Boating is very much about the journey, and we invite you to become a part of ours while creating your own.
.svg)
An escape from the everyday
With a passion for the waterways and its history, we offer unforgettable canal boat holidays for guests of all experience levels. With full training before you set sail. Based in Leeds, UK at Castleton Mill, we’re here to make your next holiday extraordinary. There are some incredible sights along the canal, with an endless variety of routes available.
We now offer bespoke day and two-day narrowboat courses for those looking to become an owner, are an owner or those that just wish to learn. Our day course could be considered a brilliant “Experience Day” gift!
Read more
Advice from our expert team to help you on your way. Including a useful beginners guide, info on what's included and handy video tutorials. As well as the Leeds & Liverpool Canal, you can also choose alternative routes on our map of the northern waterways.
‘An amazing experience’
The boat was superb. The Tuition before we left was excellent and we had a fantastic time!
‘A wonderful weeks holiday’
A wonderful weeks holiday with beautiful scenery and some nice overnight stops. The team were excellent, I couldn't fault anything.
'The best family holiday ever'
The best family holiday ever, it was a real home away from home and the boat was beautiful!
Ah yes....my review. If I could give ten stars I would. It's not the boat (I had River Dancer for 14 nights the first two weeks of November and I loved her as my own). It's not Yorkshire's towns, cities, dales, moors, and yes canals, all of which are simply stunning. It's not the hard work navigating the locks and swing bridges leaving you with an amazing sense of accomplishment and sense of awe about the history and people of this area. It's not even the great people you meet along the way and who are all too willing to lend a hand. It's the deep and undeniable joy that John and Richard enjoy in sharing their love of boating and this lifestyle with the rest of us. Their respect for your safety and well being foremost in everything they put forward to you can't help but put you at least a bit at ease with what is going to be a bit daunting at the outset (lol no matter how many YouTube videos you've watched). It just wouldn't have been the same journey without the down to earth and welcoming attitude of these two and I'll be eternally grateful to them for putting their trust in me as a single hander to allow me this experience. I'd do it again in a heartbeat. Thanks guys !!!!!
Hired Emily for a 4day trip on Leeds/Liverpool Canal. It was incredible! Such a wonderful change of pace and exactly what we needed. Being complete novices, we were a little nervous, but Johns training was impeccable! So much information in a short time frame, but just the right balance of fear and fun that we were shocked how much of it we actually remembered! However, if there’s any problems or you forget anything johns always on call (even if it’s just for pub recommendations! ) any issues we did have were often quashed by the help of passers by, fellow boaters or the wonderfully helpful Canal & River trust team. The journey itself was so beautiful with the autumn colours, saw so many birds and even made a stop at Rodley Nature Reserve on the way back.In short, highly recommend The Boat Co North and highly recommend Emily ( much more comfortable than first appearances!) … Highly recommend a canal boat holiday! We will 100% be back next year!
Fantastic four days on River Dancer. John was really helpful and gave us loads of tips on where to eat and drink along the route. Richards tuition was great. Overall a fantastic holiday and would highly recommend to anybody wanting a relaxing break on the canal :-)
We're just on our way back from a cracking midweek break on Charlotte. She's a really comfortable boat and there was plenty of space for the 4 of us. John gave us loads of useful advice and recommendations. We started going up the Leeds & Liverpool canal as far as Apperley Bridge and were treated to some lovely sunshine while working all the staircase locks. Then we turned round and with Richard's helpful coaching went through River lock and onto the Aire & Calder navigation. It was our first time going through enormous electric river locks and it was a great experience. Lemonroyd Lock is huge!It was a really fab week, with loads of variety. John was so helpful with lots of updates and ideas of places to eat and drink, including a fab Greek restaurant in Woodlesford. And we were very grateful for his help getting us into and out of Granary Wharf on the last night/morning! We would thoroughly recommend hiring one of these lovely boats!
River Dancer a fabulous warm and cosy boat for 2 for this Autumn Jaunt. A wonderful reception and support from John and his team. Highly recommend for both experienced and those New to boating. The Aire and Calder route was a perfect way to see the changing season with a bonus of electronic locks for much of the stretch we covered. Thanks Caroline and Ray 😊
Absolutely fantastic experience, John and Richard gave us an excellent training package as we were all complete novices, the boat we had was very well equipped and comfortable, would highly recommend these chaps
Hired New Dawn for a fortnight, headed north along the Leeds and Liverpool. Beautiful trip, loads of bridges, and locks, so a slower pace. Slept well, that's for sure. John, who fronts the team, was kind and always at the end of a phone when we needed him (nothing serious, just stuff we'd forgotten, as most covered in a training session prior to being released on our own), also he'd send us recommendations for stops and "watering holes" along our way.The boat was lovely and warm, homely and clean. I would recommend this company, if you don't want to take my word for it, ring them up, you can hear he loves the canals and waterways.
