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Llangollen Canal
 | The RouteThe route covers
> Llangollen Canal
Including
> Grindley Brook Staircase Locks
> Chirk Aqueduct and Tunnel
> Pontcysyllte Aqueduct
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 | MapsGreat Maps showing the Llangollen Canal.
> Acrobat (pdf): Print and view on your Computer, Android, iPhone or PDA.
> Memory Map (qct)Seamless mapping for viewing on your Computer, Android, iPhone or PDA with real-time tracking on GPS enabled devices like your Sat-Nav. |
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 | DVDsGreat DVDs showing the Llangollen Canal.
> Popular : Like a television programme.
> Bowcam: For a little fun - a speeded up forward facing camera.
> Combined: Both Popular and Bowcam in one box, saving you money. |
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 Onto the Llangollen CanalThe Llangollen Canal leaves the Shropshire Union Canal at Hurleston junction and runs for 45 miles to Llangollen. Unusually, for a canal, there is a continual flow of water along its length. Water enters the canal at the Horseshoe Falls above Llangollen and flows along the canal to be stored in Hurleston reservoir before being used as the water supply for the residents of Nantwich and the surrounding area.
From Hurleston Junction the canal immediately climbs through the four Hurleston Locks. These are said to be the narrowest of all narrow locks. There are signs instructing boaters to raise their fenders - and tales of boats getting stuck when their owners thought they knew better.
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 Grindley Brook and beyondThe canal gently climbs through several single locks as it passes through the English countryside. At Grindley Brook there's a flight of three single locks followed immediately by a staircase of three locks. Unlike single locks, which work best with boats alternately up and down, the staircase is usually operated with three boats up, then three down. There's a lock keeper on duty at busy times and plenty of signs to follow at other times.
A mile or so past Grindley Brook the Whitchurch Branch diverges to the left. The turn is too sharp for all but the smallest of boats so continue towards the next bridge and use the winding hole to return for a gentle right turn. The branch has its own visitor moorings and winding hole.
Continuing along the mainline the canal crosses Whixall Moss on an unusually straight section and the ambitiously named Prees Branch diverges to the left. It never reached Prees and today it terminates at the Marina, although it's possible to walk a little further through a nature reserve along the former towpath.
Passing the attractive Blake Mere on the right - an attractive overnight mooring spot - we reach Ellesmere Junction where branch goes straight on to the visitor moorings and Ellesmere Basin. The left turn takes us towards Llangollen, passing Frankton Junction where the Montgomery Canal diverges to the left. |
 Into LlangollenContinuing through the increasingly hilly countryside the canal has several narrow, twisting sections. Rounding a gentle right hand curve the canal strides across the River Ceiriog on the Chirk Aqueduct as it enters Wales, then immediately passes through Chirk Tunnel.
A little further on we reach Whitehouse Tunnel and curve left to run high above the River Dee which can be glimpsed below through the trees. Eventually a right turn takes us over the Pontcysyllte Aqueduct to Trevor where the sharp left turn under the bridge takes us on the final leg towards Llangollen.
The last few miles to Llangollen are unusually twisting and there are several narrow sections where it's impossible to pass another boat and it's advisable to send a crew member ahead with a radio or mobile phone. There's a fee for mooring in Llangollen, either along the towpath or in the basin, which is at the limit of navigation for most boats. The canal continues as a feeder to the Horseshoe Falls, with navigation permitted only for the Horse Drawn tourist boats. |
 | Photo GalleryTake a virtual cruise along the Llangollen Canal. |
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