School children enjoyed boat trip across Pontcysyllte Aqueduct
On Thursday 9 November a class of Year 4 and 5 pupils from St Anne’s Catholic Primary School in Wrexham enjoyed a boat trip aboard our ‘Little Star’ (‘Seren Fach’) trip boat.
The 45-minute boat trip took them along the Llangollen Canal and across the UNESCO World Heritage Pontcysyllte Aqueduct.
The famous aqueduct carries the Llangollen Canal 38 metres above the Dee Valley.
Our knowledgeable team provided commentary on board, so the children were able to learn about the aqueduct and the history of the Llangollen Canal as they cruised gently along.
Rebecca Hughes, a teacher at St Anne’s Catholic Primary School, said:
“The children had a lovely time on Seren Fach. The tour guide was fantastic – so enthusiastic and bubbly and the children really engaged with her.
“We were given lots of information that was pitched just right for the age of the children. What an amazing experience to cross the aqueduct on such a lovely boat. Diolch yn fawr!”
Anglo Welsh is offering free boat trips to local schools in November and December.
‘Little Star’ offers space for up to 48 passengers and over the winter, public trips are running at weekends only.
Top 8 places to celebrate Halloween on a canal boat holiday
Canal boat holidays offer the chance to enjoy a family staycation afloat this October Half Term, spending time together and visiting waterside destinations hosting spooky Halloween events.
Your floating holiday cottage will be equipped with the key comforts of home, including central heating and hot water, so it’s always nice and cosy on board.
All our boats also have fully equipped kitchens, so you can enjoy a self-catering holiday afloat.
To celebrate the October Half Term holiday, we’ve put together a guide to our top 8 narrowboat holiday destinations hosting Halloween events*:
1. Take The Sinister Side of Shakespeare Walking Tour’ in Stratford-upon-Avon
From our basw on the Stratford Canal at Wootton Wawen, it takes around six hours to reach moorings in the centre of Shakespeare’s Stratford. You can book online to experience ‘The Sinister Side of Shakespeare’s Stratford Walking Tour’ where you’ll learn about the town’s infamous witches, and discover the real-life tragedies that inspired Shakespeare. The journey to Stratford and back takes around 12 hours and passes through 24 locks (12 each way).
2. Explore the ‘Half Term Halloween Trail’ at Chirk Castle
From Trevor on the Llangollen Canal in North Wales, you can reach Chirk Bank in around one-and-a-half hours. From there it takes around 30 minutes to walk up to the National Trust’s Chirk Castle, where you can take part in a ‘Half Term Halloween Trail’, 21-31 October 2023. The event sends you on a quest to protect the castle from the evil spirits, elves and goblins that lurk around. The journey from Trevor to Chirk and back takes around three hours, and passes over the UNESCO World Heritage Pontcysyllte Aqueduct along the way.
3. Get spooked at a ‘Halloween Night’ at the Black Country Living Museum
On a short break from Tardebigge on the Worcester & Birmingham Canal you can reach the Black Country Living Museum. On Saturday 23, Friday 29 and Saturday 30 October, the Museum will host special ‘Halloween Nights’, giving you the chance to trick-or-treat your way round spooky streets, spot fantastical characters and dress-up to go to the monster’s ball. The journey from Tardebigge to the Black Country Living Museum and back takes 16 hours and passes through six locks (three each way).
4. Follow the Halloween Trail at Chester Zoo
On a short break from Bunbury on the Shropshire Union Canal, you can reach Chester, home of the award-winning Chester Zoo. This October, Chester Zoo which is home to over 27,000 animals, will be hosting an interactive Halloween Trail across its 128 acres of zoological gardens. The journey from Bunbury to Chester and back takes around 14 hours and passes through 18 locks (nine each way).
5. See ‘The Lost Boys’ at the Shugborough Estate outdoor cinema event
Our base on the Trent & Mersey Canal at Great Haywood is less than an hour’s cruise away from the National Trust’s Shugborough Estate. At 7.30pm on Tuesday 31 October, the Estate is hosting an outdoor screening of the vampire classic ‘The Lost Boys’, starring Kiefer Sutherland.