We have had a wonderful first time onboard narrowboat Charlotte. We can definitely recommend using The Boat Co North if you are a novice on the canals. John was quick to respond to all questions and queries from booking through to leaving after our 4 nights onboard. Both John and skipper Richard were very knowledgeable and friendly and helped out at every opportunity we needed them (it was more than once!).The boat was well looked after and had everything we needed for our stay.I hope to stay onboard one of the other boats in the near future. Thank you!
Just returned home following a 3 day hire of Emily, what an amazing experience! Loved every single moment and couldn’t recommend highly enough.Boats are beautiful, have everything you need and some, routes are beautiful and top rate service from start to finish. Great communication, fantastic induction as we were novices and nothing was too much trouble. 5 star!Thank you so much John, we will be booking up again and seeing you soon.Tom & Sarah
My friend and I went on our first narrowboat holiday and hired Emily for three nights.Lovely boat, had everything we needed (very comfy bed!). We had training from John on how to pilot and operate locks (I did the locks and bridges, my friend was skipper). We did need to call John for help a few times (entirely down to our inexperience!) and he was always available or would contact one of the Canal and River Trust employees/volunteers to help. Wrt the CRT peeps, I'd like to mention Brooklyn as being especially helpful.It was an adventure and one I'd do again!
Booked Emily for a long weekend up to Apperley Bridge. As two novices, we weren't completely sure what to expect, but the tuition on the first day was excellent and John was never far away to provide assistance when the unexpected occurred. The boat was clean and comfy, and now that we're used to the mechanics of canal travel I'm sure a longer journey is in the cards for next holiday. The only question is whether we remain loyal to Emily or give River Dancer a try 🙂
We had a fantastic time aboard Charlotte! Even though it could be hard work at times navigating the locks and steering, the overall experience was incredibly rewarding. We were initially unsure about handling a 57ft canal boat, but Charlotte is a responsive and relatively easy-to-manoeuvre vessel. The peaceful atmosphere made it perfect for unwinding, and we were constantly surrounded by stunning views and wildlife.John's guidance and advice were invaluable, helping us learn a lot about the local area and boating, which added to the adventure. Even though the weather wasn't always on our side, it was a wonderful holiday that we would definitely go on again! Highly recommend for anyone looking for a calm and scenic escape on the water.
John and team were very friendly and helped us along the way,if we had any issues it was with all the bedding,not clean,had stains,and smelt,we did not get given fresh bedding like the new dawn did,? It looked like it was still left on from the last people? Maybe an over look?
First time on a narrow boat, and we had a great 3 nights. John was great and showed is all we needed to know for our trip and was on hand to assist throughout. We (4 adults) were on the Charlotte, and it was easily spacious.We all loved it and would recommend 👌
Would highly recommend The Boat Co North, a great selection of boats to cater for groups and all tastes. John is a great chap, generous with his knowledge, an excellent teacher, keen to help you choose a route that meets your needs and his knowledge of the local canal network and history is second to none. We enjoyed our time on Emily, and wished we had booked longer. Nothing was too much trouble and we felt supported and safe in learning the ropes. Thank you John, see you next year.
Fantastic experience on the lovely boat Charlotte. Our 5 day adventure was enjoyed by all of us, definitely looking forward to the next time!!
Had the absolute BEST time!!! We hired the River Dancer for 4 nights and it was perfect for the two of us. We travelled from Leeds to the bottom of Bingley and back again. Lots to do on the canal with locks and swing bridges but it’s all part of the fun. John and Richard were great - both so helpful and knowledgeable, available at any time if you need something, and had the best pub recommendations! 10/10 will definitely be doing it again some time :)
Trip to RiponWe hired River Dancer for two weeks and travelled to Ripon and back. River Dancer is a well equipped boat with excellent handling even at very low speeds. The initial training was very thorough. The trip to Ripon is recommended with plenty of interesting places to visit in York, Boroughbridge and Ripon and Newby Hall just before Ripon has its own mooring. The skippered portion on the tidal section of the Ouse is fun, it is rather relaxing to hand the boat over to an expert for a bit. The ongoing support is brilliant with John always on hand even just for pub recommendations or the best places to moor.
