall." - Mr Camponovo, Warwick (Switzerland)
"Standedge Tunnel a real highlight." - J Tomkins, Oxford
"Lovely friendly people, great food, pubs all brilliant. Hebden Bridge a beautiful place & scenery was brilliant, first time boating but won't be our last." - Mrs Sinolan, Devon
"Pleasant trip down to Wakefield where we moored up opposite 'The Ruddy Duck'. The food was excellent and there was no pressure to leave. The majority of people we met were very friendly and welcoming. It was good to see that Hebden Bridge was recovered and full of visitors." - Mr Grundon, Worcester
"Boat well prepared & equipped & had been thouroughly cleaned - pleasant experience. " - Mrs Standish, Oxford
"We loved everything: Hebden Bridge, Todmorden - both good to spend time. Also bought clogs at Mytholmroyd! And took the bus to Heptonstall. Walked to the summit as ran out of time to get the boat there. Everybody very friendly & helpful without exception." - Mrs Myers, Buckingham
"Amazing adventure! We cooked our own breakfast in our "little home" and had our evening meal in the pubs along the route. Everyone extremely friendly and helpful." - Mrs Hyde, Hereford
Experience - Barnoldswick start
"Wonderful scenery. Everybody very nice and friendly. Very enjoyable holiday." - Tony, Leicester
"Scenery gorgeous. CRT lock keepers friendly & very helpful. Met some really lovely people in the locks & on the canal." - Miss Marshall, Norfolk
"Beautiful scenery. Enjoyed Hockney at Saltaire, Castle - Skipton / Worth Valley Railway." - Mrs Ellis, Norfolk
"Terrific people, unbelievable scenery - just a great experience!" - Mr Clark, Leicester (Australia)
"Just a quick e-mail to thank you and your team for our lovely weeks holiday on Norfolk. The boat was spotlessly clean and we had every comfort. Maintenance of the boat was simple and we had no problems what so ever." - Maureen Urwin, Norfolk
"Scenery - 10/10. Places - plenty to do. Skipton town, Skipton Castle, East Riddlesden Hall. People - friendly." - Mr Pessell, Norfolk
"Despite the rain, on 2 days, it was wonderful to see how helpful everyone was! Lots of interesting chats at locks. A really helpful schoolboy on swingbridge in Skipton!." - Colette & Steve Restorick, Cambridge
"We found plenty of good places for evening meals. Among the best were the Cross Keys in E. Marton amd the Anchor at Salterforth.
Scenery superb (as expected!) Very helpful lock keepers at Bank Newton and Greenberfield. Lots of helpful people in other boats, sharing locks & swing bridges." - P Rivet, Cambridge
"Enjoyed Cross Keys & exploring Skipton. Met very nice lock-keepers & fellow travellers & enjoyed lovely countryside." - Mrs Murray, Cambridge
Experience - One way trips
"The prettiest canals we've been on. With fewer boats so no holdups at locks." - Mr Mydlowski, Dorset
"Wonderful scenery, friendly people. Lots of wildlife and wildflowers along the way." - Lynda O'Hare, Dorset
"All the people we met along the towpath & in the locks were very friendly. We loved the Tat & Rathet in Huddersfield and the Calder in Brighouse & the Barge & Barrel at Elland for their brilliant real ale & hospitality." - Sue, Cornwall
"Scenery very beautiful, friendly people, pubs good hospitality, visited SALTAIRE - PARK/CHURCH." - Mrs Preston - Dorset
"Very nice scenery, met very friendly people. Pub food and Indian very good." - Wolfgang, Dorset (Germany)
Food & drink
"Great finds include: vegetarian restaurant in Mytholmroyd, the Black Bird at Todmorden, all the wholefood shops in Hebden Bridge." - Katy Weitz, Stafford
"Ate in the New Moonlight Indian at Luddendenfoot, very accommodating, friendly and couldn't do enough for us. Would recommend highly. Hebden good, Stubbing Wharf nice." - Mr Thompson, Sussex
"Highlight was Stubbings." - Emma Walker, Westmorland
"Grandma Pollards chippy Walsden 5 star." - Mr Peak, Oxford
"Didn't do many pubs or restaurants, however the fish & chip shop at Micklethwaite was excellent as was the Anchor at Salterforth Bridge." - Lynda O'Hare, Dorset
"Olive Branch (H. Bridge - great!) Wetherspoons (Todmorden & Brighouse). Brewers Fayre (Salterhebble Basin)." - Mr Davies, Hereford
"Good pubs:-
Stubbing Wharf
Shoulder of Mutton, Mytholmroyd
Also:-
Grandma Pollard's Pies - delicious
Border Rose in Walsden - excellent value & very friendly.
Blackbird Bar & Kitchen - Todmorden
Amazing:- Clog Factory & Shop. Walkleys in Mytholmroyd.
