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Your Llangollen canal trip cruise begins at Chirk’s narrowboat marina, located near the National Trust site of Chirk Castle. Here, the Llangollen canal twists and turns through the unspoiled Welsh countryside to a World Heritage Site – the breathtaking Pontcysyllte Aqueduct, a world heritage site and feat of engineering suitable to impress anyone seeking aqueduct cruises.
This Llangollen boat trip will bring you then towards Hurleston and you’ll cross the Chirk Aqueduct and head down the first two locks. This 70-foot aqueduct was designed by the famous civil engineer Thomas Telford and was opened in 1801, and featured his pioneering method of using cast iron as a means to hold water as horse-drawn boats were pulled along the route.
After passing Ellesmere and its meres – shallow lakes – you come to the less hilly Whixall Moss to Whitchurch. The Whixall Moss National Nature Reserve is perfect for those interested in bird watching, with buzzards, kestrels and bullfinches common in the area, alongside a host of species of invertebrates.
In the market town of Whitchurch, you can visit the Church of St Alkmund on your canal holiday, a listed sandstone building that was built in the early eighteenth century. Whitchurch is also the home of J.B Joyce, the oldest clockmaker in the world, having been established in 1690.
Undulating countryside sprinkled with locks takes you down to Hurleston with its reservoir, which provides the water for Chester. Hurleston is an excellent spot for fishing on narrowboat holidays, especially in the winter. Carp is the most common catch in the area.
Retracing your steps on this Llangollen boat trip, you cross the Pontcysyllte Aqueduct, and up the Dee Valley to Llangollen.
In the town of Llangollen, you can visit its most famous landmark, the Castel Dinas Bran, a medieval castle that soars high above the town. It can be accessed via a zigzagging path that runs through the heart of the countryside and offers scenic views.
If you travel on canal boat trips in July, you can enjoy the Llangollen International Musical Eisteddfod, which attracts over 120,000 visitors. Llangollen town centre is perfect for shoppers searching for unusual gifts and is popular with theatre and opera groups.
Llangollen boat trips and Pontcysyllte Aqueduct boat trips are a wonderful way to see this beautiful area from a new perspective and enjoy the countryside in both England and Wales on your narrowboat hire journey.
Attractions Nearby Chirk, Wales
High above the town, the remains of this medieval castle dominate the skyline. The steep walk up is rewarded with wide views across the valley, and it’s easy to see why poets and painters were inspired by it. Moor in Llangollen and allow an hour or two for the climb.
Visitor moorings by the walls put you straight into one of the country’s best-preserved historic centres. The medieval Rows are unique, these two-tiered shopping arcades are filled with quirky boutiques and up-market shops. The Roman amphitheatre and cathedral are close at hand, but so are some characterful pubs. However you spend your time, two or three hours is enough to enjoy the highlights without feeling rushed.
Chirk has been strategically important since Norman times, with its 12th-century fortress and later castle guarding the Ceiriog Valley. Today it’s a friendly little town in Wrexham County, with shops, pubs and Chirk Castle and Aqueduct nearby. If you’re starting or ending your holiday from the Chirk base, it’s worth building in time for a wander.
Built in 1310, Chirk Castle has everything you’d expect: towers, dungeons, state apartments and a long gallery. The gardens are as impressive as the interior, with sweeping views over Cheshire and Shropshire from the terrace. This National Trust site is only a short trip from the marina, making it an easy and worthwhile visit.
Designed by Thomas Telford, the curved weir diverts water from the River Dee into the canal system. It marks the start of the World Heritage stretch from Llangollen to Chirk. A short walk from the town, it’s a peaceful spot with fine views of the river.
Arrive by canal and you’ll be rewarded with views as striking as the journey in. Llangollen is set against dramatic hills and has a lively little town centre. The steam railway and riverside walks are close by, or simply enjoy the atmosphere of a place that feels both tucked away and full of character. Two hours ashore gives you the highlights before you retreat back along the water.
The preserved railway runs for ten miles through the Dee Valley, offering a leisurely way to enjoy the scenery. Special events – including visits from a certain blue engine made famous on children’s TV – make it popular with families, but even without them, the combination of vintage locomotives and riverside views is hard to beat.
Crossing the Dee valley at 126 feet, this 19-arch aqueduct is the longest and highest in Britain. Completed in 1805, it still carries boats across its narrow trough. A UNESCO World Heritage Site, it’s a highlight of any Welsh canal holiday, and walkable from Chirk base if you prefer to admire it from the towpath.
Narrowboats available to hire in Chirk, Wales
How to book
Book our Llangollen canal boat holiday by using our online Availability Search, or by calling Black Prince on 01527 575 115.
Other routes from this base