Having just finished an excellent week on board the CHARLOTTE. John and the team at The North Boat Co couldn’t have been more professional. From the initial enquiry and many questions prior to departure were asked and until unloading at the end the team helped constantly. The tutorial given and hands on teaching of the kids to ensure safety was the main priority. The boat was fantastic clean with all you could need to get you going, utensils, games for all ages, TV(didn’t need as it was about time together away from tech) towels and bedding all provided. Any problems were just a phone call away and answered swiftly. The knowledge held by John is second to none and his enthusiasm to teach and ensure we all had a great time. What life skills we have all gained over this last 7 days. Thank you to you and the team. MC.
What a great experience. John is an excellent teacher and full of good pub/restaurant recommendations no matter where you're going. The Leeds to Liverpool route (as far as Apperley Bridge) is a great little route. Would definitely hire again.Charlie, Emma, Liz, Dave and Ruby👨👩👧👦🐶🍻
Persuaded by a friend, I decided to go on a barge trip through English canals. I rented a 6-seat, 18-meter long barge with the apt name of Charlotte. It was a beautiful family time for us. The barge has full infrastructure: comfortable beds, a shower, a fridge, a gas stove and a wine cooler. It sails with beautiful views, with the possibility of mooring and staying overnight almost anywhere and for free. Along the way, we stopped to visit monuments such as Kirkstall Abbey with its well-preserved ruins of a Cistercian monastery. We crossed the 5-step lock in Bingley, where the level difference is 98 meters, and it was built exactly 250 years ago and still operates as it originally did. We crossed 70 locks and bridges, which our 15 and 17-year-olds had to open and close by hand. They coped with this challenge beautifully. There is 24/24 contact with the barge owners. They conduct training before the cruise in a reliable and friendly manner. You don't need any qualifications to drive a barge, but... water and a barge of several tons do not forgive mistakes. You have to be focused while swimming. Under my hand, Charlotta swam like a dignified woman, but she could also accelerate and go wild 😉😀 To sum up, it's a beautiful way to spend time, causing adrenaline, but for active people who are not afraid of challenges.
Just had a fabulous 7 day holiday with my family on Charlotte. Traveling up to Shipley and back. The boat was fantastic had everything we needed to make our holiday memorable. The beds were very comfortable . We had fantastic instruction from John which for newbies made our experience with the boat no problem. I would recommend the company and would have no issues hiring from them again 10 out 10
A canal boat hire on the Aire and Calder Navigation provides a different experience from canal travel. The waterway and locks are wider. The locks are operated electrically and so do not require particular strength to operate. Getting grounded or fouling the propeller seems an unlikely occurrence. Turning is not a problem. John Hayden, who manages the canal boats at Castleton Mill moorings has a rich knowledge of canals and shares his enthusiasm with anecdotes and good humour. This helped me to gain a deeper appreciation of the waterways and their history. His initial tuition is comprehensive and he is readily available to assist over the phone. I found it a privilege to be able to moor up one night in a wharf in the centre of the city of Leeds.
This is a great company for a canal holiday. They have a variety of boats and directions of travel from the centre of Leeds. It was fantastic knowing help could be provided at any time which made a first time outing on the canal relaxing and reassuring.
Just completed a fantastic week aboard River Dancer, an authentic narrow boat despite less than summery weather. Excellent tuition from John before going solo. Good advice on route choices. Friendly canal fraternity. Would recommend this company.
We had a fabulous week on Emily. She was equipped with everything we needed for a comfortable week. This is the sort of holiday that feels like you’ve entered some sort of weird time warp as it felt like it lasted so much longer than 7days. John gave expert tuition as well as pub and restaurant recommendations for every mooring we made - his friendliness and enthusiasm for canal life was infectious. Great value for a memorable holiday - highly recommended company to boat with.
We had an amazing trip this weekend on Charlotte! We had the maximum capacity for the boat (6) which was a little snug, but if everyone stays switched on and keeps their stuff packed away the boat is comfortable and has plenty of amenities. The few board games, cards and DVDs were a nice touch, and as long as you can read a map the canal guide was a godsend!We took a very mixed crew (my wife and I, the In-laws, and our niece and a friend) and were surprised when everyone got totally stuck in and loved the whole experience.We took the ‘hard-work’ route and managed to get from the Boat Co all the way to Saltaire, with a couple of refreshment stops in between!Can’t fault John, who was on hand at all hours with advice and recommendations, and was on the phone coaching us through an issue on the boat at 10pm on a Friday! Richard’s instruction/tutorial before we set off made sure we had all the basics to keep ourselves afloat!The views all weekend have been amazing, and I’ll quote John who summed it up perfectly…“Canal boating is a great way of making the world seem big again”
Excellent week, boat great - even got the weather on our side. Received a comprehensive brief on the boat and canal environment before being set free on the water - John was availabile 24/7 for advice on topics including best pubs to vist - 👍would definitely recommend a d return
Great experience and would highly recommend. Our first time on a boat, Richard taught us all we needed to know in a friendly and helpful way, John was accessible for advice and banter throughout. Just a great set up. Thanks John and Richard!
