Touring Routes

Swanley Bridge is in the perfect location for touring both the Llangollen and Shropshire Union Canals. Below we provide some suggested narrowboat touring routes and information about what you can expect to experience on both canals.

Llangollen Canal

The Llangollen Canal leaves the Shropshire Union Canal just north of Nantwich in rural Cheshire and climbs through deserted Shropshire farmlands to cross the border into Wales near Chirk. It then cuts through increasingly hilly countryside to finish alongside the River Dee tumbling out of Snowdonia just above Llangollen. It is 41 miles long and takes at least three days to cruise (one way).

The Llangollen Canal is probably the most beautiful canal in Britain certainly the most popular. The scenery varies from isolated sheep pastures to ancient peat mosses, from tree lined lakes to the foothills of Snowdonia.

The canal has three major engineering feats, two old and one modern. The aqueducts at Chirk and Pontcysyllte were built by the engineers Thomas Telford and William Jessup and were among the first to use cast iron troughs to contain the canal. At Chirk the trough is supported by conventional masonry arches but at Pontcysyllte the trough is exposed and sits atop 120 foot high slender masonry towers. When you cross the Pontcysyllte aqueduct by boat there is an exhilarating sheer drop on the non-towpath side! The modern feat seems tame by comparison but required considerable twentieth century engineering expertise. Constant landslips on the stretch from Trevor to Llangollen meant closing the section for two years to rebuild long stretches of the embankments above the River Dee and encase the whole canal in a concrete trough.

Pictured on the right of this page is a view across the 190 year old Pontcysyllte aqueduct, known as one of the canal wonders of the world. The towpath on the right is suspended over the water and has a cast iron handrail that most walkers seem to find reassuring. When you cross by boat there is only a lip a few inches high on the left between you and the drop to the River Dee 120 feet below! You should stay below decks if you don't have much of a head for heights, but you will miss some amazing views!

The canal is unusual amongst Britain's artificial waterways in having a strong (up to 2 miles per hour) flow.

Shropshire Union

The Shropshire Union Canal runs from the edge of urban Wolverhampton through some of the most under populated areas of England to the River Mersey at Ellesmere Port, about sixty miles in all and taking a fairly leisurely four days to cruise. The scenery is often quite dramatic; with sweeping views across too the Welsh Marches and the strangely shaped ridge call "The Wrekin" from the long embankments and with the atmospheric heavily wooded deep cuttings, a number of which were reputed by the old boat people to be haunted.

The canal was one of the last built and borrowed from the latest railway building methods, taking a direct line across country, on embankments and through cuttings. There were massive undertakings, Shelmore embankment took six years to build and Woodseaves cutting is 100 feet deep. Nearly all the locks are bunched together in "flights". This made for quicker working by the boat people because locks could be easily prepared in advance of the boats. The Shropshire Union was formed by the "union" of a number of canals, the canal from Nantwich to Chester was built to broad barge standards, and many miles of little used branches through Shropshire were abandoned earlier this century.

Little wonder the boat people did not like to moor in these cuttings. There were numerous stories that the cuttings were haunted.

People and buildings seem very few and far between yet you are little more than twenty miles from the heavily populated cities of Wolverhampton and Birmingham. There are long vistas across open farmlands towards mid Wales and across to Cheshire and Staffordshire from the high canal embankments.

Middlewich branch of the Shropshire Union Canal.

The Middlewich branch of the Shropshire Union Canal starts at Barbridge which is just outside Nantwich and joins the Trent & Mersey Canal at Middlewich. This allows access to attractions such as the Anderton Boat Lift.

CRUISING ROUTES FROM SWANLEY BRIDGE MARINA

Wrenbury

A perfect destination for a leisurely cruise and return to the marina within the day and with enough time for lunch at The Cotton Arms or maybe The Dusty Miller. The return trip through delightful Cheshire countryside takes about 4 hours, includes a total of 10 locks and passes Wrenbury Hall before reaching Wrenbury which is claimed to mean 'old forest inhabited by wrens'. It is listed in the Domesday book as Wrenneberrie.

Whitchurch

The return trip will take approximately 14 hours (3 nights) and comprises 30 locks making it an ideal trip for a long weekend or short midweek break. Along the way you will pass Marbury Lock with Marbury village just ½ mile to the south and well worth a visit to see its fine old and timbered buildings. Leaving Marbury the canal enters remote and peaceful countryside before reaching the six locks of Grindley Brook the last three of which are staircase locks. A lock keeper is on hand to help those who may need assistance. Next stop is Whitchurch itself, famous for cheese and clocks. Founded originally in AD52 or 70 by the Romans who called it Medoilanum 'The place in the middle of the plain' the current name comes from the 'The White Church' which refers to a church from Norman times made from white stone. J B Joyce tower clocks company, established in 1690, is the oldest tower-clock making company in the world and even helped to make Big Ben! There is a wide choice of eating places and watering holes amongst the black and White buildings in Whitchurch and don't forget to sample the famous Blue Cheshire cheese, one of the world's great tangy, blue cheeses.

Ellesmere

Another excellent midweek excursion is the 50 miles or so trip to Ellesmere taking 4 nights and incorporating 30 locks. Over the centuries Ellesmere has developed into a vibrant market town with numerous Georgian and half timbered buildings surround the medieval streets. The weekly market still runs since it was granted its charter in 1221 by Henry III. The mere, created from a retreating ice age 10,000 years ago, is the largest of nine meres and mosses in the area and is the size of seventy football pitches! Here you can hire rowing boats or book a trip on the steam powered launch. The wildlife and heron watch centre has a comfortable indoor viewing area. Three are formal gardens and woodland walks. With plenty of cafes, pubs, inns and restaurants there is plenty of choice for refreshment to recharge before discovering the many antiques, craft and gift shops, not to mention the delicatessen and other independent shops.

