Boating holidays on the Welsh waterways

The canals in Wales host some of the most beautiful scenery on all of the waterways in the UK. With either the north of Wales or the south available to choose from, the Llangollen and the Monmouthshire & Brecon Canal both have a lot to offer on your boating holiday.

 

 

The Llangollen Canal

Travelling across the Welsh and Shropshire borders, the Llangollen Canal features the Pontcysyllte Aqueduct nicknamed ‘the stream in the sky’ and the smaller Chirk Aqueduct. The Pontcysyllte Aqueduct is the highest and longest in the world, carrying an impressive 1.5 million litres of water. It has also achieved World Heritage Status, being of specific cultural and physical significance. The aqueduct is fed by the Llangollen and Horseshoe Falls, a scenic semi-circular weir; one of the historic landmarks along the 6 mile Llangollen History Trail walk.

Once you’re on the canal there’s plenty to see and explore. Horse-drawn boat trips to the Horseshoe Falls are available if you fancy letting someone else take over the reins and relaxing for a while.  The enchanting town of Llangollen itself is worth a visit, with a steam railway and plenty of charming pubs. The village of Chirk also has some exciting attractions, on and off the water, including the ruins of Dinas Bran Castle, a 460-yard long tunnel and the Chirk Aqueduct, at 710-foot long and 70 metres high, it spans across two countries, allowing its users to travel across the England-Wales border.

 

The Monmouthshire & Brecon Canal

The Monmouthshire & Brecon Canal is often referred to as Britain’s prettiest canal. Peaceful, scenic and rural, the Monmouth & Brecon Canal is the perfect choice for an unwinding, relaxing holiday. Passing through the Brecon Beacon’s National Park there are plenty of quaint country pubs and villages to visit. You can explore the whole of the Mon & Brec Canal in a one week holiday. Along the way you may encounter a variety of wildlife including kingfishers, herons, frogs and even the occasional otter.

The canal is now over 200 years old, it’s original purpose to transport lime, coal and iron. The lime kilns at Goytre Wharf have been preserved and now also form part of the Goytre Wharf & Canal Visitor Centre, one of the attractions along the Monmouth and Brecon Canal. The 36 mile canal gives you the opportunity to get a full canal experience, hosting an aqueduct, a tunnel, lift-bridges and 6 locks.

For more information on Welsh boating holidays:

Visit our website www.waterwaysholidays.com/wales_canals.htm or call our specialised boating team on 01252 796400.