There’s plenty of storage on board and we offer advice on what to pack
Canal Boat Hire from Silsden
We offer a range of boat sizes with accommodation for two to 12 people.
With our Price Promise you know you’ll be paying the best price.
Cruise from Silsden – Explore the Leeds & Liverpool Canal Through Yorkshire’s Landscapes
Located on the Leeds & Liverpool Canal near Keighley in West Yorkshire, our Silsden base offers an unforgettable gateway to the Aire Valley, Yorkshire Dales, and the Pennines.
Whether you’re planning a relaxing short break or a longer narrowboat holiday, Silsden is perfectly placed for exploring a wide range of scenic and cultural highlights across Yorkshire.
Please note that due to water level restrictions, only short holidays are currently possible from Silsden.
Routes & Destinations from Silsden
Silsden on the Leeds & Liverpool Canal in West Yorkshire offers a wide variety of routes
Skipton & Gargrave
Start on Friday or Saturday
Leeds & Liverpool Canal
Route Details:
Skipton, Gargrave & the Yorkshire Dales and back
- 23 Miles
- 6 locks
- 12.5 hours
On a short break you can cruise west through the beautiful Aire Valley to Gargrave and back, passing through the historic market town of Skipton along the way.
Bingley & Saltaire
Start on Friday or Saturday
Leeds & Liverpool Canal
Route Details:
Bingley, Saltaire and back
- 18 Miles
- 22 locks
- 13.5 hours
On a short break you can cruise east through the Yorkshire countryside to UNESCO World Heritage Saltaire and back, passing through the Bingley Five Rise Locks along the way.
East Marton
Start on Monday or Tuesday
Leeds & Liverpool Canal
Route Details:
East Marton and back
- 32 miles
- 24 locks
- 19 hours
On a four-night break you can continue on from Gargrave to East Marton and back, experiencing incredible mountain views along the way.
Barnoldswick
Start on Monday or Tuesday, Friday or Saturday
Leeds & Liverpool Canal
Route Details:
Barnoldswick and back
- 38 miles
- 30 locks
- 22 hours
On a week long break you can continuing cruising west across the Pennines to the historic market town of Barnoldswick and back.
Foulridge Tunnel
Start on Monday or Tuesday, Friday or Saturday
Leeds & Liverpool Canal
Route Details:
Foulridge Tunnel & back
- 45 miles
- 30 locks
- 29 hours
On a week-long holiday you can continue cruising on across the Pennines from Barnoldswick to Foulridge Tunnel and back.
Apperley Bridge
Start on Monday or Tuesday, Friday or Saturday
Leeds & Liverpool Canal
Route Details:
Apperley Bridge and back
- 27 miles
- 32 locks
- 20.5 hours
On a week long holiday you can continue cruising east to Apperley Bridge and back, passing through the Bingley Five Rise Locks and UNESCO World Heritage Saltaire along the way.
Leeds Dock
Start on Monday or Tuesday, Friday or Saturday
Leeds & Liverpool Canal
Route Details:
Leeds and back
- 44 miles
- 54 locks
- 32 hours
On a week’s break you can cruise east from Apperley Bridge to Leeds Dock and back, mooring up to visit the Royal Armouries Museum and other attractions in this vibrant waterfront city.
Burnley
Start on Monday or Tuesday, Friday or Saturday
Leeds & Liverpool Canal
Route Details:
Burnley and back
- 63 miles
- 44 locks
- 32 hours
On a 10-day break you can continue west from Foulridge Tunnel to Burnley and back to experience cruising across the Burnley Embankment, one of the Seven Wonders of the Waterways.
Wigan
Start on Monday or Tuesday, Friday or Saturday
Leeds & Liverpool Canal
Route Details:
Wigan and back
- 135 miles
- 72 locks
- 60 hours
On a two week break you can continue cruising west from Burnley to Wigan and back, passing through Blackburn and the edge of Chorley.
The Pennine Ring
Start on Monday or Tuesday, Friday or Saturday
Leeds & Liverpool Canal
Route Details:
The Pennine Ring
- 183 miles
- 214 locks
Also known as The Roses Ring, this epic canal boat journey takes in sections of the Leeds & Liverpool Canal, Rochdale Canal, Bridgewater Canal and Calder & Hebble Navigation.
Boats available at Silsden
There’s a great choice of narrowboats and widebeam boats available at Silsden, ranging from boats for 2 to 9 people.
Golden Dale
This Premium 57ft Firth Class narrowboat sleeps 2 people.
Sam's Drum
This Premium 50ft Cymbal Class narrowboat sleeps up to 5 people.
Gwen's Drum
This Premium 50ft Cymbal Class narrowboat sleeps up to 5 people.
Rosie's Drum
This Premium 50ft Cymbal Class narrowboat sleeps up to 5 people.
