How long is llangollen canal

The Trust plans to extend the canal under Chemistry Bridge and create a new basin with moorings on part of a country park, which would enable boats to moor closer to the town.

This would be along a new line, as this end of the Arm has been built over since it was abandoned. Waterway notes Maximum sizes. Useful Info. Local activities. Join us as a member Help protect and restore the waterways you love. Close Video. Our use of cookies We use necessary cookies to make our site work.

We'd also like to set optional analytics cookies to help us improve it. For more detailed information about the cookies we use, see our ' Cookie Policy page '. Edit preferences Accept. Cookies settings. Close Privacy Overview This website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the website. The 11 miles of the Llangollen Canal and its associated structures gained World Heritage status in The Llangollen Canal leaves the Shropshire Union Canal in Hurleston in rural Cheshire and climbs through the peaceful Shropshire countryside, passing through the towns of Whitchurch and Ellesmere to cross the border into Wales near Chirk.

From Chirk the canal continues to cut though increasingly hilly countryside to finish alongside the River Dee which falls out of Snowdonia, just above Llangollen. The Llangollen Canal is 41 miles long and takes at least three days to cruise the canals and rivers one-way , more when busy. You can find out more about our boat hires, cruise guides and waterways maps on our canal boat holiday base information pages for canal boat holidays in Wales.

Chirk aqueduct is an impressive structure of brick and stone pillars, foot high and foot long which carries the Llangollen Canal across the Ceiriog Valley.

Designed by Thomas Telford, the water is carried in a cast iron trough. It was completed in and the railway viaduct runs alongside it, carrying the main line railway through to Holyhead at the same time as it carries the canal.

As you cross the aqueduct you enter Wales and immediately after the aqueduct comes Chirk Tunnel. This short tunnel opens out at the end of the Chirk Aqueduct. It is meters long, designed by William Jessop and Thomas Telford and is unusual for having a complete towpath inside. Boats cannot pass each other in the tunnel but fortunately it is straight enough to be able to see if a boat is already inside. Perhaps the greatest feat of engineering on the entire canal network in the UK is the Pontcysyllte Aqueduct, which is a highlight of the Llangollen canal walk.

The aqueduct was designed and built by Thomas Telford , who realised that such a high crossing of the River Dee was necessary to complete the route of the canal to Llangollen. He had already built the Chirk aqueduct and so used similar techniques, building stone piers and placing the cast iron troughs on top of them.

The aqueduct has 18 arches, is 12 ft 3. It is also the highest canal aqueduct in the world at ft 38m high. Every ten years or so the aqueduct is drained for maintenance. It is emptied via a giant plug in the trough in the middle of the aqueduct!

The last four are in a close flight at Hurleston Junction where the canal meets the Shropshire Union Canal. There, the four locks drop the water level by 34ft 3in almost Meanwhile, the Chirk Aqueduct is further east, offering an innovative way to head over the border from England into Wales.

Walk along the towpath and go through the tunnel — no boat required if you just want to visit for a short while. Perhaps the best way to approach the town of Llangollen is to start at Horseshoe Falls.

There is a six-mile walk that takes you along the canal towpath, across the famous Pontcysyllte Aqueduct, and finishes in the town itself. Start early and do a return trip — if your legs can stand it — or plan to stay overnight in Llangollen to explore that section of the canal and the town itself.

You should now be aware that many of the highlights of this famous canal are clustered around the Llangollen area. While you can hire a canal boat to take a lazy route along the canal, there are other more demanding water sports you could try instead.