Canal Narrowboat Holidays in the UK - widest choice of routes and canal boats

Canal Boat Holiday Base Information - Base 14

Location
Base 14 is in Sowerby Bridge on the Calder and Hebble Navigation at the foot of the Pennines. Rail station and motorway nearby.

Short Breaks Routes

ROCHDALE CANAL
Hebden Bridge & Todmorden 20 miles 32 locks 15 hours
Leaving the historic canal basin, your journey begins with the excitement of a new tunnel and the deepest lock in the country. The canal gradually climbs through woods, fields and small stone towns to Hebden Bridge. This old mill town nestles in a fork in the hills, houses piled tier upon tier. Hebden has excellent shops and is full of surprises – everything from horsey clothing to hand-made pottery.

Untie, and go on up the valley, its sides closing in with crags and trees and views of the moors high above. A stream runs alongside, and the locks are set among woods or stone cottages. The Pennine Way crosses at Callis.

Todmorden, completely untouristy yet with much to enjoy: fine Victorian buildings, especially the Town Hall, a lively market and many places to eat and drink, all dominated by a curving railway viaduct. Make your way back.
This trip gives you plenty of time for walks, the pub or simply to sit and unwind, especially if you go Monday-Friday.

Hebden Bridge & Brighouse 24 miles 34 locks 15 hours
Go up to Hebden Bridge and explore a bit, then head back and down to Brighouse, through a beautiful part of the valley with woods, lakes and views of the river. Brighouse basin is a quiet mooring near the centre of this town with the famous brass band. On your way back up the valley to Sowerby Bridge, enjoy views of the hills.

AIRE & CALDER
Stanley Ferry 48 miles 54 locks 25 hours
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 go on to Stanley Ferry to see the famous aqueducts and two very convenient and contrasting pubs. Return the way you came, but see how different everything looks.

One Week Routes

ROCHDALE CANAL
Todmorden & Brighouse 32 miles 52 locks 25 hours
Leaving the historic canal basin, your journey begins with the excitement of a new tunnel and the deepest lock in the country. The canal gradually climbs through woods, fields and small stone towns to Hebden Bridge.

This old mill town nestles in a fork in the hills, houses piled tier upon tier. Hebden has excellent shops and is full of surprises - everything from horsey clothing to hand-made pottery. Untie, and go on up the valley, its sides closing in with crags and trees and views of the moors high above. A stream runs alongside, and the locks are set among woods or stone cottages. The Pennine Way crosses at Callis.

Todmorden, completely untouristy yet with much to enjoy - fine Victorian buildings, especially the Town Hall, a lively market and many places to eat and drink, all dominated by a curving railway viaduct.

Return to Sowerby Bridge and on down the Calder Valley through the woods to Brighouse. Good shopping, including a Sainsbury's with its own moorings, plentiful pubs and time to relax before making your way back to base.

HUDDERSFIELD NARROW CANAL
Marsden (bottom of flight) 39 miles 108 locks 40 hours
Sail down the Calder & Hebble Navigation past Brighouse, with a short river section to Cooper Bridge, where you take the right turn into the bottom lock of the Huddersfield Broad. This leads you up through the outskirts of Huddersfield right into the City centre. Go through the University, a weird but satisfying juxtaposition of sixties high-rise and nineties mill conversion, then dive under another mill (this one real) into the first of two new tunnels which lead directly into new locks. As you emerge, a steel-truss railway viaduct frames the start of your journey up the Colne valley into the hills.

At Slaithwaite the canal has been put back on its original track. You will enjoy exploring the village. Then go on up the valley. Leave your boat at Lock 31E, the bottom of Marsden flight, and walk up to see Marsden itself. The Mechanics Institute is the home of Mikron Theatre (though they will be away touring). Walk on to the summit, 644’ 9” above sea level, where a very short pool makes the entrance into Standedge Tunnel all the more dramatic by its understatement.

The Standedge Visitor Centre gives an insight into the lives of the tunnellers who blasted their way under the Pennines, the packhorse teams who preceded them over the top, and the leggers who took the boats through 3 ¼ miles of pitch dark. You can take a short trip into the tunnel in an electric boat, before returning to your own and heading back.

Navigation notes: This route is recommended for experienced crews only. The Huddersfield Narrow Canal is not yet in as good condition as other canals and you may experience difficulty or delays. Some of the locks can be hard work wide!).

LEEDS &LIVERPOOL CANAL
Bingley 5-rise 110 miles 118 locks 55 hours
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.

Then join the Leeds & Liverpool Canal which quickly escapes along its own way through fields and woods, with spectacular views of old West Riding industry - particularly Sir Titus Salt's Italianate mills and model town at Saltaire, with its Hockney museum. There are several staircase locks along the way, which culminate in the Five Rise Locks at Bingley, one of the Seven Wonders of the Waterways and a fitting climax to your journey. Return the same way.

Navigation notes: This is a very energetic trip for crews with some experience.

AIRE & CALDER
AIRE & CALDER NAVIGATION
Selby 96 miles 68 locks 40 hours
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.

Navigation notes: This return trip is relatively easy.