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Blue Otter Boats

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Blue Otter Boats

Blue Otter Boats offers bespoke self-drive holidays for 3 nights or more. Explore England's canal ne
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Blue Otter Narrowboats is a small, bespoke narrowboat hire company in the making. Based in Skipton on the Leeds to Liverpool canal, it is our objective to put you first and ensure you enjoy the canals with a holiday to remember and a boat you won’t easily forget. When you take the helm of Blue Otter and discover the canal life running through Yorkshire and Lancashire, a sense of freedom and explor

ation will overwhelm you. As you drift gently around each bend and under every bridge a new delight appears. Whether you’re looking for a holiday with a difference or just want to unwind and take life at a more tranquil pace, our luxury bespoke narrowboat provides a level of comfort and convenience for a memorable boutique getaway.

19/08/2024

Cruise diaries: Autumn 2023 on the Leeds Liverpool canal.

17/08/2024

🎄 The holiday season is just around the corner, and we're excited to share that our first Christmas voucher enquiries are rolling in! 🎁

If you're searching for the perfect gift for friends or family, our luxury narrowboat experiences provide a unique and unforgettable getaway on the English Canals.

Whether it's a spring cruise or a summer adventure, our vouchers are the perfect way to gift relaxation and exploration.

Make someone's Christmas extra special this year. Get in touch with us to ask about our gift vouchers!

Email our Chief Executive Otters at [email protected]

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11/08/2024

Meet Eric and Angel, today’s guest arrivals on Blue Otter Skipton.

Angel did the galley inspection, while Eric was attentive on all the boat handling instructions.

Have a wonderful week!

10/08/2024

🚤 Breaking News! The IOC has just announced that Canal Narrowboating is now an official Olympic sport! 🥇🚤

Get ready for the ultimate test of endurance, precision, and patience.

Forget those high-speed thrills of swimming and sprinting, the real action is in navigating 4mph through serene canals, dodging overhanging branches, and mastering the ancient art of locking gates.

Coming soon to Paris 2024:

🏅 The 10km Straight Line Challenge (watch out for ducks and rogue swans! 🦢)
🏅 The 72-Hour Endurance Drift (without accidentally waking up the locals 🚫)
🏅 Synchronised Mooring (because parallel parking is for amateurs!)
🏅 Team Lock Navigation (where teamwork and arguing over who's doing it wrong go hand in hand!)

Move over rowing and sailing, this is the slow-paced sport we've all been waiting for.

Start training now—perfect that tiller technique, memorize canal etiquette, and embrace the true spirit of "faster, higher, stronger... eventually." 😎🚤

06/08/2024

A lovely review for experienced boaters following a week on Blue Otter Skipton.

Bookings are coming in for 2025 already…more and more people are getting hooked on cruising, returning year after year.

03/08/2024

🚤✨ Last-Minute Canal Adventure Awaits! ✨🚤

Dreaming of a summer escape? Set sail on a serene canal narrowboat holiday in beautiful Skipton with Blue Otter Boats! 🌊💚

🏞️ August Available Dates:

Starting Sunday this week for 7 nights or Tuesday next week for 5 nights
🏡 What’s Included:

5 or 7 Nights of tranquil cruising 🛌
All essentials covered: Fuel, water, bedding, towels
Expert tuition: Full boat handling, bridge, and lock navigation taught by friendly professionals! 🚤🔧
All moorings included for the week ⚓
🌟 Price: From £1170 for a full week of relaxation! 🌟

Don't miss this chance to explore the stunning Yorkshire Dales at your own pace. Limited availability—book now and embark on your perfect summer getaway! 🌞

👉 Book Your Adventure Today!

02/08/2024

28/07/2024

Don’t just take our word for it, read what our guests say about their experience on Blue Otter Skipton.

28/07/2024

Sunday departures - when the last guests leave and new guests embark on their canal adventure.

LAST MINUTE availability for Sunday August 2nd on Blue Otter Skipton. Book via our website link to Hoseasons.

25/07/2024

“Had a marvellous time” a success review of the boating experience on Blue Otter Skipton

Book your August or October cruising holiday today.

21/07/2024

🌞 Getaway for Less in August! 🌞

Dreaming of a peaceful escape? Look no further! 🚤✨

🌿 Blue Otter Skipton 🌿
🗓️ 7 nights from Sunday 4th or Sunday 18th
💰 Now only £1,170 (was £1,365)

Everything you need for the perfect break:
✨ Fuel, water, bedding, and towels included
🍳 Fully-equipped kitchen
🚿 Bathroom with hot-water shower and flush toilet
🛏️ Comfortable double bed
🛋️ Cozy lounge
🌅 Outdoor furniture for serene moments by the water
🚗 Free car parking
🛥️ Full boat-handling training on day 1 - perfect for novice boaters!

Book your adventure today and sail away into tranquility! 🌊💙
Click here: https://www.hoseasons.co.uk/boat-holidays/blue-otter-skipton-bh2610

20/07/2024

Moored up and time for a boaters favourite tipple after a day of cruising.

07/07/2024

Otter spotting…a favourite pastime of our guests.

If you spot an otter, would@like to know about it.

