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 it is the most popular.  The scenery varies from isolated sheep pastures to ancient peat mosses, from tree lined lakes to the foothills of Snowdonia.

Towns along the way include medieval Whitchurch with its half timbered buildings, the interesting market town of Ellesmere set in its own "Lake District", the fortified border town of Chirk and Llangollen itself sat astride the River Dee, an ancient gateway to Wales, beneath the ruins of Castel Dinas Bran.

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. (Link to Aqueducts) 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 second from the top 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 foot 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 underpopulated 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 to the Welsh Marches and the strangely shaped ridge called "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.  These days this is also UFO territory!  Strange visions are also likely if you have had a few pints of "6X" in the Anchor Inn at High Offley, an old boatmans pub that has survived almost unchanged. (Link to Pubs)

Market Drayton and Nantwich are medieval market towns which still have some half-timbered black and white buildings.  However the jewel in the Shropshire Union crown must be Chester, 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 and the unique "rows", shops on two levels overlooking the street which date back to the middle ages.  Chester has many visitors year round, with museums, fine cathedral, good hotels, town-crier and street theatre, but it still manages to feel friendly and small scale.  The northern end of the canal is at Ellesmere Port which was a transhipment port from canal to sea-going ships.  The old docks now house The Boat Museum which has a unique collection of ex-working boats and waterways exhibitions.

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.  These 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 boatpeople did not like to moor in these cuttings.  There were numerous stories that the cuttings were haunted!

On the left a view from the Shropshire Union Canal towards the Welsh Marches with the long ridge called The Wrekin just visible in the distance.  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.

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 collection of canal and river boats.

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 10am-5pm daily, to confirm where to moor if staying overnight.

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

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 Middewich. This allows access to attractions such as the Anderton Boat Lift.

Anderton Boat Lift

Built in 1875 the Anderton Boat Lift is a wonder of victorian canal engineering it is known as the "Cathedral of the Canals" and was the world's first narrowboat lift.

http://www.andertonboatlift.co.uk/

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 .

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 Pontcysylite Aquaduct, 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.

Audlem

A gentle 2 night, 10 hour return cruise incorporating 18 locks. Listed in the Domesday Book as Aldelime and granted a market charter by Edward I in 1295, 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 'Shroppie Fly' is just one of the several local pubs popular with boaters serving good food.

Middlewich

Another popular trip is the 2-3 night 12hour return cruise to Middlewich including 16 locks. Historically, Middlewich was an 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 and all Angels 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. Not to be missed are the famous city walls, the cathedral, one of England's ecclesiastical masterpieces, and the Roodee 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 one of the open-top tour buses will ensure you see all the essential sights.

The Cheshire Ring

One of the 'must do' tours for anyone serious about boating. Taking 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, Marple, 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 and passing through 102 locks, your 60hrs (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 Narrowboater' at the end of the journey!

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 (3nights) 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 AD 52 or 70 by the Romans who called it Medoilanum 'The place in the middle of the plain' the current name comes from 'The White Church' which refers to a church from Norman times made from white stone. J B Jovce tower clocks company, established in 1690, is the oldest tower-clock making company in the world and even helped to make Big Ben! Now for an interesting piece of trivia which will impress your friends. Sir Henry Percy - aka Sir Harry Hotspur was the inspiration for the naming of Tottenham Hotspur Football Club and he was killed at the Battle of Shrewsbury. He was buried in Whitchurch but his body was later exhumed and quartered. There is a wide choice of eating places and watering holes amongst the black and white buildings in Witchurch 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 mile or so return 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 surrounding 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. There 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 hrs cruising) and takes in a total of 34 locks. Chirks 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 Pontcysylite, built by Thomas Tellford and finished in 1801 with ten arches and 70' height. At its 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.