Leeds to Skipton

Starting at the hire base in Leeds, this route takes a classic route around the Pennines. Once you have left the city centre, you’ll soon forget that you are cruising through an urban area. The last stretch is heavily wooded and shields most of the buildings from view. Look out for the remains of Kirkstall Abbey on your way out of Leeds. There are quite a few swing bridges and locks on this section of your cruise - so it never gets boring. After passing the impressive mills in Bingley, a couple of staircase locks await you, one of them the famous Bingley Five-Rise Locks. After tackling these, you’ll be rewarded with a sweeping view over the river valley. From here until Skipton are no more locks to tackle, which makes for a very relaxing cruise. The surroundings are very pleasant now, you’ll pass a few villages and can enjoy great views over the valley. A few swing bridges sprinkle in a bit of a workout every now and then. Soon, you’ll reach the bustling town of Skipton, which is also your turning point on this canal journey. Skipton itself is well worth a visit, as there are great walks into the surrounding countryside and quite a few ale houses to visit. Now it’s time to retrace your journey and cruise back towards the hire base in Leeds.