Offering a bespoke approach to canal holidays with two very different canal destinations and optional experiences on your cruise of choice. Our fleet of two boats offer self-drive cruises from two departure points;
Yorkshire and Warwickshire.
Due to COVID-19, we’ve stripped down on some of our non-essential luxuries such as books, magazines and games and changed our handover requirements. We’ve added hand sanitizer and hand soap to the on board amenities. Bedding and towels are provided, and we now ask our guests to bag these into the laundry bags provided before leaving the boat on return, as well as taking all your waste items with you.
From Skipton, Yorkshire, the Leeds and Liverpool Canal takes you on a heritage journey along England’s longest canal through industrial mill villages and towns to the west and down the Wigan locks. From there you can cruise left along the Bridgewater Canal towards Manchester and further south through Staffordshire, or turn right at the bottom of Wigan Locks and journey to Liverpool. Alternatively venture east from Skipton through picturesque countryside and down the Bingley Five-Rise Locks, through the UNESCO Heritage Town of Saltaire and to Leeds.
For a longer journey, the circular Two Roses Ring route takes in The Pennines, crossing Yorkshire and Lancashire along the Leeds & Liverpool Canal, the Rochdale Canal and returning via the Aire & Calder and Calder & Hebble Navigations, taking you on a journey through historic time, impressive engineering and inspiring countryside.
From Wootton Wawen, Warwickshire, the Stratford Upon Avon Canal takes you into the heart of Shakespeare’s country. Long weekends are perfect for cruising into the picturesque Stratford, moor up in the centre of town and step out to take in a theatre performance. Enjoy a day exploring the sights and attractions in Stratford before cruising back along the canal to Wootton Wawen.
For longer canal journeys you can venture north onto the Grand Union. Cruise left into Birmingham, Staffordshire & Worcestershire and onto the Shropshire Union Canal. Alternatively, venture south and choose to carry on cruising all the way to London or branch off onto the Oxford Canal.
Select your Blue Otter departure point and boat of choice to discover wonderful routes and excursions along England’s canals. Within minutes of your journey onboard you’ll be talking about a little-known world you’ve just discovered and acquaint a friendly community of boaters.
Fun fact: towpath observers on the canals of the United Kingdom are called ‘Gongoozlers’.
