Step Aboard Blue Otter Skipton: An Inside Tour with Owner & Captain Ben Hopkins

There’s something timeless about travelling by canal boat with Blue Otter Skipton.

The slower pace. The ever-changing reflections on the water. The feeling of leaving the noise of modern life behind as the Yorkshire countryside quietly unfolds around you.

In this special video tour, our friend and photojournalist Paula Bronstein steps aboard Blue Otter Skipton to meet owner and captain Ben Hopkins for a behind-the-scenes look inside one of the UK’s most luxurious narrowboat experiences.

Watch the Full Tour

Step aboard with Paula for a relaxed tour of Blue Otter as Ben shares the passion, inspiration and lifestyle behind one of Yorkshire’s most unique luxury escapes.

📺 Watch the full video here:
https://youtu.be/MQ_6a0-3cdE

More Than a Canal Boat

Blue Otter was created with a simple vision: to redefine what a narrowboat holiday could feel like.

Combining the romance and nostalgia of traditional canal boating with boutique-style comfort, Blue Otter offers guests the chance to experience the Leeds & Liverpool Canal in a completely different way. Thoughtfully designed interiors, handcrafted details and panoramic windows create a space that feels both cosy and indulgent — a floating retreat through the Yorkshire Dales.

As Ben explains in the video, canal boating isn’t about rushing from A to B. It’s about reconnecting with a gentler rhythm of life.

Blue Otter Skipton moored in England’s Happiest Place to Live

Blue Otter’s home base is in the historic market town of Skipton — often referred to as the “Gateway to the Yorkshire Dales.”

With its award-winning high street, independent shops, welcoming pubs, cosy cafés and famous medieval castle, Skipton is one of those rare places that instantly feels warm and inviting. The Leeds & Liverpool Canal winds directly through the heart of the town, creating a wonderfully relaxed atmosphere where life naturally slows to the pace of the water.

In 2025, Skipton was named the Happiest Place to Live in England — a reflection not only of its stunning surroundings, but also its strong sense of community, access to nature and quality of life. Visitors often tell us they fall in love with the town before they’ve even stepped onboard.

Many guests choose to arrive early or stay an extra night to enjoy Skipton itself, wandering the cobbled streets, exploring the canal basin, or simply soaking up the atmosphere before beginning their cruise.

Life at Water Level

Cruising from Skipton, guests experience Yorkshire from an entirely new perspective.

One moment you’re gliding through peaceful woodland alive with birdsong, the next passing stone-built villages, rolling green hills and historic canal bridges. There’s time to stop for lunch at a canalside pub, moor up in the countryside for the evening, or simply sit back on deck with a glass of wine as the sun sets over the water.

The beauty of canal boating is that the journey itself becomes the destination.

A Luxury Escape Close to Home

At a time when many travellers are rethinking the stress of airports, queues and flight disruptions, more people are rediscovering the joy of meaningful travel experiences closer to home.

Blue Otter offers exactly that — a chance to slow down, switch off and reconnect with nature, each other and yourself.

Whether it’s a romantic short break, a celebration escape, or simply a few days to breathe deeply and unwind, life onboard quickly becomes addictive in the very best way.

Discover Blue Otter Skipton

Blue Otter Skipton offers luxury narrowboat holidays for couples from Skipton, gateway to the Yorkshire Dales, with carefully curated cruising routes along the scenic Leeds & Liverpool Canal.

Find out more or book your escape with our dedicated booking agent, Hoseasons