bearBOATING

Hi Ian - Thank you. We do have nemoNOO that sleeps 8. 57ft x 10 ft Widebeam. Very luxurious and our most popular boat!

I’m going to shamelessly put a vote in for bearBOATING www.bearBOATING.co.uk we are based just outside Leeds and offer both wide and narrow boats - if you fancy a bit of extra luxury and space. We also offer 2 days of training with an RYA instructor if you are complete novices. Everyone who does the training finds it definitely adds to the enjoyment of the holiday. Unless we know the crew extremely well and know they are experienced all our handovers cover both Dobson 2 Rise and Field 3 Rise to make sure everyone is clear on the operation of the staircase locks. We will meet you on your way back down Field if required as it is the only 3 Rise Staircase in the country without a full time lockie as far as we know. And now I have shamelessly plugged ourselves I will add another website which I found extremely useful when planning our first canal holiday http://www.canaljunction.com I found this to be a great resource with details of all the canals and all the hire companies on each of them.

Thank you Scarletgirl. I will pass the feedback to our handover crew. The lockies do like our boats but its really because of the high standard of handover we give all our boaters. All our handovers are conducted by RYA IWH Instructors and are very thorough. Even the most experienced of boaters are given the full handover through at least 3 locks - if they start from Apperley Bridge Marina we instruct everyone through Dobson 2 Rise and Field 3 Rise. At Barlick we instruct through Greenberfield as a minimum. All our novice boaters take the RYA IWH course on the first two days of their holiday. It is not the easiest of canals, (hence our handovers and training policy), but its definitely one of the most beautiful. Our one way cruise takes in the best of the L&L and that small section of the route that is in Lancashire is also very beautiful. (But thats because its really Yorkshire and Lancashire stole it).

Don't worry, on board you will find our own guide book (as well as a nicholsons guide), with all our favourite mooring spots as well as pubs, restaurants, shops etc along the route, all tried and tested. Please do not hesitate to email us should you have any questions.

You will get over the motion sickness. The boat you are looking at is built to the maximum length for the L&L and it's very difficult to get through some of the locks. I don't think it was ever built to cruise definitely as a house boat.

As far as I am aware the locks are not manned during the winter and the opening times stated are only for booked passages. As Robbie Cummings found out in his video at 17 mins

Bingley 5 does not have winter opening hours you have to book passage 72 hours in advance. They usually open just before Easter which this year is Weekend of 30th March - I expect them to be open the week prior.

She means don't bother going down through Burnley - the best bits of the L&L are pretty much on the eastern side from Leeds through to Barrowford

I walked down today and had a chat with the volunteers. They are putting in 12 moorings in total which start at the end of the day mooring and follow the towpath towards Shipley. The new moorings are 14 days. I did ask if any provision for mooring will be made from Victoria Rd Bridge towards Hirst Lock but as far as anyone knew no plans at present. They have also applied to cut back the trees on the offside which are very overgrown and will obstruct navigation when the moorings are in use. Hopefully no one will object to that.

I'm interested as to where these new moorings actually are?

Field isn't manned at all any more. It used to be for 2 hours a day but that was withdrawn this year.

It is our base - we use Lower Park at Barlick too - regarding the split on diesel I think it's generally 60/40 but don't quote me. Check their website or Facebook page for opening times.

When we were just starting out I found this website a great resource for researching the canals and all the hire bases. http://www.canaljunction.com/ There is also a Facebook group called Get Afloat which is all about boat hire and loads of people on there will also help with advice.

I'm pretty sure those photos are taken at Field 3 Rise Locks. Beautiful spot. As everyone else says a lot of what is said about the L&L is myth. Yes the locks around Bramley can get busy with locals in the summer but treat them as you would want them to treat you and you will do just fine. The 3 Rise staircase locks Oddy and Forge are still manned during the summer season. When you arrive in Rodley the town moorings are lovely and I can highly recommend the Turkish restaurant just around the corner on the right. The Railway pub -after the first swing Bridge, before the second, also has a good reputation. Between Rodley and Skipton you can moor anywhere safely. Try the Terrace Restaurant in Saltaire if you enjoy good food. The Fishermans just after Downey Gap is a nice mooring and I hear the pub is doing well. We always stop in East Morton for the Busfeild Arms and Bradley for the Slaters Arms. Both great pubs with great food.