The Llangollen branch of the Shropshire Union Canal must be one of the most spectacular and scenic canals in Britain. The canal is fed from the River Dee at the Horseshoe Falls just outside the town of Llangollen. From our marina at Ellesmere, Shropshire, you can get to Llangollen in a couple of days. En route you pass over Chirk Aqueduct, the first of 2 aqueducts built by Thomas Telford. It was completed in 1801 and stands 70 feet high, and 30 feet above it is the viaduct built 50 years later. You immediately pass through Chirk Tunnel which is some 1200 feet in length, it is one of two tunnels at Chirk, the other is the shorter Whitehurst Tunnel. If you moor up near Chirk Tunnel you can walk to Chirk castle, a magnificent medieval 700 year old castle now owned by the National trust.

The Pontcysyllte Aqueduct is the largest Aqueduct in Britain, Thomas Telford who built it in 1805 made it the tallest canal boat crossing in the world, which is why it is called 'the stream in the sky'. It spans over 1000 feet across a valley, and stands 126 feet high.

The small ancient market town of Llangollen is steeped in myth and legend, and is situated on the banks of the River Dee . In many ways it is well known for hosting the Llangollen International Musical Eisteddfod every July, with headline stars like Elaine Page, Joan Baez and Jose Carreras, who bring in some 120,000 visitors and turns the town into a vibrant international stage. If you moor up in Llangollen , within walking distance you have the Llangollen railway- from where steam trains in the summer months wind their way through 7 ½ miles of stunning Welsh scenery. History is everywhere, from the remains of the iron age Dinas Bran Castle which overlooks the town, to the legendary King Arthur, through to Medieval times and the ruins of the beautiful Valle Crucis Abbey, one of the most complete Cistercian abbeys in Wales, and to the 18th century home of the World famous 'Ladies of Llangollen' at Plas Newydd above the town.

If you are staying for a week then you must cruise back the other way along the Llangollen canal, towards Nantwich. It is worth stopping off to make a detour down the Montgomery canal, You must arrange this before leaving our Marina, speak to the staff there as you have to arrange passage 24 hours beforehand. 7 miles of this beautiful canal has been restored, and is navigable to Maesbury although you will have to negotiate 8 locks en route. Back on the Llangollen Canal, as you pass by our marina entrance at Ellesmere, you come to a short tunnel, and once through that you are transported to the Lake District, or rather the mini-lake District as it is known. Glaciers from the Ice Age formed these meres, or lakes, and the canal passes right past them first on the left and then the right of the canal. These large lakes are home to an abundance of birdlife. Further on is a Site of Special Scientific Interest at Whixall Moss, and another relic from the Ice Age. A number of circular walks are signposted off the canal onto the moss, home to rare insect and plant life. Along the next stretch of Canal before you get to the town of Whitchurch, you will encounter 4 lovely Lift bridges, where you will have to 'lift' the bridge so your boat can pass through.

Just past the 'Whitchurch Arm' you will come to the Grindley Brook, the only starircase locks on the Llangollen Canal. The famous staircase locks have made this a canal monument, a friendly Lock keeper will guide you through the locks. Having had no locks for ages on the Llangollen, you first have the 3 Grindley Staircase locks, then 3 other locks in quick succession, so it might be worthwhile popping into the 'e' Cafe here, and refreshing yourself before all the hard work, you can also surf the internet here! Beautiful scenery, the occasional lock, and Canalside Pub lead you to the lovely village of Wrenbury where you will encounter the only electrically operated Lift bridge on this Canal. There is a lovely Pub here right at the Bridge, and it is worth stopping overnight here to fully enjoy it. 3 Locks follow at Baddiley, which together with the 2 at Swanley are all the interruption that you will get on this beautiful rural landscape, until you get to the 4 locks at Hurleston which mark the end of the Llangollen canal, as from here it joins the Shropshire Union.