." - Mrs Wilson, Warwick
"Stubbing Wharf pub very good - excellent food, friendly staff." - Mr & Mrs Bibby, Huntingdon
"The Railway at Rodley &café at Hepworth Gallery were good for meals ashore." - Mr & Mrs Grinyer, Suffolk
"Excellent food at Stubbing Wharf." - Mr & Mrs Ellis, Oxford
"Wetherspoons at Todmorden good, Watergate Café in Hebden excellent." - Mrs Walker, Warwick
"Good food at the Moonlight, the Stubbings, Shoulder of Mutton (Mytholmroyd)." - Mrs Barrow, Oxford
"Recommend "Chapter 17", Hebden Br. & "Blackbird", Todmorden." - Mr Bearne, Buckingham
"Eating out on our one week recent trip Sowerby Bridge to Barnoldswick
12th June Meze, at Brighouse. Good food with friendly staff
13th June The Ruddy Duck, Wakefield. Easy mooring near Hepworth Gallery. Chain pub but clean and food as expected, great if you like everything in batter!
14th June Teppanyaki, Japanese Restaurant, Belgrave Street, Leeds. A twenty minute uphill stroll through fascinating city centre to a fun venue. Food cooked on hot plate in front of patrons with much flourish and humour. Easy set menu so no need to worry about the choice of particular foreign dishes.
15th June George & Dragon, Apperley Bridge. A Vintage Inns pub so food as expected from a chain.
16th June. Marquis of Granby, Riddlesden. Home cooking which fine for three of us but the Thai Curry was far too hot for our other hungry boater.
17th June Masons Arms, Gargrave. Great pub, loads of atmosphere, home cooking and very friendly staff.
18th June. Café Cargo, Foulridge. Very helpful Manageress." - Mr Carter, Dorset
"Landlord at the Brandy Wine Inn always had a welcoming word." - Mrs Martin, Hereford
"Rose of Lancaster pub very good." - J Tomkins, Oxford
"Lock Stop café at Greenberfield Top Lock is a super pitstop." - Mr Cobley, Cambridge
"The Summit pub good food & beer - dog friendly
The Stubbing Wharf Hebden Bridge top notch food & beer" - Mr Houler, Hereford
"The Mutton in Mytholmroyd perfect as was their food. " - Mr Timewell, Northumberland
"Shoulder of Mutton - Hebden Bridge - excellent service & food." - Ms Dyer, Hereford
"Excellent food at Weavers Arms and exceptional at Stubbing Wharf pub." - Stafford
"Old Gate pub/restaurant in Hebden Bridge - excellent." - H & C Trezise - Northumberland
"The Anchor at Salterforth great food" - McGregor - Cambridge
"Excellent breakfast at the Park Café. " - Roy, Barbara, Peter, Isobel, Westmorland
"Gabriels Coffee Lounge - good eggs. The Old Brandywine/Moonlight/ The Weavers - good. The Old Gate Bar & Restaurant - very good." - Mrs Swan, Devon
"Excellent Caribbean restaurant in Burnley - Calypso Bar." - Paul/Sheila, Leicester
Service
"Thank you for your staff being patient, concerned and helpful." - Mrs Yuen, Warwick
"Great customer service. Was a gift for my husband's 60th and info sent was in a plain envelope so nothing given away - thank you." - Mrs McDade, Devon
"Service was excellent. We did need assistance and that also was excellent." - Mrs Stringer, Hereford
"Fantastic (especially bringing us towels!). We would have and will recommend Shire Cruisers to everyone." - Mr Mydlowski, Dorset
"Excellent service. We would certainly recommend your company to others. Thanks very much for making our holiday such a positive experience!" - Mr & Mrs Peters, Suffolk
"Members of staff helpful & cheerful especially through initial tunnel & locks." - Mr Davies, Hereford
"Emails were answered promptly in a helpful manner. Lovely, friendly welcome, put your mind at ease." - Lesley Walker, Devon
"Very helpful & thoughtful." - Mr & Mrs Grinyer, Suffolk
"Nigel was brilliant! Fan belt broke & Nigel talked me through the diagnosis via the telephone. Fixed early next morning. Thank you!" - Miss Marshall, Norfolk
"(Arrived back Sunday afternoon) on return gentleman on duty very helpful patient & gave great service." - French/Peterson, Sussex
"Very helpful & responded on email to my queries." - Mrs Holt, Devon
"Very helpful. Due to illness we required rescuing which was very efficient and without any problems." - Mrs Harris, Hereford
"Brochures on board were very useful, best we have come across. Maps etc. were appreciated." - Dr Dineen, Gloucester
"Excellent service before & during the hire." - Mr Houler, Hereford
"Really helpful thanks. Needed a fault sorting re water pump and this was done over the phone in a very easy and efficient manner, thanks Nigel!"" - Mr Ware, Devon
"Very good service - both on arrival to boat yard, departure from boat yard and on our return. Staff helpful and friendly." - Mr Thompson, Stafford
"All OK, good problem resolution, good customer experience." - Wolfgang, Dorset (Germany)
"We had one problem with the gas which was quickly resolved over the phone by your friendly engineer." - Mrs Murray, Cambridge
"Extremely helpful and called back when you said." - Mr Addy, Stafford
Information Pack
"Invaluable. Lots of information. Excellent." - Mr Thompson, Sussex
"Excellent. Got us in the mood for the trip & really prepared us." - Emma Walker, Westmorland