Chirk

A great destination for a weeks holiday, the return trip should take just a week (40 hours cruising) and takes in a total of 34 locks. Chirk's main visitor attraction is the 700 year old Chirk Castle a magnificent marcher fortress built by Edward I and now owned by the National Trust. A shop and licensed tea room are on site. The aqueduct at Chirk was, like the one at nearby Pontcysyllte, built by Thomas Telford and finished in 1801 with ten arches and 70' height. At it's northern end the canal enters the quarter mile long Darkie Tunnel. Chirk was also an important staging post on the London to Holyhead mail road. The Poachers Pocket is a popular and friendly pub offering real ale and serving restaurant food all day. For friends or passengers who have to rush back to work there is a train service back to Nantwich from Chirk via Chester and Crewe.

Llangollen

One of the most popular destinations on the whole waterways network, Llangollen is about a weeks cruising time from Swanley Bridge Marina for the return trip and the memorable journey will take you through some of the most idyllic countryside and across the amazing Pontcysyllte Aqueduct, now a World Heritage site, towering 126 ft above the River Dee. Although busy with tourists throughout the year, in July this grey slate town becomes host to the famous Eisteddfod with singers and dancers in national costume arriving from all over the world. Other attractions include 7.5 miles of steam railway and Llangollen Wharf, a base for motor boat and horse-drawn boat trips. As you might expect, there is no shortage of places to eat and drink. A new marina, built at the end of the navigable section, allows more summer visitors to moor overnight in Llangollen.

The Cheshire Ring

One of 'must do' tours for anyone serious about boating. Take between 10 and 14 days the cruising time will be around 60 hours and will include a mere 108 locks! The journey will include cruising on 6 canals namely; - the Trent and Mersey canal, the Macclesfield canal, the Peak Forest canal, the Ashton canal, the Rochdale canal and, finally, the Bridgewater canal. From the countryside of the Cheshire Plain to the hills of the Peak District and the industrial landscapes of Stoke on Trent, Maple, Ashton under Lyme and Manchester there really is something of interest for everyone.

The Four Counties Ring

Here is another not to be missed adventure! Taking between 10 and 14 days passing through 102 locks, your 60 hours (approx) of cruising will take you through Cheshire, Staffordshire, Shropshire and the West Midlands. During this time you will travel along 5 canals, the Wardle, the Shropshire Union Middlewich Branch, the Shropshire Union, The Staffs and Worcester and finally the Trent and Mersey. Award yourself the title of 'experienced narrow boater' at the end of the journey!

Nantwich

Just a few miles from Swanley Bridge Marina the Shropshire Union Canal passes through Nantwich on it's way South. Nantwich a market town offers a full range of services and is known for its picturesque streets and individual shops. The gateway to Nantwich, by car, is the aqueduct built in 1832 by Thomas Telford to carry the Shropshire Union Canal over Welsh Row.

Audlem

A gentle 2 night, 10 hour return cruise incorporating 18 locks. The locks are close together, well maintained and provide plenty of energetic navigating. Listed in the Domesday Book as Aldemlime, and granted a market charter by Edward I in 1929. Audlem was Cheshire's 'village of the year' in 2005. Just half a mile from the centre is Moss Hall, a magnificent Elizabethan timber framed hall dating from 1616. An old waterside mill is now home to Audlem Mill Canal Shop considered to be one of the best canal shops on the system. The canal side 'Shoppie Fly' is just one of the several local pubs popular with boaters serving good food.

Middlewich

Another popular trip is the 2-3 night 12 hour return cruise to Middlewich including 16 locks. Historically, Middlewich was important cross-roads of the canal network and the centre of the Cheshire salt industry. It dates back to Roman times and the imposing parish church of St Michael originates from the 12th century. Here the Trent and Mersey Canal links with the Shropshire Union via its Middlewich branch. The well supported annual Folk and Boat Festival, established in 1990, is held in June. Both the Big Lock and King's Lock have adjacent pubs which serve food and the fish and chip shop opposite the King's Lock is worth the trip alone.

Chester

Theoretically this is a return journey that takes 4 nights, 20 hours of cruising and includes 36 locks but who wouldn't want to spend 2 or 3 days exploring this wonderful city built by the Romans who gave it the name Deva. A roman fortress and port which has many Roman ruins, as well as an almost complete set of medieval city walls which tower above the canal. Not to be missed are the famous city walls, the cathedral, one of England's ecclesiastical masterpieces, and the Rodee which is the oldest horse race track in Britain still in use. The 'Rows' a fine selection of individual shops enjoying an elevated position above street level are a magnet for shoppers from many surrounding areas and major high street names are well represented too. There is no shortage of places to eat, many of which are steeped in history or full of character. For that really special occasion you could indulge in afternoon tea in the library at the Grosvenor Hotel, a truly memorable affair. Not far away is Chester Zoo acclaimed as one of the finest zoos in Europe and a big hit with children and grown-ups alike. If a 'whirlwind, visit is all you have time for then a trip in of the open-top tour buses will ensure you see all the essential sights.

Ellesmere Port Boat Museum

Britain's canal history comes to life at the former canal port. The museum recreates what life was like at the turn of the century and has a unique collection of ex working boats and waterways exhibitions.

Visiting boaters are charged at the normal museum admission rates, which gives up to seven days moorings at The Museum. The Museum does not have diesel or pump out facilities. Fresh water and refuse facilities are available. Having moored visitors should contact the Museum's reception, open 10 am-5pm daily, to confirm where to moor if staying overnight.

http://www.boatmuseum.org.uk/