29/06/2024

A family outing. Get close to nature on the canals with a boating holiday.

Your alarm clock is likely to be the gentle tapping of a swan bill on the boat. The dawn chorus of birds in the overhead trees, and that one duck who just has something he needs to get off his chest.

Slow down on your next holiday. Book a week on the canals with Blue Otter Boats.

23/06/2024

🎉 Summer Sale Offer! 🎉
Book your Blue Otter cruise through Hoseasons before July 3rd and take advantage of our exclusive Summer Sale offer! 🌞💸

Book now and embark on a journey that promises relaxation, adventure, and everything in between! 🌿💙

🌟 Last 6 Weeks of Availability for Blue Otter Skipton! 🌟

Choose your deparature date from the below options for the stunning Blue Otter Skipton this year. Don't miss your chance to experience the serene beauty of the Yorkshire Dales from the comfort of our modern canal boat.

🗓 Available Dates:

August 4
August 11
August 18
October 6
October 13
October 20

Each date offers a 7-night cruise filled with breathtaking scenery, peaceful waterways, and unforgettable memories. Full boat handling training provided with each booking.

For more details and to secure your spot, visit https://www.hoseasons.co.uk/boat-holidays/blue-otter-skipton-bh2610

"New in 2019 Blue Otter Skipton offers a modern take on a canal boat. Comfortably accommodating 2 adults you and your loved one can meander along the canals in style. Whether this is from the comfort of the two cosy chairs in the saloon or the option for al fresco living with the folding chairs and....

01/06/2024

Mooring and grazing tip for Blue Otter Skipton guests… serves Barge Buster and Narrowboat “slimline” Breakfasts all day long…or opt for the Canal Cruiser Burger. Which would you choose?

On the stretch from Kildwick back to Skipton you might take in a cricket match, have a chat with the cows or see a family Goose exfoliation spa day in action.
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29/05/2024

Happy World Otter Day!
The IOSF is a charity we naturally support, and our past guests may well recognise some of their products on our boats over the years.

A day to celebrate and raise awareness for otters across the world.

26/05/2024

Martin, Hazel and Milo the 11yr old dog are on their way to Bingley Five Rise and Saltaire.

Having spent 35 years in the Navy, Martin has been on a boat or two before, however most of those were submarines! Enjoy life above the water surface…see you in a week!

23/05/2024

There were reports at the weekend of an Otter in Skipton Basin…a Blue Otter reversing to turn around and head west towards Gargrave, onto Barnoldswick and through Foulridge Tunnel.

19/05/2024

Thanks for the lovely review, Lesley & Jim.

We love helping first time boaters feel at ease every step of the way. Making sure you are confident to go through locks, operate bridges and general boat management makes it a much better experience for everyone. Enjoy the memories!

18/05/2024

Breakfast on board.

Who would you share this moment with?

17/05/2024

Most definitely this kind of evening….name your crew!

17/05/2024

Find a remote spot, moor up and relax.

Enjoying life in the slow lane, our bookings are open for 2025, with no price increase. Book through our website www.blue Otter Boats.com or enquire with

14/05/2024

It's always a pleasure to make chocolate boats with woodland animals for

12/05/2024

As part of our induction training, we take the guests who are first-time boaters through bridges and locks. The electric bridge at Bradley is about an hour’s cruise from Skipton, by which time newbie boaters usually feel at ease to go it alone. Lovely to see Bradley Cricket Team in the background

This week’s guests from Lincolnshire are loving the evening cruise in this weather…we suspect they may have already caught the “narrrowboat bug”.

12/05/2024

Who else has the “narrowboat bug”?

Thank you Shelley and Stuart for the lovely review of your first timing boating and enjoyment of Blue Otter Skipton.

05/05/2024

Today’s guest on Blue Otter Skipton was pleasantly surprised at just how much space there is inside for his 6ft stature. With an engineer’s technical mind, Stuart took to boating like a duck to water…and he is thrilled he won’t have to duck inside 😊

04/05/2024

Hawthorn blossom and sunset cruising, from snacks on the go to breakfast up on deck. Who would take on a narrowboat holiday?

02/05/2024

Blue Otter Skipton was spotted by one of our followers - Moored up in Saltaire. The ideal place to stop and take in a exhibition at Salts Mill, or hop on a train to Keighley for the 5-mile long heritage railway on a steam train to Oxenhope.

28/04/2024

Bluebells are out along the Leeds Liverpool canal, just in time for our returning guests. They were cruising with us last autumn and are now back for a spring experience, this time bringing a friend and a kayak along too.

Ideally Blue Otter Skipton is a boat for couples, but with some furniture rearranged in the living area, enough space can be made for an eager friend with a camp bed to tag along.

The weather has finally turned warmer too, so the forecast is looking good for sunny cruising and kayaking days on the Leeds Liverpool Canal.

