Holiday guide - Llangollen Canal

A typical cruise from Wrenbury in Cheshire to Llangollen takes around three days, with 12 locks and a number of lift bridges for you to operate en route. A round-trip to Llangollen and back is an ideal way to spend a week afloat, with plenty of time to stop off and explore your surroundings.

Llangollen itself boasts several museums and a working steam railway, and plays host to the International Music Eisteddfod each year in July. The nearby Valle Crucis Abbey and Dinas Bran castle are also worth a visit, as well as the stately home and art exhibition at Plas Newydd, and the 700-year old Chirk Castle, set amongst beautiful 18th-century parklands.

One of the highlights of any trip on the Llangollen Canal is the experience of crossing the Pontcysyllte Aqueduct. This 200-year old structure towers 125 feet above the Dee Valley, and crossing it on a boat feels like floating in mid-air over the Welsh countryside. Your route will also take you over the Chirk Aqueduct, and through the peaceful market towns of Trevor, Whitchurch and Ellesmere.

There's no shortage of great places to stop for food and drink along the way. Good beer and a warm welcome are guaranteed at The Greyhound in Whitchurch, The Dusty Miller in Wrenbury, or the Sun Trevor in Llangollen (as recommended by CAMRA).

Find out more about the boats and hire-bases on the Llangollen Canal.