Absolutely excellent holiday. The level of support offered by John is out of this world. Proper looked after me and my mum on our holiday. Always on hand, nothing is too much trouble and an incredible knowledge of the waterways of the area
We have just recently been on New Dawn . It was a bucket list experience for my terminally ill husband. We had an amazing holiday. John and Richard were amazing. Nothing was too much trouble. It was everything we hoped for and more. The New Dawn is a beautiful boat. Fabulously comfortable mattresses and great central heating ✨️✨️✨️
We were on Emily for a week and throughly enjoyed ourselves. John and Nathan were very knowledgeable about the routes and showed us all the ropes before letting us loose on the canal by ourselves. It is a very relaxing time to go down the canals and look at the scenery.
Thank you John and Richard. We had a wonderful week on board the Charlotte sailing up to Saltaire and back...right up close to wildlife with a mix of ancient woods meadows and heritage ... great pubs, eateries and Salts Mill and The Boathouse bar/restaurant at the turnaround.You had an instinctive feel for what we, as complete novices, needed to know about operating the boat...planning the journey what to see / where to eat and drink...The induction was thorough but not overbearing.Richard you stayed on board with us to give us hands on training on mooring up and operating the locks (including shooing out a family of ducks who'd swum into our first one!).You both gave us just the right level of competence so we could set off safely and build up our narrow boating skills as we went along.You are both very personable with a good sense of humour, but we always felt you were 'on it'.We felt reassured that if we got stuck with anything you were on hand to help us out.John we were glad of your help when you found us filling up with water on the last day and appreciated your contacting us just at the right times to make sure we were okay.The boat was warm, roomy and comfortable for four adult crew and ships dog!We'd do it again...maybe take the grandchildren in a few years time.
With our level of narrowboat experience being Channel 4’s Narrowboat Escapes, and a few nights reading the Boaters Handbook, we were very apprehensive to take control of Emily, especially with a 2 staircase lock to tackle within minutes of starting. However, John is an excellent tutor and explained everything in a calm manner with a few laughs thrown in. Before we knew it we were through the locks and on our own. John was on hand to help with a few queries so we never felt alone. We now have the bug for boat life and will definitely book again.
It’s 20 years since we’ve been on the canals so we were a bit nervous when we fetched up at the boatyard, but John soon restored our confidence. We had an absolutely brilliant week & despite the rather depressing forecast, only had one morning of drizzle, which was a real bonus since one of the best things about a canal boat holiday is that you’re outside, in nature, all the time. Emily was the ideal boat for us, easy to handle & plenty of room. Best described as glamping on water - decent water pressure for the shower, sharp knives in the kitchen, proper stove & fridge and comfy beds. We met such lovely people too, especially a really kind, young woman who came to our rescue at a particularly intransigent swing bridge. After several local people had come up to tell us the bridge had cost millions & was forever going wrong, without any solutions to offer, she knew what the fault was & how to fix it, with a big smile. What a star. When we arrived back at base, we sat on deck with a final brew and agreed we’d had a thoroughly enjoyable holiday despite being so much more ‘mature’ than the last time we took to the water. We would definitely recommend The Boat Company North.
Had a lovely time on River Dancer. Two of us plus a slightly bemused dog. John was extremely helpful and suggested the most appropriate route for two oldies who aren't as strong as we'd like to be! This meant sticking to electric locks which were much easier to manage. We headed towards Wakefield and particularly enjoyed the night we moored up next to the southern wash lands nature reserve and walked up to the pub at Heath which is the last gas lit pub in the country and has lovely views. The canal there was so peaceful and there were no other boats around.It's definitely worth discussing your requirements with John before booking so that he can suggest the most appropriate boat and best route.
We just had a week aboard Emily on the Leeds to Liverpool canal with safe and sound advice from the best Crew. John and Rich ensured we handled the boat and the locks securely. They even arranged sunshine for the trip to Skipton and back.Our biggest mistake was booking for only one week. Just not enough!
We had a wonderful weekend cruising on ‘Emily’. John was incredibly helpful & always on call if we needed help. He gave a thorough induction which gave us the confidence to make our debut canal boat experience memorable. We’ll be back again.
