Canal Boat Holiday Base Information - Base 13 on the Leeds and Liverpool Canal
Location
Base 13 is on the Leeds-Liverpool Canal near Skipton, 'Gateway to the Yorkshire Dales', and is run by a small family firm. It is easily accessible by road, and a rail station is a 10-minute taxi journey away. It is also just 30 minutes by road from Leeds Bradford Airport.
Travelling west visit the market town of Skipton and beyond the dramatic scenery of the Yorkshire Dales. Travelling east towards Leeds, stop to take a steam train to Haworth Parsonage, home of the Brontes sisters, or cruise further to the Bingley Five Rise locks and the Victorian village of Saltaire, now a World Heritage Site.
Short break canal holidays can include Skipton and countryside to the west or east to Bronte country, Bingley Five-Rise locks and Saltaire. In a week you can explore both directions, and longer canal holidays cover the whole canal length.
Routes from this base
Short Break routes
Choice of travelling west to Skipton and the southern Dales countryside or east to Bronte country, Bingley and Saltaire.
One Week routes
Foulridge and Bingley: 68 miles, 52 locks
This route takes in the best rural parts of the canal with splendid views and plenty of interest. Travelling westwards stop at the market town of Skipton, then into the rural Dales countryside to Foulridge - perhaps venture through the tunnel - and return past Skipton and Silsden towards Leeds. The scenery remains superb taking you to the Bingley Five Rise, a staircase of five locks lowering you 60 feet down the Aire valley. Visit the model village of Saltaire, built by Victorian Sir Titus Salt to improve the lot of his workers, and now a World Heritage Site. Perhaps visit the David Hockney exhibition here.
Burnley and return: 74 miles, 60 locks
A weeks cruising through the Dales and lovely villages, like the 17th century village of Kildwick. Visit the market town of Skipton then into the Pennines. Here a cow is reported to have swum through Foulridge Tunnel in 1912 and was revived with alcohol! The scenery becomes more industrial with the town of Nelson being followed by Burnley and its old waterside buildings.
Two Week routes
Wigan and return: 150 miles, 128 locks
A trip of great contrasts with the lovely country around Skipton giving way to the industrial landscapes of Blackburn and Burnley. These have not all yet been fully restored. For real enthusiasts a trip down the Wigan flight to Wigan Pier, before turning up the flight again should ensure a peaceful nights sleep! A two week cruise full of interest.
Wigan and Leeds: 206 miles, 186 locks
A more strenuous fortnight covering the full length of the navigable Leeds and Liverpool (the Liverpool length is not easily navigable). It is probably best to head to Wigan first, and then come back to Leeds as time permits. Eastwards past the Bingley Five Rise, the route again becomes more developed as you get closer to Leeds, with stone buildings and towns such as Shipley close to the canal. As good as any in the country, with great countryside contrasting with the old towns.
Three Week circular routes
Two rings are available from this base, both require a minimum of 3 weeks. One uses the Leeds and Liverpool one way across the Pennines, and the Rochdale Canal to return. The other uses the Leeds and Liverpool and the Huddersfield Narrow Canal. Please contact us for more details, including navigation restrictions and specific boats that are suitable for each of these cruising route options.
Short Break routes
3 nights - Silsden to Gargrave and return - 13 hours and 6 locks
3 nights - Silsden to Shipley or Saltaire and return - 14 hours and 22 locks
4 nights - Silsden to East Marton and return - 27 hours and 24 locks
