Skipton-Nelson-Skipton.
The famous North Yorkshire market town of Skipton, known as the “Gateway to the Dales “ is your cruise start point. The canal is overlooked by Skiptons medieval castle and converted mills and the town centre is packed with a multitude of shops cafés and a host of public houses which all offer a warm welcome to the many thousands of visitors who journey to Skipton each year. Its excellent road and rail connections make Skipton the ideal boarding and departure point for your holiday.
From Skipton we cruise along the Leeds & Liverpool canal through the upper Aire Valley surrounded by crags and fells towards Gargrave. Moving discreetly in line with the A65 West Yorkshires link to the Lake District and the old Midland Railway line to Scotland where steam specials are often seen using this route on their way to or from the Settle
to Carlisle line. After Gargrave and the locks at Bank Newton the L and L twists and turns for about five miles across its summit with unbelievable beauty and scenery in every direction with an abundance of wildlife everywhere towards East Marton and Barnoldswick (pronounced Barlick by the locals) where Sir Frank Whittle developed the first jet engine at the Rolls Royce factory, then Greenberfield, a couple of miles later we leave Yorkshire and move painlessly into Lancashire, (no passport required). The border was removed from between bridges 149 &150 in 1974 but is still marked by a board proclaiming Welcome to Lancashire on the wall of bridge 149. Nearer our final destination we arrive at Foulridge tunnel famous for its traffic light system and the cow that swam from Barrowford through the tunnel to Foulridge and needed reviving with brandy by locals at the nearby Hole in the Wall public house. Walkers travelling the Pendle Way along the towpath must walk over the top as the towpath ceases at the tunnel mouth. Barrowford locks and reservoir are our stop over point for the night. Next morning – Nelson, down the 7 Barrowford locks lowering us 70ft past the picturesque Barrowford reservoir, we start to see tall chimneys, cobbled streets and mills that dominate the sky line, take time to admire the wonderful industrial architecture, checkout the local hostelries and the beautiful town of Nelson before we start our return journey to Skipton. Leaving Barrowford the next morning we take the opportunity to stop and visit any of the places we neglected on the outward leg of the cruise or anywhere you might want to see again.
This cruise is ideal for walkers, nature lovers or for those who just want to relax and enjoy the beauty of the Dales.
If you would like to visit the working Forge at Malham please add £10 each for couples or £5 each for parties of four to the price of your holiday to cover the cost of a return taxi from Gargrave
Visit www.malhamsmithy.co.uk
Skipton –Saltaire –Skipton
We cruise south along the lockless Air valley where the canal meanders through Airedales lush scenery with rising peaks and ridges topped by moorland and a scattering of old quarry workings. Crossing the boarder between North and West Yorkshire this stretch of the Leeds & Liverpool canal throws up one intoxicating view after another, gliding through small villages such as Farnhill and Kildwick, separated only by the width of the canal, in fact Kildwicks churchyard has spilled over onto Farnhills bank and is linked appropriately enough by Parsons bridge. Next is busy
Silsden where in bygone days the local Co-op barge “Progress” worked hard on the canal fetching and carrying produce vital to the little mill towns economy, we continue through Stocksbridge and Riddlesden (south of Keighley) with their substantial converted warehouses recalling an era when the canal played an important role in Keighley’s economy – wool and sugar being transported from Liverpool well into the fifties. Bingley is next and here we can fill up with water and admire one of the wonders of the waterways world which are also our first locks, the Bingley Five Rise, built in 1774 by John Longbottom they are the pride and joy of Bingley, attracting thousands of visitors each year, these locks lower us 90 feet, followed by a three rise then a two ready to start the final leg of our outward journey to Saltaire. Built by Sir Titus Salt, Saltaire (now a World Heritage site) has a mixture of mills, an elegant congregational church and streets named after Titus Salts children with lines of purpose built houses for his workers. We moor out side Salts mill overnight and the next day is allocated for sight seeing, as a World Heritage Site the town and Salts Mill offer visitors a marvellous opportunity to explore and enjoy this wonderful place including the famous Hockney art exhibition in the mill.
Far too quickly its time to return to Skipton but this gives you the chance of a second helping of some of the most intense scenery in the world and just when you think you’ve seen it all before something new springs into view making this a completely different journey.
This cruise is ideal for walkers, bird watching, with areas of great beauty, fantastic scenery and loads of industrial interest or simply relaxing.
Short Breaks.
Skipton - Bingley Top - Skipton
Skipton - East Marton - Skipton
Bingley (for more information see Skipton – Saltaire - Skipton)
Bingley top lock is the turning point for this short break, famous for its staircase of locks which visitors from all over the world flock to see .We moor in Riddlesdon the first evening and near Silsden for the second. Both locations have lots to offer, shops, pubs and the National Trust Hall at Riddlesdon.
East Marton (see Skipton – Nelson – Skipton for further information)
East Marton is our other turning point for a short break, staying the first night in Gargrave and the second near East Marton, both villages have much to commend them, excellent pubs (The Anchor, Old Swan and the Masons Arms in Gargrave and the old coaching inn at East Marton the Cross Keys) plus shops and café’s or visit the Smithy at Malham. It’s the journey that’s special, such scenery, views that stretch for miles, wild life in abundance, I’m sure there can’t be many more places in the UK that are as beautiful as this part of Yorkshire and it’s all yours for three days.
For that special occasion why not try one of our popular Celebration Lunch cruises .A full day out with a top class 4 course lunch and the Yorkshire Dales as your backdrop. Gift Vouchers are available.
If you don’t want lunch but simply want a cruise we provide several options at very reasonable prices.
We take a maximum of four passengers for Holidays, six on Lunch Cruises and up to eight on day Cruises.
We provide excellent value for money and there are no hidden extras when you holiday with Shadow Cruisers.
What you get for your money:
2 x boats, 57ft long Me& My and Shadow which is 33ft long.
2 x friendly and attentive crew
1/3/6 x days cruising
Breakfast-morning coffee-lunch-afternoon tea-3 course dinner
Excellent accommodation
Bedrooms have central heating, radio, TV/video, full size shower room.
Alcohol
Due to UK Licensing laws Shadow Cruisers are no longer permitted to provide alcoholic drinks for our guests, we have been informed that doing so constitutes a criminal offence.
However guests may bring with them as much of there own alcoholic drinks as they wish.
So, we’ll do the cruise – you bring the booze.
PETS.
Pets are welcome to join you on your holiday cruise at a cost of £25-00 per pet, however pets must be kept in the front sun lounge during food preparation times and during dining. When in your cabin your pets must be kept off all bedding. You must bring your own pet food and dishes, pet bedding and towels ect.
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