Midweek Break boating holiday to Hebden Bridge - 17 miles 26 locks 12 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 three amazing walks, the pub or simply to sit and unwind.
Monday - Luddenden Foot 3 miles 3 locks 2 hours
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 up in Luddenden Foot, where there are pubs with restaurants, a playground and a sculpture of an enormous Turk's Head - boatman's knot.
Tuesday - Hebden Bridge 3 miles 4 locks 2 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.
Spend the evening in town, with a great selection of eating and drinking places.
Wednesday - Stubbing Wharf 4 miles 9 locks 4 hours
Climb out of Hebden beside stone terraced houses and a much-photographed mill chimney, then through lush greenery and craggy, wooded slopes, with the river running alongside, to the winding hole (turning point) above Lock 14. Turn here, but don't head back yet, because now's your chance to make the walk (climb) up to Stoodley Pike, a tower high on the moors built to commemorate the end of the Napoleonic Wars. When you get back down, move the boat down to the very popular Stubbing Wharf pub.
Thursday - Sowerby Bridge (top of locks) 6 miles 7 locks 3 hours
Another walk today - either up to Heptonstall, a very much older settlement than Hebden Bridge, with weavers' cottages, church with the grave of Sylvia Plath, a small museum and choice of authentic pubs. Cheat and take the bus back down. Or walk along Hardcastle Crags, a woodland walk with a stream at the bottom and a National Trust tea at the end.
Back on the boat to travel back to Sowerby Bridge. Moor at the top of the locks, and sample the extraordinary range of cuisines from around the world.
Friday - Sowerby Bridge 1 miles 3 locks 1 hours
The friendly Volunteer Lock Keepers will help you down the last three locks to base.
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
"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
"Beautiful scenery, friendly, kind, helpful people. Fantastic food at the Weavers in Luddendenfoot, the Italian restaurant in Hebden Bridge & the Shoulder of Mutton at Mytholmroyd." - Mrs Bailey, Suffolk
"Glorious weather, very quiet canal with few boats. Cardiac-inducing walk up to Heptonstall with stunning views & Sylvia Plath grave." - Mr Ray, Suffolk
"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