This weeklong canal boat holiday from the Black Prince Chirk Hire Base goes along the whole length of the delightful Llangollen Canal, which crosses the border between Shropshire, England and Wales.

Chirk Marina

Your 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 feat of engineering suitable to impress anyone.

Travelling the canal towards Hurleston you 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.

Chirk Aqueduct

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, a listed sandstone building that was built in the early eighteenth century. Whitchurch is also the home of J.B Joyce, the oldest clockmakers 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 fisheries, especially in the winter. Carp is the most common catch in the area.

Llangollen Canal

Retracing your steps, 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 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.

All routes from this base