Fern's Drum
This Premium 50ft Cymbal Class narrowboat sleeps up to 5 people.
Dan's Drum
This Premium 56ft Bongo Class narrowboat sleeps up to 5 people.
Amy's Drum
This Premium 56ft Bongo Class narrowboat sleeps up to 5 people.
Richard's Drum
This Premium 56ft Snare Class narrowboat sleeps up to 5 people.
Megan's Drum
This Premium 57ft Tabla Class narrowboat sleeps up to 7 people.
Drummer Boy
This Premium 57ft Tabla Class narrowboat sleeps up to 7 people.
Sara's Drum
This Premium 57ft Tabla Class narrowboat sleeps up to 7 people.
Bob's Drum
This Premium 55ft Ashiko Class widebeam boat sleeps up to 8 people.
Helen's Drum
This Premium 55ft Ashiko Class widebeam boat sleeps up to 8 people.
Drum Beat
This Premium 55ft Ashiko Class widebeam boat sleeps up to 8 people.
John's Drum
This Premium 55ft Ashiko Class widebeam boat sleeps up to 8 people.
Marley's Drum
This Premium 55ft Ashiko Class widebeam boat sleeps up to 8 people.
Hum Drum
This Premium 55ft Ashiko Class widebeam boat sleeps up to 8 people.
Sophie's Drum
This Premium 59ft Taiko Class narrowboat sleeps up to 9 people.
Isla's Drum
This Premium 59ft Taiko Class narrowboat sleeps up to 9 people.
Barbara's Drum
This Premium 59ft Taiko Class narrowboat sleeps up to 9 people.
Katie's Drum
This Premium 59ft Taiko Class narrowboat sleeps up to 9 people.
How to find us
Our boat yard at Silsden is on the Leeds & Liverpool Canal near Keighley in West Yorkshire.
Anglo Welsh & Silsden Boats, Canal Wharf, Elliott Street, Silsden, West Yorkshire BD20 0DE
Tel 01535 653675
Discover Canal Boat Hire from Silsden
From Silsden, you can enjoy a variety of flexible cruising routes, all offering spectacular views, rich history, and peaceful waterside experiences.
Highlights include:
- Cruise east to Saltaire and Leeds
Travel through the Aire Valley, visiting the UNESCO World Heritage Site of Saltaire, with its Victorian mill village charm, galleries, and independent shops. Continue on towards Leeds, where you’ll find modern moorings, museums, and canal-side attractions in the heart of the city. - Head west into the Pennines
For those looking for open countryside and engineering marvels, head towards Skipton, Gargrave, and the start of the Pennine hills, with views stretching across the Yorkshire Dales National Park. - Mix rural and urban
The Leeds & Liverpool Canal offers a fantastic blend of landscapes — from lively towns to peaceful moorings — making it ideal for varied and rewarding routes.
Explore at Your Own Pace
- 🏞️ Savour Yorkshire’s changing landscapes
Cruise past stone-built villages, moorland vistas and rolling hills, with regular opportunities to stop and explore. Popular stops include Bingley, Riddlesden, and Skipton. - 🏛️ Visit Saltaire
Step ashore to explore this unique heritage village, built by Sir Titus Salt in the 19th century and now a cultural destination featuring Salts Mill, shops, cafés, and exhibitions. - 🏙️ Discover Leeds by boat
Enjoy modern moorings in Leeds and explore its vibrant waterfront, museums, food scene, and shopping — all within walking distance of the canal. - 🍻 Relax at canalside pubs
Stop at friendly waterside inns throughout your journey, offering hearty meals and local ales with a view.
Book Your Canal Boat Holiday from Silsden
Whether you’re looking for a relaxing weekend or a longer canal holiday through the heart of Yorkshire, Silsden is a fantastic base for cruising the Leeds & Liverpool Canal. With routes to suit all experience levels and stunning scenery in every direction, your perfect canal break starts here.
Begin your narrowboat holiday from Silsden and cruise through heritage towns, countryside moorings and the best of Yorkshire’s canal scenery.
Download a Brochure
Our brochure includes information on our boats, routes, destinations and prices. There are also tips for canal boat beginners, advice on what to pack and a list of our locations offering day boat hire.
FAQs
How do canal locks work?
A lock is a chamber with gates at either end. By emptying or filling the chamber with water, boats can move up or down a canal. With the lock gates closed, open the sluices (paddles) to let the water in or out. When the water level under your boat is the same as the level it’s moving to, you can move your boat in or out of the lock.
How long does it take to go through a lock?
It takes around 15 to 20 minutes to go through a lock.
Will my narrowboat have heating?
All our narrowboats have gas central heating with radiators throughout for cosy year-round canal boat holidays. Some of our boats also have a multi-fuel stove.
