Daily canal boat hire
near Chorley in Lancashire

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Hire a boat

Hire a boat for the day

Hire a boat for the day from 9am to 5pm, 10am to 6pm or from 9am and 10am to dusk on winter days.

During the summer months the boats could be available for a longer day up to 10pm at night during daylight hours.

A full safety briefing and comprehensive handover given prior to departure so no previous experience is necessary.

Find out more

Check availability and reserve online now

Gift ideas

Gifts for all occasions

Gift certificates and vouchers available as gifts for that special occasion.

Personalised gift certificates available in three options to help make the gift more affordable or monetary valued gift vouchers in £5.00 increments to put towards the cost of hire.

Find out more

The Boatyard Bus Cafe

The Boatyard Bus Cafe

Café in a double decker bus within the grounds of the boatyard with seating indoors on the top deck and outdoors beside the canal.

Serving breakfast and lunch or just a quality coffee and a slice of cake during your day out on one of our boats or while taking the dog for a walk along the canal.

Visit The Boatyard Bus Cafe website

View the Boatyard Bus Cafe menu

Social media

Review us or check us out

Social media is a great way to let us know what you think of us or to find out what others think before booking a boat with us.

Please select one or more social media platforms below.

Facebook - Rated EXCELLENT

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Tripadvisor - Rated EXCELLENT

Our website

Since taking over the existing business from L & L Cruisers in Heath Charnock near Chorley on the Leeds & Liverpool Canal in April 2008, Ellerbeck Narrowboats offers daily canal boat hire aboard it’s three 30ft steel narrowboats.

Each boat carries up to 10 people offering the opportunity for groups of two to thirty people to celebrate birthdays, wedding anniversaries retirements, graduations, etc, team-building events or simply just a day out with friends or family.

The boats each have hot and cold running water, a china flushing toilet and basic galley facilities including plates, mugs, glasses, and cutlery. There is a gas hob and grill along with a kettle to make a brew. Basic supplies such as toilet roll, washing up liquid, hand soap, a tea towel, and a hand towel are provided so all you need to bring with you is yourselves and some food and drink or why not let us organise breakfast and/or a buffet lunch for you from The Boatyard Bus Café?

Upon arrival you will be greeted by our friendly staff who will provide a comprehensive safety briefing and as much handling instructions as required, depending on previous experience and ability. Novices welcome!!

The Boatyard is in the middle of a 12 mile stretch of canal between locks at Wigan and Wheelton. Although our boats are not permitted to go through the locks, the canal meanders through beautiful Lancashire countryside with plenty of places to stop and things to do to fulfil a full days hire including pubs and playgrounds.

Everything you need to know about hiring a boat with us can be found on our website HERE including prices, details about our boats and an online reservation system.

Many thanks to Georgia and Lucy for the great video below taking a little break from exploring and reviewing trains to explore the canal for the day. Thanks for a very informative review of a typical day aboard one of our boats.  Check out and subscribe to their YouTube Channel HERE.

Book a boat today and “TRY AN EXPERIENCE YOU WON’T FORGET!!”.

Please CLICK HERE to check availability and make a reservation.

Got a question? Ask us here.