Midweek Break boating holiday to Hebden Bridge & Brighouse - 28 miles 46 locks 22 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.
Monday - Mytholmroyd 4 miles 5 locks 3 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.
Go through the next two locks on your own, and discover how simple it really is. Moor for the night in Mytholroyd, with two pubs, a charming vegetarian cafeé, and two convenience stores.
Tuesday - Hebden Bridge 6 miles 14 locks 6 hours
Sail off 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 below Lock 15, then go back to moor in Hebden itself.
Wednesday - Brighouse 12 miles 17 locks 8 hours
This is more of a serious boating day. You need to have booked passage through Tuel Lock (in Sowerby Bridge) the previous day. Pass the boatyard in Sowerby Bridge, and carry along the side of the hill to Salterhebble. The top lock is just beyond the steel railway bridge. These locks are shorter than you're used to, but there's room for our longest boats. You use the special handspike supplied to work the paddles.
Carry on down the side of the valley, with views of lakes, woods and the river, stopping for lunch in the Barge & Barrel at Elland Wharf. Eventually arrive in Brighouse, turn at the water point, then moor for the night. Lots of pubs and some very good restaurants.
Thursday - Salterhebble 4 miles 10 locks 4 hours
Not a long boating day, to give you time to get the bus into Halifax to visit the Piece Hall or Eureka!
At the top of Salterhebble Locks, turn right and go round the corner to spend the night outside The Watermill (and the evening inside).
Friday - Sowerby Bridge 2 miles 0 locks 1 hours
A nice sail back to the yard, with striling views of the hills through which you travelled earlier in the week. 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
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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
"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