Short Break boat trip to Hebden Bridge - 14 miles 20 locks 11 hours
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 trip gives you time for walks, the pub or simply to sit and unwind.
Friday - Luddenden Foot 3 miles 3 locks 2 hours
Arrive in our historic canal basin to take over your boat.
After our detailed briefing, we take you up through the first three locks, including the deepest one in the country. You then sail off along the side of the valley, through a tiny tunnel and a long wooded stretch.
Moor in Luddendenfoot next to a playground and an intriguing sculpture of a Turk's Head, and visit the pub, or go on to very quiet moorings below Brearley locks.
Saturday - Stubbing Wharf 5 miles 7 locks 4 hours
Next morning set off through two locks to Mytholmroyd and then on to Hebden Bridge. This old mill town nestles in a fork in the hills, houses piled tier upon tier. Hebden is the original plastic-bag-free town, and has not succumbed to a big supermarket, so has an amazing variety of shops, cafes, restaurants and pubs. It's full of surprises - everything from horsey clothing to hand-made pottery, and not one but two bookshops.
When you've explored Hebden, go back to the boat and head out of town, with woods, crags and the Calder running alongside, and views of the moors high above.
Turn just below Lock 12, then go back the short way to the Stubbing Wharf pub, highly recommended by our customers.
Sunday - Sowerby Bridge 6 miles 10 locks 5 hours
Have another look at Hebden, then carry on down the valley, stopping for an early Sunday lunch in Mytholmroyd.
Then get going again so as to be at Tuel Tunnel Lock by 4pm. This gets you down by early evening, and you can spend your last night in Sowerby Bridge (too many eating places to mention) or carry on to Salterhebble and spend the night there.
The valley looks quite different on the way down, and you'll see things you missed on the way up.
Monday - Sowerby Bridge 0 miles 0 locks 0 hours
Hand the boat back by 9am, please.
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
Special Offers
Look for our latest offers.
The search for one way trips on Hereford is not working correctly - please go here for availability of Hereford. Delivery trips on Cambridge, Norfolk and Somerset are working fine.
Customer Reviews
"Scenery was really nice and quite breathtaking at times. The people we met were very friendly and helpful. We spent the weekend eating, shopping and relaxing. Brilliant, loved it." - Mr & Mrs Bruce, Devon
"Nice meals in Hebden Bridge, also good market on Sunday for bread & cakes. Found swings in lots of places! Lovely sitting outside Stubbing Wharf pub in the sunshine." - Ailsa, Sussex
"Great! V relaxing - cooking, reading, hanging out on board,
cocktails on the poop deck, lots of birthday cake. Frankie (aged 1) loved
feeding the ducks and the playgrounds at Mytholmroyd & Hebden. Clog museum &
antiques emporium top visits!"
- Miss Hinde, Sussex
"Hebden Bridge - lovely town & lovely buildings. Had lunch at the
Shoulder of Mutton where the food was lovely & people were friendly. Fish &
chips well priced at local chipshop."
- Mrs Mangan, Westmorland
" Cruising, dog walks, 'Fish &Chips' at Hebden Bridge. Very helpful
gent with own boat helped us at Lock 5. Played football. A wonderful
weekend."
- Mr Harding, Sussex
"Canal people - both holidaymakers & residents - universally friendly
& helpful, sharing tales & advice. lots of walks with dogs - main ones being
Hebden Bridge to heptonstall & Pennine Way from bridge 21."
- Mr Norton, Norfolk
"Hebden Bridge: farmers market, very nice. we met a lady from
Antwerpen, Belgium, she enjoyed speaking her own language, was very
friendly."
- Vr van den Buuse
"1st night stopped outside Hebden Bridge. Then to Hebden Bridge -stayed a day & 2 nights because walked to Hardcastle Crags. Went up to winding hole before Rawden Mill Lock 12 then back to Sowerby Bridge." - Mr & Mrs Clayton, Devon