Rail & Sail Skipton

Experience two historic journeys in the heart of the Yorkshire Dales!

Skipton Boat Trips and Embsay & Bolton Abbey Steam Railway have joined together to offer you this wonderful nostalgic day out or spread your visit over multiple days!

Start your journey at Skipton Boat Trips where you’ll board our 59 -foot-long canal boat, Cobbydale, you’ll sail through beautiful countryside along the 18th century Leeds and Liverpool Canal. Our comfortable boat has all the facilities on board you could wish for, including a full bar with hot and cold drinks, central heating for those slightly nippy Yorkshire days, and full panoramic windows, allowing picturesque views of the areas you sail through. Accompanying you will be a guided commentary by comedian Dave Spikey, an informative and entertaining description of Skipton, the canals, and the local wildlife.

From Skipton, you can then jump forward in time and visit the lovingly restored Victorian and Edwardian Embsay & Bolton Abbey Steam Railway. Departing from either Embsay or Bolton Abbey, you’ll travel in one of a number of vintage carriages of different eras and styles, with two time warp stations to explore at either end, each with little shops, cafes, and exhibitions. The journey is roughly 20 minutes each way, with as long as you choose to spend in between exploring. For those able, the mile and a half walk to the beautiful ruins of Bolton Abbey, next to the River Wharfe, is well worth the effort.

Know before you go….

When you book your Rail and Sail ticket, you will receive two voucher codes that you can redeem on a 1-hour Skipton Boat Trip and a 1-hour Standard Day Ticket for the Embsay and Bolton Abbey Steam Railway – these trips must be booked in advance and are subject to availability. Please note you can visit the attractions on different days if you wish! Further information will be included in your confirmation email.