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Dan is cashing in his Christmas present from last

Dan is cashing in his Christmas present from last year - a week on Blue Otter Skipton.

To say Dan took to piloting a narrowboat like a duck to water is an understatement.

We were also mightily impressed by their packing preparations. Top marks for Dan and Emma on bringing the ultimate boating accessory- a tub of duck and swan food!

Have a fabulous week cruising the Leeds Liverpool Canal.

#narrowboatholiday #blueotterboats #bucketlisttravel

Waking up to autumn in Gargrave on the Leeds Liver

Waking up to autumn in Gargrave on the Leeds Liverpool Canal, just half a day cruising from Skipton.

Will this be your view? We have just one week left this year on Blue Otter Skipton from Sunday Oct 15th for 7 nights at £1,019 (includes fuel, heating, hot water, bedding and up to 2 dogs).
#autumncruising #blueotterskipton #narrowboatholidays #relaxinnature

To moor up or to cruise? There isn’t a wrong ans

To moor up or to cruise? There isn’t a wrong answer…on this occasion a half-day pause was followed by a half-day cruise. Rewarded with heron flights and shady spots to stop and snack before carrying on the journey. #bestofbothworlds
#blueotterskipton #blueotterboats #autumn #autumncruising #leedsliverpoolcanal @hoseasons @canalrivertrust

Waking up at 7:30am in Gargrave. By 9am the mist h

Waking up at 7:30am in Gargrave. By 9am the mist had cleared to reveal blue skies. The question now…would you stay moored and enjoy the tranquility or would you cast off and carry on cruising?
#autumncanalcruise #blueotterskipton #leedsliverpoolcanal #autumn @canalrivertrust @hoseasons

Recent guests on Blue Otter Wootton Wawen took a 3

Recent guests on Blue Otter Wootton Wawen took a 3 week cruise completing the Avon ring. Here is a selection of their images shared with us; really beautiful scenery and an opportunity to visit Tewkesbury, Evesham, Worcester and Pershore and join the river Avon to cruise back to Stratford.
#Warwickshire #canalholiday #avonring #blueotterwoottonwawen #blueotterboats #narrowboatholiday

Our latest guests in Skipton are from Australia an

Our latest guests in Skipton are from Australia and Sheffield. It didn’t take long (1 hr cruising) to meet another couple from Australia and they’ve paired up for a trip to Saltaire.
#boatinglife #narrowboatlife #canalholiday #leedsliverooolcanal #blueotterskipton.

For our guests on Blue Otter Skipton travelling to

For our guests on Blue Otter Skipton travelling to Saltaire, the #davidhockney exhibition at @saltsmillofficial is not to be missed - A Year In Normandie. You can of course go by car or train, but arriving by boat is so much more fun.
#canalboattrips #leedsliverpoolcanal #saltsmill #hockney #blueotterskipton

16 October 2022 - perfect cruising weather, the tr

16 October 2022 - perfect cruising weather, the trees were just beginning to turn and there was a crispness in the air along the Leeds Liverpool Canal.

Our next availability on Blue Otter Skipton for 2023 is October 15th and 22nd for 7 nights from £1019.
Blue Otter Wootton Wawen is available October 1st and October 15th for 7 nights from £1,144.
#autumncruising #autumn #october #narrowboatholiday #yorkshire @hoseasons @canalrivertrust

Our first-time boaters had a great week on the Lee

Our first-time boaters had a great week on the Leeds Liverpool Canal. Thanks for the great review … We love it when guests recommend the pubs and eateries they’ve visited along their journey.

We have just a few weeks available in October for this year, but bookings are open for 2024 and yes, our rates are staying the same. Book now to secure your preferred week.
@hoseasons @canalrivertrust
#canalexperience #leedsliverpoolcanal #blueotterskipton #narrowboatholiday #guestreview

New arrivals in Skipton today, already with future

New arrivals in Skipton today, already with future plans of buying their own boat. But for now, Ben welcomes the new guests onboard, and once ready to cruise he guides them through the first bridges. As experienced boaters on their third narrow boat holiday, they are familiar with locks. From arrival at 4pm to setting off into the sunset on their own at 5:30pm destined for Gargrave, it’s a pleasure to welcome our guests on Blue Otter Skipton.
#narrowboat #canalholiday #skipton #yorkshire #blueotterboats #selfdrivecruise

Thank you to all our guests who left a review abou

Thank you to all our guests who left a review about their experience with us.