"It was very well written - full of good advice without being terrifying." - Mrs Price, Huntingdon
"First rate even for those of us who had been on the canals before." - Mr Little, Stafford
"The Information Pack was first class and told us everything we needed to know." - Mr Peak, Oxford
"Excellent info beforehand especially about where advised to stop each night (for one way trip)." - Mr Mydlowski, Dorset
"Good - opted for electronic version." - Mrs Wilson, Warwick
"Very good - well laid out & informative. Useful information (& colour pictures!) of places to eat." - Mr & Mrs Bibby, Huntingdon
"Very friendly and welcoming. Thank you for a splendid holiday!." - Mrs Zundel, Oxford
"Although the Information Pack and DVD can be viewed on line (useful because the family are spread N&S) I also found the Information Pack useful, and, though serious, in some parts 'light hearted' - makes it enjoyable to all." - Mr Grundon, Worcester
"Very good, would be/is essential reading for new boaters and even for experienced boaters there is plenty of new information and re-inforcement of old. " - Mr & Mrs Cooper, Suffolk
Handover
"Excellent 3 stage handover - route, boat & locks done by 3 different people. Very thorough & ensured we totally understood the lock system before setting out alone. Very reassuring for novices!" - Katy Weitz, Stafford
"Excellent, very thorough and patient, time taken to show us what to do, whole experience excellent!" - Mr Thompson, Sussex
"Josh was v. helpful, fun and enthusiastic." - Emma Walker, Westmorland
"Will was very helpful." - Mr Hopkins, Rutland
"Very thorough & confidence building." - Mrs Bence, Northumberland
"Very good - everything seemed to be covered." - Mr Little, Stafford
"Staff very friendly, informative and efficient. Enjoyed our holiday and will certainly book again. Still lots to see. Trip made easier because of your staff." - Mrs McDade, Devon
"Good - comprehensive, friendly." - Mr Briggs, Suffolk
"For a novice the handover was very good indeed. We felt confident that we could navigate the canal and use the boat without a problem." - Mrs Peak, Oxford
"Superb handover, very friendly." - Mr Mydlowski, Dorset
"Good handover. Stan very informative and polite." - Mr & Mrs Bibby, Huntingdon
"Handover great, helpful & friendly guy - thanks Stan." - Lesley Walker, Devon
"Outstanding!" - Miss Marshall, Norfolk
"Briefed well, with a sense of humour!!" - Mrs Horsburgh, Dorset
"Josh helped us around the boat and through the locks. His info & guidance was "spot on", friendly, helpful and made sure we were happy, explained everything really well." - Mrs Tabor, Devon
"Excellent - all personnel friendly, knowledgeable with a sense of humour! - and patient!!!" - Mrs Barrow, Oxford
"Very professional & courteous." - Mrs Martin, Hereford
"Dave was excellent." - Mr Boswell, Westmorland
"Great. Sam did our handover & was very clear & informative. Was helpful to do the first 3 locks under supervision." - Mr Hann, Leicester
"The briefing on the waterways was excellent. The briefing on the boat and the locks was also done in a friendly, encouraging way which would make first time boaters feel at ease. Nothing was left unexplained - even how to use the mop!" - Mr Grundon, Worcester
"Sam was terrific." - Mr Clark, Leicester (Australia)
"Stan was excellent - very friendly & knowledgeable. He is an asset to you!" - Stafford
"Very well explained and informative of locks and times to arrive at places to help you enjoy your holiday from A to B." - Mrs Preston - Dorset
"Excellent. We have never had as much instruction from any other boatyard we have hired boats from." - Mr & Mrs Cooper, Suffolk
"Briefing was well planned and informative. All Shire Cruisers staff were firendly, helpful and assuring." - Mr & Mrs Tiley, Devon (Australia)
"Excellent. Talk from Susan useful & informative. Instruction and guidance from Josh was very good - very patient and very pleasant." - Mr Thompson, Stafford
"The briefing was excellent. Stan very professional & informative. Very patient with novice driver." - Mrs Swan, Devon
"The handover was excellent. How to use the boat was given in good detail and all questions were answered. It was very good that we were guided through the first three locks. Our guide was excellent." - Colette & Steve Restorick, Cambridge
"Excellent: we thought Sam did a very good job.." - P Rivet, Cambridge
"Extremely well, thanks. Sam was great." - Mrs Murray, Cambridge
"Very efficient. Nigel was very knoledgeable.." - Paul/Sheila, Leicester
"Your staff and yourselves are endlessly patient and deal with so many people - a credit to all for professionalism." - Steph, Warwick
"We left feeling anxious and inexperienced, but all we were told at the briefing was all that we needed to know. Thank you." - Mrs Hyde, Hereford
"Sam did an excellent job handing over our boat, and taking us through its operation, and lock procedure. He was relaxed and very informative." - Mr Meke, Devon