We hired our boat 'River dancer' from the boat Co North for 4 nights. Having hired before from a different company and having had to help other boat hirers (from another company) with some very basic canal knowledge, I can safely say that this company is head and shoulders above the rest. I phoned John for advice regarding which boat to hire and was greeted with a lot of friendly advice. After then making a booking, we were called before our hire to help us plan a rout and direction etc. On arrival for our hire, we were greeted and given time to settle into our boat before being given full instruction and tuition. Then we had an instructor head out with us for a full lesson in steering, Locks, canal etiquette etc. We weren't left alone until they were satisfied that we were confident enough. John was always just a phone call away if we needed him and he was always happy to remind us of something we had forgotten or just the location of the nearest pub ! This made our whole experience so much better. Boats are very well stocked. Tea, coffe ,washing up liquid, towels, bin liners, all the luttle things that you need. We shall definitely be booking again.Massive thank you to you all
Had one of the best weekends, John was so helpful and boat was great . The stove was lovely and warm. Always available for advice and help will definitely go back for another adventure.
Me and my Girlfriend took River Dancer for a long weekend away. We weren't sure what to expect so the nerves built up along side the excitement. After meeting John our nerves became more relaxed. It was great to finally put a face to the voice that I had spoken to on the phone in preparation for our holiday. He was terrific at reassuring us our journey would be an adventure with work to do but it would all be worth it when we"cheers" and put that well earned drink to our lips at the end of the day. John is a great instructor and a font of knowledge when it comes to places to eat and drink at stops on the way to your destination. (It's his job he says). Our journey aboard the traditional looking and beautifully kept River Dancer was the most fun experience we could have asked for and left us with a new found respect for canals and waterways and with the best stories and belly laughs. We are considering going again and would be definitely use The boat Co North again.
Absolutely fabulous week had by all. I was a little apprehensive as we took our 2 small children of 8 months and 2.5 years but I didn’t need to be. It was brilliant from start to finish. John answered all of my questions, re assured me that it will be a great family holiday and that’s just what it was. Great experience, good weather and the best service. Thanks John and his team.
As a family we have just got back from a weekend break on Charlotte, and what a weekend it was. From start to finish we have loved every minute! John was excellent, very informative, and a great support throughout our journey. From the moment we booked to the moment we stepped off. Thank you John, we will most definitely be back! :)
Had a fantastic 4 nights on Charlotte with my family. The boat was modern and clean and had all facilities needed also had more than enough space for 4 adults and 2 children.We headed towards Bingley, their was alot of locks and swing bridges on the route but all were fine and doable.The guys were all friendly and helpful and we're available whenever we needed them.Restful break away, my two children really enjoyed the trip.Definitely would be looking at returning in the future.
Had a lovely time. John and the staff at boat co no we’re amazing, so kind and knowledgeable! The boat had everything we needed and was incredibly comfy! cant wait to return!
We spent 3 nights aboard Emily, for our first time on a canal. John and his team were so friendly, informative and patient (especially when teaching how to operate the boat and locks). Emily was clean, well appointed and perfect for 2. We can't recommend Boat Co North enough and will certainly be booking again with them in the future.
Wow what a weekend. Stayed on Charlotte for the weekend 4 adults 2 kids. Boat is very modern. Everyone at Boat and Co North were very helpful and there to assist 24/7 if needed. This was are first time on a narrow boat and we will definitely be coming back. Thanks again guys!
We have just returned from a fantastic 3 night break staying in the 8 berth New Dawn along the Leeds/Liverpool Canal . We were greeted by a very enthusiastic and informative John on arrival, who took us through step by step the information we would need to make our trip as memorable as possible. No question was unanswered and I had many (sorry John). It was reasurring to know we had a friendly and knowledgable person on hand if we needed any support during our adventure. We were a group of six girls celebrating a special birthday and New Dawn had all the necessities we needed to cater for our break away. A large living space with ample seating for us to gather around and relax on an evening, after a day of travelling along the canal. The beds were all very comfortable, allowing for a great nights sleep. Overall we have had the best experience and will definitely look to return. Thank you
5 stars for The Boat Co NorthWe booked River Dancer for a 4 night break. Outstanding and responsive service all the way, from my initial phone call with John through to returning the boat at the end of our trip.John's knowledge of the boats, local area and interest in you and your crew's aims and experience all adds up to make a fantastic rental.The training is well delivered, appropriate to any previous experience, encouraging and comprehensive, backed up with the knowledge that someone is available on call should you need them.River Dancer is a great boat, decked out in a traditional style, which was just what we were looking for. The Leeds and Liverpool canal offers beautiful views, plenty of variety for mooring up and lots of locks and swing bridges to test your muscles!If you're looking for an adventure in the slow lane, just do it!