From Boston USA to New Zealand, we enjoy meeting guests who travel here from all over the world. Some inspired by the Canal Boat Diaries TV show, others by unique bridges and many with a desire to traverse the engineering wonders such as Bingley Five Rise Locks.
Whatever the motivation, Blue Otter Boats celebrates the canal heritage with our guests.
#canalboatholiday #heritage #tvtourism #screentourism #narrowboatholiday #blueotterboats @hoseasons @canalrivertrust

This is what October cruising looks like, taken in

This is what October cruising looks like, taken in 2022.

The sun is out and it’s a lovely day for canal e

The sun is out and it’s a lovely day for canal exploring in Warwickshire. Our friends on narrowboat Golden Girl spotted Blue Otter Wootton Wawen on their journey this morning and sent us this shot.
If you’ve no autumn travel plans yet, we have a limited September and October availability up for grabs.
#narrowboatlife #canalcruising #warwickshire #blueotterboats

Changeover day and the flower pots have been reple

Changeover day and the flower pots have been replenished in Skipton. Out with the pansies, in with the dahlias.
#narrowboatlife #flowerpots #blueotterboats

Hurrah, bridge 191 is cleared to resume passage. H

Hurrah, bridge 191 is cleared to resume passage. Happy days ahead!

Traffic jams on the canals come with an unpredictable novelty and there’s not much you can do about it, other than ride it out with humour and patience. That’s the nature of life in the slow lane, as our guests discovered a couple of weeks ago on the Leeds Liverpool Canal.

These images from Keith Hole capture the milk run on bridge 191 during their forced stoppage when the bridge jammed. It was time to bring the table and chairs out for some al fresco dining with a spectacular Yorkshire backdrop. With the help of friends at @pcruisers we were able to open the bridge the next day. Since then the bridge has been under repair…until today.

Cruising has now resumed to include the Bingley Five Rise going east of Skipton and the locks at Gargrave going west. The immediate forecast is rain (good for keeping the reservoirs topped up) with a hint of sunshine every now and then. Happy cruising!

#canallife #narrowboatlife #canalholiday #trafficjam #slowtravel #lifeintheslowlane #blueotterboats @canalrivertrust

A relaxing holiday with a sense of achievement- th

A relaxing holiday with a sense of achievement- the latest guest review from Blue Otter Wootton Wawen in Warwickshire.
#narrowboatholiday #warwickshire #blueotterwoottonwawen #canalholiday @hoseasons

Traversing the Bingley Five Rise locks is a bucket

Traversing the Bingley Five Rise locks is a bucket list experience for many of our guests. Today was no exception. Once at the top, a cafe offers a scenic spot to celebrate with a brew, lunch and sweet treats.
Enjoy these photos taken by Keith Hole 📷
#bucketlistadventures #bingleyfiverise #blueotter #blueotterboats #narrowboatholiday #canalsofengland @canalrivertrust @hoseasons

Great photo from our guests on Blue Otter Skipton

Great photo from our guests on Blue Otter Skipton this week as they cruise towards Gallows Bridge in Shipley on the Leeds Liverpool Canal.
📷 Keith Hole
#canalboatsuk #narrowboatholiday #leedsliverpoolcanal #shipley #blueotterboats

Put the kettle on…cruising is about to recommenc

Put the kettle on…cruising is about to recommence on the Leeds Liverpool canal. The pilot + crew-mate will need a brew or two!

Welcoming news today from @canalrivertrust that due to recovering water levels as a result of last week’s breach, the lock flights will reopen to allow water to flow. Passage for boaters will be at the discretion of the lock keepers on site. The keepers will be on site between the regular opening hours (10am - 3:30pm).

Holme Bridge Lock will remain closed to preserve water levels. This means that our Skipton guests will be able to traverse the Bingley Five Rise, but the journey west from Skipton stops just before the ascent into Gargrave.
#happydays #canallife #narrowboatliving #narrowboatholidays #blueotterboats

One day. we’ll look back on this weekend and ask

One day. we’ll look back on this weekend and ask, “Where were you moored when the 200 year old oak plug had its day and breached the Leeds Liverpool Canal near Gargrave?”
With Blue Otter Skipton in Saltaire, and unable to ascend the Bingley Five Rise to get back to base, today’s guest handover happened next to The Fisherman’s pub between Bingley and Saltaire.
If you’re going to have a forced cruise interruption, our top tip is to find a pub, moor up, and if there a @canalrivertrust herb and vegetable garden, then you’ve got a bonus.
On the plus side, Mother Nature never fails to show up.
Fingers crossed 🤞 the water levels will stabilise and an opening of the five rise will allow our guests to cruise back to base in the course of the coming week.
#neveradullmoment
#canalboatliving #goingwiththeflow

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