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9th - 16th May 2021 (7 nights) 

 

From:      Llangollen (Llangollen Canal)

 


To:          Llangollen (Llangollen
               Canal)


VIA:    Ellesmere


HIGHLIGHTS

:   

                         Hindford,
                         Ellesmere,
                         Montgomery Canal,
                         Chirk Castle,
                         PontcysyllteAqueduct,
                         Llangollen,
                         Horseshoe Falls.

As already mentioned, we've decided to devote much of our 2021 season to the Llangollen Canal... as the year marches on, the canal is renowned for becoming busier. With that in mind, rather than feel under pressure to get from A-B-C-D with time constraints, we're going to break it up into shorter sections that always include The World Heritage Site that is the Pontcysyllte Aqueduct (we're going to HAVE to learn how to pronounce that)...

With that in mind, we'll expect our guests to arrive early afternoon on the first day and we'll over-night in the Basin... IF we've not been able to get in there, we'll be moored on the towpath on the approach to the Horse-drawn boat pickup point/Cafe. This will give guests arriving that day, time to have a walk up to Horse-Shoe Falls or explore the town before we depart the following morning after a leisurely breakfast.

It can be quite a busy stretch and at times is VERY narrow... with that in mind, it makes sense to send someone ahead (with a walkie talkie ) to check the coast is clear and/or ask any opposing traffic to hold water at a wider point where we can pass.

Once safely through the narrows, we'll take a right turn and chug over the World Heritage Site that is the Pontcysyllte Aqueduct.  After we've gone over the aqueduct, we'll try and tie up for the day  at  Froncysyllte (another one we can't say) so our travelling companions can take a walk down below the aqueduct for a photo opportunity.

After breakfast the following morning,we'll continue our journey – first passing through the Whitehouse Tunnel (191 yards) then Chirk Tunnel (459 yards) and Chirk Aqueduct. We'll suggest stopping for a while a Chirk Bank to facilitate a visit to the beautiful Chirk Castle – perhaps the night but it'll depend on where we can get tied up.

If there are bookings slots available, we may be able to take a diversion down the Montgomery canal for a night before we head on to Ellesmere. Hopefully we'll be able to moor up the arm (close to the shops to pick up essentials), top up the water tank and then begin our return to Llangollen the following day.

 

As already mentioned – this trip is a really quite leisurely meander along the Llangollen that takes in the best bits, whilst avoiding the queues that often gather at Grindley Brook and Hurleston. It also gives 2 bites of the cherry in regards the Pontcysyllte Aqueduct - if the weather wasn't very nice during our first crossing we may be luckier on our return!

Our trip well end where it began, back up in Llangollen Basin where our guests can depart after breakfast on the final morning – we'll be staying another night, preparing the boat and then departing with new guests the following day.

 


Total distance is 38 miles, with 4 locks 9more if we divert down the Montgomery Canal) There are 4 moveable bridges 4 small aqueducts or underbridges and 4 tunnels (Whitehouses Tunnel (191 yards long) and Chirk Tunnel (459 yards long)) – a total of 6 furlongs underground and 4 major aqueducts (Pontcysyllte Aqueduct and Chirk Aqueduct

Llangollen to Llangollen   £945pp

Via Pontcysyllte Aqueduct & Ellesmere
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