Four night midweek break 20 miles 32 locks 16 hours

Explore the Rochdale Canal in the Calder Valley, taking in the friendly towns of Hebden Bridge and Todmorden, with stunning Pennine scenery and dramatic walks.

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. These stopping places are just some among many possibilities. Information we provide about specific waterways or suggested routes is for general reference only. Please see more about route availability.

If you choose to come down the last locks on Thursday afternoon rather than Friday morning, you will need to book passage (directions on board).

Mytholmroyd 4 miles 5 locks 3 hours

Arrive after lunch 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 two more locks, to Mytholmroyd, where you moor for the night. Here you have two pubs with food, an upmarket café and convenience stores. Mytholmroyd is the birthplace of Ted Hughes, and you can find the house where he grew up (privately owned), and see the landscape that inspired him. Don't miss the sculpture of 'Hawk' at Broadbottom Lock.

Todmorden 6 miles 11 locks 5 hours

Next morning travel 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. Keep on through the town and gradually wind up the valley, with woods, crags and the Calder running alongside, and views of the moors high above. Stop in the centre of Todmorden, a town schizophrenic as to whether it's Yorkshire or Lancashire, wool or cotton. Quiet moorings by the silver fish high on the stone wall - and just near the excellent Golden Lion, and within reach of many other pubs and restaurants.

Hebden Bridge 4 miles 9 locks 4 hours

Explore the shops and market in Todmorden. Sail down to Shaw Plains Lock 15, and take the exciting walk up to Stoodley Pike, high on the moors by the Pennine Way. Rejoin the boat, and pass down to spend the night in Hebden Bridge, with an excellent selection of places to eat and drink.

Sowerby Bridge (top of locks) 5 miles 4 locks 3 hours

This is a shorter day, to give you time to spend in Hebden Bridge, with its quirky shops and hilly walks - try Heptonstall or Hardcastle Crags. Sowerby Bridge offers a huge choice of places for your last night.

Sowerby Bridge Wharf 1 miles 3 locks 1 hour

You need to be ready for the top lock for 8am, then back to base.
This trip gives you time for walks, the pub or simply to sit and unwind.