SC
Shire Cruisers
Your gateway to unforgettable canal adventures on the historic Rochdale Canal.
4.8(5 reviews)
Business
$$$
Your gateway to unforgettable canal adventures on the historic Rochdale Canal.
Shire Cruisers offers premium narrowboat rentals for families, couples, and groups seeking a unique and relaxing holiday experience on the picturesque Rochdale Canal in Yorkshire. Based at The Wharf in Sowerby Bridge, we provide well-equipped, comfortable boats with modern amenities like central heating, showers, and fully stocked kitchens. Our friendly, knowledgeable staff ensure a smooth journey with comprehensive inductions and support. Whether you're looking for a short break or a multi-day adventure, discover the beauty of the Yorkshire countryside at your own pace.
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Rent fully-equipped narrowboats for short breaks or extended holidays, featuring comfortable sleeping areas, kitchens, and modern facilities.
Customizable out-and-back or one-way routes along the Rochdale Canal, perfect for exploring Yorkshire villages and countryside.
Comprehensive inductions and guidance on boat operation, lock navigation, and safety from experienced staff.
Tailored experiences for families with kids, offering entertainment options and flexible itineraries.
Reliable engineering support and assistance for any issues during your trip, ensuring a hassle-free adventure.
We had a fantastic 5-day family trip with Shire Cruisers on the Rochdale Canal. The staff were incredibly friendly, helpful and knowledgeable, which made everything easy from start to finish. The boat itself was very well equipped and comfortable — the shower and toilets were great, and the central heating throughout the boat was a real bonus in October. It was perfect for our family with three kids (11, 8 and 5), with plenty to keep everyone entertained. We loved the mix of eating on board and visiting local cafés and pubs — the food was excellent everywhere we went, and everyone was so welcoming to families. Travelling at the slow pace of the canal was such a lovely way to enjoy the Yorkshire countryside and villages. We did an out-and-back route, which gave us the flexibility to choose how far to go each day. The weather was great so we spent most of our time on the boat, but there were also plenty of nearby options for rainy days by bus or train. A brilliant family adventure — highly recommended!
Great adventure holiday. Shire staff are good and helpful to deal with. Also, there's an excellent cafe ' Roast and Toast' located near their wharf.
We had to go to Brighouse when we arrived at Sowerby Bridge so we set sail at 5pm because of a brocken down lock. We were not told in advance( very poor from shire cruses). Sailed untill 10pm. The locks are 200year old design and most locks are inoperative. Next day the boat broke down because a cable snapped so we were hanging around for about 2hrs untill shires engineer came out to fix the breakdown which lasted about 45mins. Later that day we called out canal and river trust to fix a lock that would not fill quickly enough. I had to clear large amounts of river weed from the lock gates and outside the lock gates to enable to carry on. At a 3 lock set of gates the bottom gate of the top lock leaked to the point where the boat was laid on its side. All in all the trip was a disaster then coming back a boat was adrift behind a lock gate with no skipper on board. The rivers are in a mess, the owners were not to blame for the gates but people who use the rivers need to abide by the river etiquette.
We have just spent a relaxing week aboard the Norfolk. The boat was well equipped. Washing up liquid, cloth, washing up sponge, matches, hand soap all supplied. The kitchen is well equipped and I wanted for nothing. A dustpan and brush would have been useful. I would highly recommend Shire and Jeff who did our induction, explained everything clearly. The locks could be tricky on a windy day, but we are an older couple and managed well. Thank you shire for a chilled week.
Brilliant short break. The boat had everything needed, including a great shower, and they are in great condition! We were worried about the locks, but the staff guided you down the first few locks, so we were fine for the rest of the trip. Highly recommend.
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