Just returned home from a cracking Easter break on Charlotte. The boat had a lovely modern feel and the guy running the show is a rock solid dude. We will return! 😁
Just book don’t even hesitate had an amazing 3night canal holiday on New Dawn with 5 friends all novices but experts by the end and would happily have stayed longer. John was helpful from the initial enquiry, to route and pub recommendations and helping us fix a jammed propeller via phone, always on the end of the phone for anything even just to check in. He gave us full in depth tuition through two locks, a lot to take in but you just do it and it’s so fun learning and being let loose then just bossing it! The boat itself is big, modern, full size very comfy beds and warm enough even in March a perfect size for 6 adults to enjoy. We went prepared with full waterproofs, layers and warm clothing which with British weather was needed. Lots of helpful and friendly people along the towpath ready to help or just chat or take our picture when we dressed as pirates for the day. Had an absolute blast wouldn’t hesitate to recommend and will definitely be back to do it again. Thanks John and boat co north x
Had a lovely weekend, gorgeous views and the boat was stunning. Very happy customer and well definitely be looking to book these guys again in the future! 😁
Just had a brilliant weekend onboard Charlotte. Never been previously so lots to learn but john was a great teacher. The boat was lovely had everything we neededinc help along the way. Found some great places to stop and eat / drink. Would definitely recommend
Spent 4 nights on Charlotte, boat was fantastic with everything you would need. John and Richard were both fantastic in helping us whenever needed, couldn't ask for better service and would definitely recommend and use again
We spent a weekend on the River Dancer.It was our first time in a canal holiday and I totally recommend it.John was very helpful and available at all times.
We just spent a week on River Dancer. We headed out of Leeds and made our way across to Silsden and back.We had a fantastic time which was greatly enhanced by the excellent customer service from John and others at The Boat Co North.The service starts with a phone conversation - John called to discuss our plans and aims for the break. Once he knew that we were heading out via the Bingley 5 Rise he went into details about timings and our expectations of time travelled each day - he used this information to organise all of our lock bookings and set up our whole journey.When we arrived at the boat yard we were welcomed aboard River Dancer and then John took us through the nearby locks. He made sure that both of us felt confident using locks and that we knew all there was to know about the boat. He was patient and knowledgable, answering every question we had. We have been on narrow boats before but this was the most comprehensive induction we have ever had.Once we set off we were able to contact the base as needed and John was keen to share in both my joy at manning a lock alone and my agony having moved the dreaded Rodley Swing Bridge.We did have some problem with the heater but that was quickly dealt with by John, and then Richard, coming out to service it as we were en route.Overall - a great company - customer service above and beyond the norm - we will be back and we would recommend without reservation.
Great experience throughout on River Dancer. John is very knowledgeable, experienced and knows the North canal ways by heart. The instructions provided were easy and clear even to canal boat novices. John was always available at the end of the phone for any queries whether boat, route or pub related. Great service and lovely little boat. Would highly recommend
Had a fabulous week on New Dawn with a crew of 5. John was amazing and, although we have been on several narrow boat holidays before, took us through a comprehensive induction in which we learnt so much more from him. The boat is well kitted out and the cosiest we have ever been on (probably due to the double glazing). We had to call on John’s help a couple of times but nothing was too much trouble. We would definitely recommend this company and hope to be back for another trip in the future.
First time boating for us- we had a great 4 nights away on Charlotte. Great facilities on board and brilliant advice on where to go/moor up and a very useful tutorial on the first day (thanks, Nathan).
Just got back from a weekend break with the boat co north with our friends and 3 dogs. Had a brilliant time. It was our first time on a boat, and the experience was outstanding. Joining instructions were clear, and the induction was thorough and really useful. John and his colleagues knew everything and answered all our questions. Throughout our weekend we operated locks, some on our own and some with canal river trust staff and they were really helpful too. Our boat was excellent, clean, tidy, fully functional and well equipped. It’s good to know you have a contact with the company at all times so if you’re stuck or need a pub recommendation, they have you sorted. We’re already sorting our next trip. Thank you.
Had a week's trip aboard Charlotte in Feb. Heating worked a dream, so even though it was snowing outside, the inside was warm and snug! Got multiple comments from locals saying "it doesn't need to be August to have a good holiday here" and they were right!Fully working shower and kitchen made canal living easy, and John gave recommendations for all the best pubs and places to visit.Was our first canal holiday, but won't be the last.
Just back from a fab stay aboard Charlotte. 4 nights and we could have stayed for longer! It may have been February but we were warm aboard and really enjoyed our adventure.John is a fab host and very welcoming- loads of tips on places to stop/eat/drink.We will definitely be back for another adventure soon!
