Click on the trip name for full details:
Llangollen Canal
Chester or Ellesmere Port & return
The Cheshire Ring
The Four Counties Ring
Monmouthshire & Brecon Canal
Llangynidr & return
Talybont-on-Usk & return
Short Breaks
Llangollen & return
Guides: P3, N4, L8, G20
• From Whitchurch 7 nights,
4 hours per day, 4 locks
• From Wrenbury 7 nights,
5.5 hours per day, 24 locks
The Llangollen Canal is arguably the most
beautiful canal on the whole system and
combines the gentle countryside of Shropshire and
the more dramatic landscape of the Welsh border.
It boasts one of the most striking features on the UK
canals - the Pontcysyllte Aqueduct which can be
reached from both Whitchurch and Wrenbury in a week
or 4 night mid week break (you will not be able to cross
over the aqueduct in a 3 night weekend break).
Unusually, this canal has a flow of 2mph as it feeds other
canals, so the outbound journey will always be slower than on
the way back.
The last locks are at New Marton, half way between Ellesmere
and Chirk. From there on, as it clings to the hillside contours, an
enchanting blend of aqueducts and tunnels takes the canal, lock free,
to Llangollen.
New visitor moorings in Llangollen are now available, but charges do
apply and you need to arrive by 4.30pm.
Take a steam train ride from Llangollen up the
Dee Valley or visit the ruins of Castell Dinas Bran.
www.llangollen-railway.co.uk
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Chester or Ellesmere Port & return
Guides: P3, N4, L8
• From Anderton to Chester, 7 nights,
5.5 hours per day, 44 locks
• From Wrenbury to Chester, 7 nights,
4 hours per day, 46 locks
• From Whitchurch to Chester, 7 nights,
5 hours per day, 66 locks
• From Gailey 10 nights, 6.5 hours, 44 locks
For Ellesmere Port add 1.5 hours per day and 8 locks
On this popular countryside route the locks are well
spaced for easy cruising.
You can choose to travel to Chester and then retrace your steps back
to the marina or continue along the Shropshire Union main line to its historic
terminal on the River Mersey at Ellesmere Port.
Mooring in Chester is within easy reach of the walled city centre with its
medieval ‘rows’ where there are a variety of shops, galleries and the majestic
cathedral.
Chester Tourist Information Centre 01244 402111
www.chestertourism.com
Chester Zoo is just a short walk from the canal.
01244 380280
www.chesterzoo.org
The fascinating Boat Museum 0151 355 5017 at
Ellesmere Port is a few locks beyond Chester, near to the junction with the Manchester
Ship Canal. The museum has an extensive collection of preserved inland waterway craft
and display areas in many of the former warehouses.
www.boatmuseum.org.uk
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The Cheshire Ring
Guides: P5, N5, L5
• From Anderton, 7 nights, 8 hours per day, 92 locks
• From Wrenbury 7 nights, 6.5 hours per day, 114 locks
• From Whitchurch 14 nights, 6 hours per day, 137 locks
A fascinating trip that takes
you through the heart of
Manchester and the Peak
District with its distinctive
stone architecture.
Moor at Castlefields to
explore the city of Manchester, including Old Trafford, home
of Manchester United F.C. 0870 4421994
www.manutd.co.uk
The huge
Arndale Shopping Centre and the Science & Industry Museum. 0161 832 2244
www.msim.org.uk
The trip will let you enjoy glorious scenery as the Pennine Range overlooks the canal and, if time allows, detour along the Peak Forest canal to its terminus. Enjoy the stunning views from Marple and at Anderton pause to visit the fabulously restored boat lift which now operates throughout the cruising season to link the canal with the River Weaver.
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Four Counties Ring
Guides: P4, N4, L10
• From Anderton 10/11 nights, 6.5 hours per day, 102 locks
• From Wrenbury 10/11 nights, 6.5 hours per day, 112 locks
• From Whitchurch 14 nights, 6 hours per day, 132 locks
• From Gailey 7 nights, 8.5 hours per day, 110 locks
This is a popular circular route that takes you on a
fascinating journey through parts of Shropshire,
Staffordshire, West Midlands and Cheshire.
This is an active trip, but
well worth the extra effort. There is lots to see including:
Wedgwood
Pottery factory 01782 204141
The Wedgwood Museum at
Barlaston 01782 282986
www.thewedgwoodstory.com
The
impressive 2926-yard long Harecastle Tunnel and at Great Haywood, Shugborough Hall 01889 881388
www.nationaltrust.org.uk .
You will travel on the
Staffordshire and Worcestershire Canal, the Trent and Mersey, Shropshire Union and
Llangollen Canal depending on which base you start from, giving you a variety of
scenery from the rolling Staffordshire countryside to the Cheshire Plains to extensive
views of the beautiful Shropshire countryside.
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Monmouthshire & Brecon Canal
Guides: P3. N4. L24
• From Goytre 7 nights, 7.5 hours per day, 12 Locks
The canal meanders and threads its way through the countryside for
36 miles with a remarkable diversity of scenery and often following the
magnificent River Usk.
Goytre Wharf itself, the name meaning ‘place in the
woods’, was once used to supply coal to the nearby estate. Lime kilns remain
as well as an aqueduct dating from 1812 and with its licensed restaurant providing a
popular place for visitors.
Pontymoile at one end of the canal was once a place thriving
with activity with its warehouses and neighbouring industry and is now a convenient
mooring place for Pontypool Leisure Centre with its swimming pool and dry ski slope.
Between here and Brecon at the other end it passes close to Abergavenny, often
referred to as the gateway to Wales, Crickhowell with its 13 arch bridge, Talybont -on-
Usk with its four mile long reservoir, and a number of other delightful villages.
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Llangynidr & return
Guides: P3. N4. L24
• From Goytre 3 nights, 7 hours a day, 0 or 2 locks
You can choose a leisurely lock free cruise with fine views along the valley and by
turning below the lock at Llangynidr village, or if you want the experience of locking the
boat, you can turn just above the first lock.
Talybont-on–Usk & return
Guides: P3. N4. L24
• From Goytre 4 nights, 7 hours a day, 10 locks
This trip takes you further up the canal climbing 5 locks and passing through the
Ashford Tunnel to the village of Talybont-on-Usk where you can still see the wharf with
its lime kilns and the old tram road up the side of the mountain.
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