Canal Narrowboat holidays on Selby boating holiday | Selby boat hire

Out & back boating holidays to Selby

Boating holidays to Selby via the Aire & Calder Navigation

96 miles 68 locks 40 hours

Yorkshire canal map Seven night boating holiday

Sail down the leafy Calder & Hebble Navigation past Brighouse, and through wide river sections and narrow cuttings to Wakefield, where there are good moorings not too far from the bright lights. Then on to Stanley Ferry to see the famous aqueducts and two very convenient and contrasting pubs.
You are now on the Aire & Calder, which is still a thriving commercial waterway, though there are now many more pleasure boats than barges. Electric locks and a wide channel help you speed to Castleford; keep on the main line of the Aire & Calder Navigation towards Knottingley. This section briefly passes through an industrial hinterland, but is full of interest because much water-borne freight comes through - in barges, push-tows and tankers. At Bank Dole you leave the main line and its electric locks, to drop into the Aire as it winds through farmland, stopping occasionally at pretty brick-built villages. And so to Selby, where you can explore the ancient Abbey and market, before taking the train to York - you could have time for a full day there.

This trip gives you time for walks, the pub or simply to sit and unwind.

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 is largely on river navigations. 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.

Salterhebble

Elland

Cromwell

Cooper Bridge

Double Locks

Thornes

Stanley Ferry

Castleford

Ferrybridge

Kingfisher on Selby Canal

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

Mr and Mrs McKay write: Our itinerary for a memorable trip to Selby and return - this was completed within a week with time to spare which enabled walks around various locations and allowed the savouring of localities and communities along route.

Day 1 - after the briefing and setting off, we berthed at Cromwell Lock around 6.30pm. Walked to the main road and to a great Italian Pub/Restaurant called CASA (15mins) - worth booking ahead especially at weekends and ask for an outside table - good food and beer and great views. A great start.

Day 2 - berthed at the Navigation Pub at Horbury on canal side - pub a little rustic and food basic but ok - good beer and a kids play area outside. There is the Bingley Arms at the lock before and next time we may choose that.

Day 3 - lunch at The Stanley Ferry Inn on the canal side - great value, plentiful and clean - good location. Night berth at Castleford - a rundown town and we ate on the boat - pubs within easy walking distance, good beer but not much else. Watched the World Cup final at a local pub and was made more than welcome. Were told that Wetherspoons in town provided good basic pub grub but did not try it.

Day 4 - Selby via the unspoilt canal, never seen so many herons within an hour! Arrived by early afternoon, market day on Mondays. Great Italian Meal again at Caesars just off the main street, book if at a weekend - marvellous place for the discerning eater and good service - would return just for that restaurant. Selby and its Cathedral are most interesting. Good shopping streets and a Tesco close by to restock the boat.

Day 5 - berthed at Stanley Ferry Inn overnight and ate again in the pub. Another memorable trip along the Selby Canal.

Day 6 - berthed at Mirfield just after Shepley Lock and ate at the Ship Inn, which is 100 metres from the lock, also the Swan Inn on the opposite side of the lock but walked out when discovered they did not serve hand pulled beers. The Ship Inn is now a Hungry Horse pub, good beers and plentiful good valued food.

Day 7 - to boatyard and at a leisurely pace arrived about 6pm.

"Everyone was very friendly and helpful. Shopping centre in Wakefield excellent. Went to Xscape in Castleford for grandson's birthday. Loved William the Fourth in Sowerby Bridge. " - Ms Leddy, Northumberland

"Enjoyed river/canal/river. Very quiet midweek - didn't pass a boat Wed-Fri! Saw kingfishers & herons. Best pub - Wheatsheaf at Burn (well worth the wak). Chatted with other narrowboaters (owners) who were very friendly." - Bath family, Sussex

More Reviews

Out & back boating holidays to Selby - from Sowerby Bridge