Address

Skipton
<<NOT-APPLICABLE>>

Opening Hours

Monday	9am - 5pm
Tuesday	9am - 5pm
Wednesday	9am - 5pm
Thursday	9am - 5pm
Friday	9am - 5pm
Saturday	9am - 5pm
Sunday	9am - 5pm

Website

http://www.blueotterboats.com/

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Videos

Canal capers with our guests on Blue Otter Wootton Wawen this week. Baby aqueduct adventures , anyone? #summerholidays #canalholiday #blueotter #warwickshire #blueotterboats

🎁 Didn't get that boating holiday you wanted for Christmas? Let's rectify that with the Hoseasons Big 2024 January Sale. Pay just a deposit to secure your preferred dates. 📆 Book now for Blue Otter Skipton (couples + pets) https://www.hoseasons.co.uk/boat-holidays/blot 📆 Book now for Blue Otter Wootton Wawen (couples or families) https://www.hoseasons.co.uk/boat-holidays/boww 💡Find inspiration here: https://blueotterboats.com/journal-events/ #boatholiday #narrowboating #awardwinning #blueotterboats #canalboat #Englishholiday

To moor up or to cruise? There isn’t a wrong answer…on this occasion a half-day pause was followed by a half-day cruise. Rewarded with heron flights and shady spots to stop and snack before carrying on the journey. #bestofbothworlds #blueotterskipton #blueotterboats #autumn #autumncruising #leedsliverpoolcanal Hoseasons Canal & River Trust

Leeds Liverpool Canal Moo Spa

Even the cows are finding this September heat too much. Captured here just outside Skipton to the background of dramatic music from Classic FM radio.

Our latest guests in Skipton are from Australia and Sheffield. It didn’t take long (1 hr cruising) to meet another couple from Australia and they’ve paired up for a trip to Saltaire. #boatinglife #narrowboatlife #canalholiday #blueotterskipton

Sunset cruising on Blue Otter Boats. #narrowboatlife #NarrowboatHoliday #canalboat

Name your co-pilot for a summer cruise on Blue otter Skipton. #sunsetcruising #narrowboatlife #narrowboat #canalholiday

Blue Otter Skipton is ready to welcome the next guests, take a walk through with us. This is what you can expect to arrive to when cruising with us. #narrowboat #canalboat #blueotterskipton

Curious to see Blue Otter Wootton Wawen inside and out? Take a peek…

Welcome to our cruise season 2023! We look forward to welcoming our guests - this year coming from all over the world as foreign travel returns to the UK - all looking to unwind, slow down and take in the sights and sounds along our canals. Here's a teaser of what that might look like. Settle down with a brew and prepare to take "A Slow Boat Down a River to Nowhere", written and sung by our friend, Hannah Crown. Happy cruising! https://blueotterboats.com/ #travel #canalboatholiday #holiday #slowtravel

Welcoming in the May Bank Holiday from Skipton. Morris Dancers have travelled near and far from Leeds, Liverpool, Cambridgeshire, Staffordshire and beyond to spread some cheer. Give a wave when you see a Blue Otter Boat around Skipton and Stratford Upon Avon.

Slow down, relax and cruise the canals with Blue Otter Boats in Yorkshire and Warwickshire

Why go glamping when you can pilot a narrow boat? Learn new skills, immerse in nature, relax and enjoy a deep sleep under the stars. Full training given and within a few hours on board, you'll be cruising like a professional boater. All bookings are protected through our travel agent Hoseasons www.blueotterboats.com #wellbeingjourney #canalholiday #newskills #travel #narrowboat #boating Canal & River Trust

For our guests in Skipton arriving back or departing on the 1st & 3rd Sundays of the month, The Boat House Bar is the place to enjoy some live music. The sessions begin at 2pm. You never know who will turn up, which instruments will be played and all are welcome to join in! If you are cruising with us and play an instrument, you would receive a warm welcome from the local musicians. #canalculture #livemusic #skipton #folkmusic #blueotterskipton

For our guests in Skipton arriving or departing on the 1st & 3rd Sundays of the month, The Boat House Bar Skipton is th place to enjoy some live music. You never know who will turn up, which instruments will be played and all are welcome to join in!

Blue Otter Boats Canal Holidays

Did somebody say "Let's go boating?" Book your holiday on the canals with us. Full boat-handling tuition given on arrival. Our Yorkshire boat from Skipton is ideal for couples, families/ 4 passengers should look at our Warwickshire boat from Wootton Wawen.

Blue Otter sets off from Hill Farm Marina with her first guests on a sunny bank holiday. Destination Stratford and then onto the river Avon.

Canal Holidays with Blue Otter Boats

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Our Story

Blue Otter Narrowboats is a family-run bespoke narrowboat hire company with two boats fitted to a high standard of comfort. Beginning in Skipton on the Leeds to Liverpool canal, and from Wootton Wawen outside Stratford-upon-Avon, it is our objective to put you first and ensure you enjoy the canals with a holiday to remember and a boat you won’t easily forget. When you take the helm of Blue Otter and discover the canal life, a sense of freedom and exploration becomes your daily excitement. With each bend and under every bridge a new discovery is revealed, and you can decide whether you moor up and explore, or continue your journey. Whether you’re looking for a holiday with a difference or just want to unwind and take life at a more tranquil pace, our bespoke narrowboats provide a level of comfort and convenience for a memorable boutique getaway.

www.blueotterboats.com