Excellent trip on the River Dancer even in the cold and snowy weather.John was on hand to help with small things such as the best pubs and the big things when we got a tyre and rope wrapped round the propeller.Had a series of short trips with the days being shorter and colder but still very enjoyable.Would definitely do this again in the summer months.
John and the team are very welcoming, human and informative. Handover instructions were very informative and stuck with us for the 7 days we were away. The trip out to bingley was excellent fun and very peaceful. Nothing was too hard but it was very enjoyable and challenging enough to feel rewarding. Emily was well stocked and served us well, we cooked onboard easily and enjoyed visiting pubs and cafes on route
A wonderful experience and holiday. John and Richard were thorough, knowledgeable and very enthusiastic. We phoned John for advice late one evening and he was still cheerful and accomodating, which is very reassuring when on our maiden voyage. The boat was supberb, even for our 91 year old dad who joined in the fun. Looking forward to doing it again. A big thank you.
We had such a fantastic holiday. The service John and his team provided was absolutely exceptional. Great value for money considering everything you get and the service received. We will definitely be back!
Excellent from start to finish. First time boaters and John was incredible with his support, knowledge and instruction. Always on hand to help with any questions including the best pubs! Highly recommended and looking forward to a summer trip! Thanks,John and the team!
Had a 3 night break on River dancer with my 3 sons we all really enjoyed the trip and John who was our contact couldn't have been more friendly or helpful would recommend to anyone..Thank you..
Myself, Partner and Pooch spent 3 Amazing nights on Emily .Expert Tutition and guidence and support from JohnHe went above and beyond with teaching us everything and recommended great places to stop and eat.Emily was clean, comfortable, cozy, well equipped and very warm with everything you need, She was lovely.Best experience ever.It was all abit daunting at first especially the locks but with the help of John's expert knowledge and support we had the most amazing time, We loved the gorgeous scenery and chatting and waving at everyone, it's a bit special "Canal time" perfect.Thankyou and we are already planning to come back in the spring for longer this time.I thoroughly recommend great experience and magical memories made x
Beautiful way to spend an autumn weekend. John is a sound lad, on the end of the phone when needed. Luckily not needed much, and the team at the base were fantastic. Tuition was fun and crucially, informative. Hopefully you'll meet Steve along the way who works for the Canal & River Trust. Another top bloke. This was my first barge holiday and I loved it so if you're thinking about giving it a go, I can't recommend these guys enough.
During October 2023 half term my family had a fantastic 4 nights on New Dawn. The boat was clean, and everything other than food was provided. As complete novices to being on the canal, the instruction given when we picked up the boat was excellent and set us up for the week. We obviously had some questions as the week progressed, and John was really helpful at the end of a phone to answer our questions it was great to see such professionalism and customer service. The boat was very comfortable and warm even in October. I'd recommend the Boat Co North to anyone, and if you have no experience, I wouldn't worry about it as I've said the instruction given is exceptional. Hope to see you all again in 2024.
Hubby, 2 adult sons and myself spent 4 nights on New Dawn, Leeds to Shipley and return. We had no idea what we were in for except I wanted lots of locks for my boys to keep them busy, and busy they were. We loved the lock system and swing bridges, enjoying the challenge at first, and then feeling quite chuffed and skilled by the time we returned the boat … just as John said we would.John really was amazing! He was prepared to start us with a late boat pickup, which we couldn’t help, but John was so patient and explained everything well, and got us started. I wouldn’t recommend starting late, so make sure you are there early afternoon to start.He was available throughout the trip if we needed anything, very supportive, and very concerned that we were having a good time, even with the drizzly English weather lol. And we really did have a wonderful family time together, such fabulous memories!Other people we met along the route were incredibly nice and friendly, making the canal life very special.Highly recommended!
Our family group of 4 adults have just got back after a fabulous Monday to Thursday adventure on Emily. We had a great time working the locks and the swingbridges as we travelled leisurely to the Bingley 5 Rise and back to Castleton Mill. We had terrific tuition & support from John and Mike before we set off with the help of the friendly crew on board River Dancer. John resolved a minor technical issue for us via a phone call and we had every confidence that he would help us with anything that we might have wanted. There are plenty of excellent pubs on the route serving great beer and food. We would highly recommend the lovely folk at The Boat Co North and we would gladly holiday with them again.
