The Association of Pleasure Craft Operators

The APCO Guide to Inland Waterway Boating Holidays

APCO – Hire Boat Companies in the North of England
Companies whose boats are inspected and graded under the Visit Britain independent assessment scheme display the following logo. Companies who take part in the British Marine Federation, Boat Handover Scheme, display the following logo.
The North of England has a wide range of canal cruising options, including three different routes over the Pennines, with the Leeds & Liverpool, Rochdale and Huddersfield Narrow Canals.
The region is under going a waterway renaissance, with large amounts of money invested in recent years to reclaim the canal heritage. Uncrowded waters, magnificent scenery and a wide choice of cruising options.

The links bottom right to waterway maps and route planning may assist you in choosing the most appropriate route, waterway and company.

APCO members offer a large number of bases, routes and boats to choose from.

North of England Hire Bases
Alvechurch Waterway Holidays www.alvechurch.com
Arlen Hire Boats www.arlen-hireboats.co.uk    

Black Prince Holidays Ltd

 www.black-prince.com
Bronte Boats www.bronteboats.co.uk    
Banks Hire Boats www.bankshireboats.co.uk    
Shepley Bridge Marina Ltd www.rochdalecanal.co.uk    
Shire Cruisers www.shirecruisers.co.uk
Silsden Boats (Holidays) Ltd www.silsdenboats.co.uk  
Snaygill Boats Ltd www.snaygillboats.co.uk    

Boating Holidays
What to expect on a UK boating holiday, different types of holiday and much more.
About APCO
Explaining the purpose and background of the Association of Pleasure Craft Operators.
APCO Members
Listing all APCO member, with their full contact details.
Handover Scheme
When hiring a boat you need to be sure you will be given suitable tuition.
Boat Grading Scheme
Explaining the Boat Grading Scheme from VisitBritain for Hire Boats and Hotelboats.
Boaters Code
British Waterways guide to how all canal users should behave. PDF download.
Boaters Handbook
The BW handbook, available here as a PDF to download, covers everything from Boat Handling, Safety and Rules of the Road.
Kid's pages
Things for the children to do, including a waterways game courtesy of British Waterways.
Useful Links
Links to other useful waterways websites.
Members Section
Information for APCO members, password needed to enter.

Waterways Map
Multimap
Boating Guides to Individual Waterways
Principal Navigations Information
Hire bases in the North West
Hire bases in the Scotland
Hire bases in the Midlands
Hire bases in the South
Association of Pleasure Craft Operators (APCO), Marine House, Thorpe Lea Road, Egham, Surrey, TW20 8BF
Tel:  0844 8009575 Email info@apco.org.uk