1-Hour Public Cruise: Guided Tour Featuring Countryside Views

Embark on a 1-hour public cruise and enjoy a guided tour with stunning countryside views. Join us daily from March to October for a hilarious commentary by Dave Spikey.

Duration: 1 hour
Cancellation: 24 hours
Highlights
  • Skipton Boat Trips - Admission is free
  • Aireville Park - Aireville Park is a large open space with sporting facilities and play areas in the heart of Skipton. It dates back to the 1830s when it was created by Henry Allcock as part of the Aireville Estate. Upon his death, wealthy Skipton mill owners, the Dewhurst family, purchased the estate and Aireville Hall.
What's Included
  • One-hour boat ride
  • Access to bathroom as needed.
What's Not Included
  • Alcoholic drinks (available to purchase)
  • Drinks
  • Gratuities
Additional Information

This is the best 60 minutes of rib-tickling historic escapism you can find in Skipton.
Your guide for the canal tour is award-winning comedian Dave Spikey of Phoenix Nights and 8 Out of 10 Cats fame. With his characteristic Northern patter, Dave takes you on a recorded whistle-stop tour of Skipton and shares canal history that’s refreshingly different…

Location
Skipton Pie & Mash Shop
Coach Street
For those with Sat-Nav – use the postcode BD23 1LH. We are on Coach St, which is just off the main High Street via Swadford Street. Feel free to use our free carpark if there is a spot. Just make sure you tell us your registration number when you arrive.
Cancellation Policy

For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.

Customer Ratings
4.4
(313 Ratings)
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Sharon
Nov 13, 2025
Canal cruise - We had an enjoyable cruise along the canal with a very witty commentary. The staff were very welcoming and friendly. A very reasonable price too
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Bill
Nov 12, 2025
A nice trip through the heart of Skipton - I took my dog who was very well behaved and thanks for accepting dogs. It’s a good trip and the commentary (when you could hear it) was humorous while being informative; it’s just a pity people talk over the top of commentaries which I find frustrating and am left wondering why they bother to do trips like this. The length of trip is about right. The only downside was having to queue to get into a tiny office to pick up a boarding pass; this despite most people having booked and paid on-line which surely should be all you need to show at the boat. I raise this as there is no under cover shelter when queuing to collect the boarding pass which would see passengers soaked through in heavy rain. I think that needs to change or a shelter built.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Brenda
Nov 12, 2025
Love skipton - Had a trip on the Leeds Liverpool canal with pennine cruisers. 1 hour journey cost £10 each and you could have refreshments on board. Very relaxing.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Juliebg5185gx
Oct 31, 2025
Great trip - Fabulous little trip would highly recommend.. very knowledgeable and humorous guide. A different view of skipton. Beautiful architecture and a history worth knowing.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Hobbesengland
Oct 16, 2025
Lovely relaxing trip - Excellent trip. Everyone is assigned a seat, so no pushing to be first on. The crew were all friendly and helpful, the boat trip was really relaxing and the recorded commentary from Dave Spikey was very amusing and informative. We had a hot chocolate each, very reasonably priced. Snacks and alcohol were available too. Would definitely recommend it!
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Carolat8692sb
Oct 14, 2025
Brilliant friendly staff - We all enjoyed the trip. Friendly staff, answered children's questions without loosing patience as can happen. Will do this again.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Stay06129127732
Oct 5, 2025
Enjoyable - Despite awful weather we still enjoyed our hour's journey. The crew were very friendly and helpful. We would go again, hopefully when the sun was shining.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
92nessab
Sep 25, 2025
Pretty, Comfortable and Relaxing - Nice, relaxing boat trip, with pleasant views and very comfortable seats. The boat was covered, and there was a toilet onboard, and a bar to buy snacks and drinks - and little trays on the seats like you get on trains. The commentary they played along the way was full of jokes, to an extent that I might have found it annoying, but there were intervals. Seats were allocated, which I was happy about because I was on my own and worried about not getting a window seat - as it was, I had a double to myself. And dogs are allowed on; the ones near me were perfectly well behaved, but maybe not everyone would like that. We passed by a couple of swing bridges, which the team were very efficient at opening with no wait for the boat. Overall, it was definitely worth the £10 I paid, and is making me consider one of their longer trips.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Bill
Oct 26, 2025
A good overview of the history of this section of the canal and Skipton’s history - A good value trip that gives a good taster of this part of Skipton. Just a few things to add: luckily it was not raining as where you queue there is no shelter. Most people would have had their confirmation on their phone as you book in advance so why you then have to be squeezed into a tiny office for a boarding pass is a mystery and this part of the trip could be streamlined especially with weather changes in mind! The commentary on board was both informative and very funny though as is usually the case people talked over the top of it which I always find frustrating and inconsiderate of the guide and others
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Polly_d
Oct 22, 2025
requesting refund - Hello, we booked and arrived but the tour was cut short due to a problem with one of the gates - we were given the option to get our money back or re-book. I was told I could call later and let them know, mainly because I wanted to rebook but didn't have our schedule so I wanted to check it first. Anyway, my husband went back to the office and advised them that we wanted a refund as we would not be able to take the trip. The girl at the desk said she would let someone know. We have yet to receive our refund (this was in August 2025). Can you please respond? Dickinson is the last name.
Review provided by Viator
From $15
up to 15 guests
1 - Adult
Cancellation: Free cancellation up to 24 hours before the start of your experience (local time).