We hired Charlotte for 4 nights from 24/10/22.Exceptional:John - Incredibly friendly and helpful. He was an absolute hero during our trip when we ran into one or two unforeseen issues (due to canal/lock disruptions - not the fault of White Rose). His experience and knowledge of canal life was evident and we picked up some real top tips from him. Our trip wouldn't have been anywhere near as great without him.The canal, cruising, mooring spots, other boaters, and CRT volunteers along the way - all fantastic.Great:Mike/Holly - Met us on the morning of our departure, both really friendly and helpful, talked us through everything on the boat and Mike accompanied us through our first lock and made sure we were confident before leaving us to it. Mike was also really helpful and accommodating on our return, giving us a quick tour of their other boats so we could compare for next time.Good:Charlotte was a lovely boat on the whole. In need of a bit of a spruce up perhaps in terms of decor, but was end of season soo perhaps to be expected and not an issue for us. A little bit "Travelodge" in choice of colour scheme/pictures, but really very pleasant and comfortable.The handwash provided in the bathroom smelt divine, and the towels were lovely (big and soft).Not so great:Communication prior to our trip was poor. We knew there'd been canal closures due to the hot summer and we wanted some reassurance and advice around how this might affect our cruising. Unfortunately response to our email queries was pretty much non existent - we emailed 3 times with the same query and never received a reply. We actually started to worry that they'd gone out of business! Turns out internet connection at their temporary base wasn't great which probably didn't help, but to receive no reply at all!!?On the subject of temporary base - we did receive an email just over a week prior to our trip advising of this, and that we would need to pay £30 to park our car there whilst on the boat. This was an unexpected cost as the website clearly states that they have their own lock up where parking is free. We understand the move of base was out of White Rose control, but we booked our trip well before then, and felt they should absorb the parking cost in the circumstances, or still allow parking at their usual base and transport customers to the temporary base (not a million miles away). At the very least, the website should have been updated to reflect the situation and we could have been advised of the additional cost much sooner than we were.In terms of the boat itself:We searched high and low for spare bin liners when the bin became full. Couldn't find them anywhere - ended up emptying a carrier bag we'd taken for dirty laundry to use as a bin liner instead. When we lifted the full liner from the bin to replaec it, there in the bottom of the bin was... yes you guessed, a spare bin liner. In the cupboard with dustpan, brush, spare loo rolls etc would have been a more obvious place to store spare liners in our view.Whilst looking for the bin liners we came across a folder full of information on Charlotte and other really useful stuff. Maybe they just forgot but we weren't told about this and only discovered it towards the end of our trip.Definite lack of hooks on the boat - e.g. in the bathroom for your towels, near the stern door for coats etc.Obviously White Rose have had challenges to overcome this year, with canal closures and operating from a temporary base, which in turn clearly affected our own experience in some ways. Definitely room for some improvement (and I hope our comments are read as intended... constructive/helpful). Overall though, really great, and would definitely re-book.
Excellent. Four of us on a boat from Fri to Mon. Cooker, shower, fridge, microwave, audio system (with Bluetooth). Comfortable and slept well. Idyllic. Lost electrical power at one point but John was straight out and fixed it. The next day we ran aground but John guided us out of that one too. No worries about support as they truly look after you - even to guiding you through the first lock or two. Marvellous :)
What a great trip! We received excellent service from Holly and John at White Rose Canal Holidays. Our 20-ton beast of a narrowboat, Charlotte, was comfortable and beautifully equipped - she had everything we needed for our week-long round-trip from Leeds up to Skipton.The weather might not have been optimal (Yorkshire in May!) and we might have slightly underestimated the workload involved in negotiating the endless locks and swing bridges, but it was SO WORTH IT! The scenery was exquisite, and everyone we met along the way was super friendly.We had zero boating experience before booking this holiday, but if you are reading this and wondering if you should take the plunge, GO FOR IT! Do a bit of reading, watch some YouTube videos, take advantage of all the advice and help you will be offered along the way, GO SLOW, and enjoy every moment.Thanks, White Rose!
Hired a narrowboat with a group of friends from White Rose for a weekend break and had a fantastic time! This was our first time on the canals and had a few worries concerning boat and lock operations, but the friendly staff did a great job of putting our minds at ease and provided us with 2 hours tuition before setting off on our own (great job Holly and Pirate John 😁).I would say that if you want a purely relaxing trip then this may not be the holiday for you. Operating the locks and bridges can sometimes be hard work if there are no Canal & River Trust volunteers around to help, but the scenery is amazing and there are some great pubs enroute!Would highly recommend using White Rose Holidays... they're based close to the railway station and there are supermarkets nearby to fill the cupboards before heading into the countryside. We are definitely going to book again with you guys! ❤️ 👍🏻👍🏻
Highly recommended! Fantastic, friendly knowledgeable staff! Great tuition for boat hire and pretrip training videos! Fabulous holiday and beautiful boat river dancer. Check it out!
