Stan Cullimore reviews his widebeam boat holiday on the Leeds & Liverpool Canal

Earlier this year, Stan Cullimore – journalist, children’s author and member of the 80’s band The Housemartins – took a press trip aboard one of our widebeam boats.

Departing from our canal boat hire base at Silsden, on the Leeds & Liverpool Canal in West Yorkshire, he travelled east to Saltaire and back.  Along the way, with help from Canal & River Trust volunteer lock keepers, he travelled through the famous Bingley Five Rise Locks.

He describes the beautiful Spring countryside he passed through as “lush, green and gorgeous”, with lambs, bluebell woods and quaint little villages to see along the way.

He talks about the experience of steering a widebeam boat, and how it differs from navigating on a narrowboat.  And he takes you on a tour of his widebeam canal boat’s “luxury decadence” and “spacious” interior, including the saloon with a wood burning stove, kitchen area and double cabin.

Stan travelled aboard ‘Bob’s Drum’, our 55ft long widebeam boat with accommodation for up to eight people.  ‘Bob’s Drum’ is one of six widebeam boats available to hire from Sildsen, where 2023 prices start at £990 for a short break (three or four nights), £1,505 for a week.  There are also 17 narrowboats for hire from Silsden.

Here’s a link to Stan’s video https://youtu.be/mSY8wc1xn8s