• Tripadvisor Travellers Choice Award 2020

    Having reached 300 reviews, we are proud to have achieved a Tripadvisor Travellors Choice award for 2020.

    With 95% of all reviews stating us as "Excellent", 4% as "Very Good" and 1% as "Average", we are proud not to have any "Poor" or "Terrible" reviews at all.

    See all of our Tripadvisor reviews →

  • Hire a boat

    Hire a boat for the day from 9am to 5pm or from 10am to 6pm.

    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.

    Check and reserve online now →

  • Hire a boat for all occasions

    Hiring a boat for the day on the canal is an ideal way to celebrate any occasion such as birthdays, wedding anniversaries, graduations, a day out with the kids or just a day out for a couple to get away from it all.

    No previous experience necessary as you will be shown everything you need to know on arrival

    See what's involved with hiring a boat →

  • The Boatyard Bus Café
    in a double decker bus

    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.


    Currently closed due to Covid-19 restrictions

    Visit The Boatyard Bus Café website →

  • Services for existing boat owners

    As well as hiring boats to bring new people onto the canal, we also offer services to people who already own a boat.

    We offer red diesel, Calor gas, smokeless pet coke for solid fuel stoves, pump outs and portable cassette toilet disposal.

    See full details including prices here →

Daily canal boat hire near Chorley in Lancashire

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

Please CLICK HERE to check availability and make a reservation.

Great boats,
great prices
a great experience!

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  • Gift ideas

    Take a look at our range of personalised gift certificates and monetary vouchers for that unique present.

  • Route guide

    Our stretch of canal takes in many scenic places of interest and lots of places to stop and enjoy a bite to eat.

  • Our Boats

    All our boats have a large decking with seating for all

  • How To Book

    Find out how to hire a narrowboat from us

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ's):
Send us an email:
What's involved in hiring a boat?

Enjoy a day on the canal with your friends, family or work colleages. Ideal for family days out, friends, reunions, birthdays, anniversaries, work outings, etc.

Our boats are available to hire during the day or for the evening. They are easy to handle, so no previous experience is necessary.

We pride ourselves in our training and are RYA Inland Waters Helmsman certified. When you arrive we will conduct a safety brief, demonstrate how the boats works, offer everyone in the group buoyancy aids and will offer to come out with you to show you how to steer the boat, turn it around, moor up, tie up and explain the rules of the waterways.

We are in the middle of a 12 mile stretch of canal between locks as the boats are not permitted to travel through the locks.

A detailed explanation of how to hire a boat from the initial enquiry to the time you get home from your day out can be found by visiting our Hiring a boat page.

To make a booking please call us on 01257 480 825 or click Daily hire or Evening hire to reserve online.

Try an experience you won't forget!!

Where Can We Go?
Our canal route takes in many scenic places of interest and lots of places to stop and enjoy a traditional English pint!
Please click here for venues along the way guide.
What boats do you hire?
The blue boat "Mirlees", is a semi traditional style narrowboat with more standing space to the rear whereas the red boat "Ruston" and the green boat "Crossley" are traditional style narrowboats with space for two people to the rear with seats.
The boats have a large front deck with seating for all.
Each boat contains the following for 10 people:
  • Hob and grill;
  • Saucepans and frying pan;
  • Cooking utensils and cutlery;
  • Plates, side plates and bowls;
  • Mugs and drinking glasses;
  • Sink and drainer with hot and cold water (Washing up liquid, a tea towel and hand towel provided);
  • A table on the bow deck which can be bought inside;
  • A Flushing toilet (Toilet rolls are provided);
  • Dustpan and brush, broom and mop & bucket;
  • Bin and two additional black bags for recycling;
  • A life ring and two bouyancy aids (More are offered during the safety briefing)

Take a look at our boats
How many people are allowed on board?

Each of our boats take a maximum of 10 persons on board which includes small children and babies.

If you have more than 10 people in your group why not consider hiring more than one boat.

Can we bring dogs with us?
YES!! We have no problem with dogs other than if you can help us out by clearing up the dog hairs that get left behind that would be very much appreciated. We even have doggy life jackets with handles to help lift them out of the water if they go overboard!!

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Where are you, and how can I get to you?

From the South

Take junction 27 off the M6 then take A52 09 to Standish. In Standish Centre go straight ahead at the traffic lights, from the left hand lane. Continue onto T junction, passing traffic lights under the railway line to A5106 and turn left. After 3¼ miles turn right into Rawlinson Lane. The boat yard is ½ mile on your left just before the main A6 junction. Drive past the bungalow down to the workshop.

From the North

Take junction 8 off the M61, take the third exit off the roundabout following A6 Chorley, take the 2nd exit at next roundabout. Follow A6 through Chorley towards Manchester over ten small roundabouts. You will pass Morrison’s super market on the left as you leave Chorley on the penultimate roundabout. Take the 2nd exit on the final roundabout still following A6 towards Manchester. After 1½ miles take the right hand fork through the traffic lights still following A6 then after ½m immediately after the 40mph sign turn right into Rawlinson Lane then immediately right again in to the boat yard and drive past the bungalow down to the work shop.

Using Satellite Navigation

Use our postcode (PR7 4DE-Rawlinson Lane) and enter the house number 68. We are not number 68 but this house is right next to us and you can't miss The Boat yard. Drive past the bungalow down to the workshop.

View a map

Please click here for printable instructions on how to find us.

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