Guide To White Rose Canal Cruises

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!

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!

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.

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 🙂

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👨‍👩‍👧‍👦🐶🍻