On a short break from Stockton on the Grand Union Canal in Warwickshire, you can reach moorings close to Warwick Castle. From 21 October to 5 November, the Castle’s ‘Haunted Castle’ event features a series of spooky experiences, including the Castle Dungeon and the Horrible Histories Maze. The journey from Stockton takes seven hours and passes through 20 locks.
7. Go on a Spooky Tour at Oxford Castle
On a short break from our Oxford base on the River Thames at Eynsham you can reach overnight moorings in Oxford City Centre. From there, it’s a short walk to Oxford Castle where from 16-31 October 2023 you can experience an evening Spooky guided tour of the 1,000 year-old haunted castle. From our Oxford base, it takes three-and a-half-hours, passing through three locks to reach moorings in Oxford city centre.
8. Visit Mary Shelley’s House of Frankenstein in Bath ‘After Dark’
On a short break from Monkton Combe, you can reach moorings in Bath City Centre. There you can visit Mary Shelley’s House of Frankenstein to experience its ‘After Dark – nights to die for’ Halloween event, on from 20-31 October 2023. The experience offers the chance to venture through rooms cloaked in darkness and features live actors, games and special effects. From our Monkton Combe base it takes four hours, passing through six locks, to reach moorings in Bath City Centre.
*NB Most of the events listed need to be booked in advance via the venue’s website
Top 6 week-long canal boat cruises through the countryside this Autumn
This Autumn adventure afloat on a canal cruise through the countryside, enjoying the beautiful colours in the trees and hedgerows that line our canals and rivers.
Canal boat holidays are a great way to connect with nature. You can watch-out for plant, animal and bird life along the way, including the hedgerow fruits and berries enjoyed by birds and small mammals.
To celebrate the Autumn colours along the canals, we’ve put together a guide to our top six week-long cruises through the countryside:
1. Cruise through the Shropshire countryside to Whitchurch
On a week’s break from our canal boat hire centre at Trevor in North Wales, you can travel along the Llangollen Canal to Whitchurch and back. Along the way, you’ll cross the UNESCO World Heritage Pontcysyllte Aqueduct, with amazing views of the Dee Valley. Then it’s on through the Shropshire countryside, passing through Ellesmere, in the heart of the Shropshire Lake District. Once at Whitchurch, you can moor up to explore the Shropshire Wildlife Trust’s Greenfields Nature Reserve, with woodland walks and the chance to spot water voles. The journey from Trevor to Whitchurch and back takes 24 hours and passes through four locks (two each way).
2. Navigate through the Yorkshire countryside to Foulridge Tunnel
On a week’s break from Silsden on the Leeds & Liverpool Canal in West Yorkshire, you can cruise through the Yorkshire countryside to Foulridge Tunnel. The journey takes you through a series of historic towns and villages, including Skipton, with its medieval castle and acres of woodland trails to explore. And East Marton with access to the Pennine Way National Trail. The journey from Silsden to Foulridge and back takes 26 hours and passes through 30 locks (15 each way).
3. Boat through the Cheshire countryside to Red Bull Wharf
On a week’s break from Bunbury, you can cruise through the Cheshire countryside to Red Bull Wharf and back. The route will take you along the rural Middlewich Branch of the Shropshire Union Canal, which runs from Barbridge Junction to Middlewich. This peaceful 10-mile long waterways passing through the pretty village of Church Minshull, with its popular Badger Inn gastro pub. The journey from Bunbury to Red Bull Wharf and back travels 53 miles and passes through 70 locks (35 each way).
4. Meander through the Oxfordshire countryside to Wallingford
On a week’s break from our Oxford canal boat hire base, you can cruise along the River Thames to the historic market town of Wallingford. The journey passes through miles of peaceful Oxfordshire countryside, waterside meadows and woodlands. As well as the City of Oxford, there’s a series of riverside towns and villages to visit along the way, including the historic market town of Abingdon. It takes around 18 hours to cruise from our Oxford base at Eynsham to Wallingford and back, passing through 22 locks (11 each way).
5. Wend your way through the Wiltshire countryside to the Vale of Pewsey
On a week’s break from Monkton Combe on the Kennet & Avon Canal near Bath you can reach Pewsey Wharf. The journey takes you up the 29 locks of the Caen Hill Flight, one of the Seven Wonders of the Waterways. And through the beautiful Vale of Pewsey, part of the North Wessex Downs Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty. Places to visit along the way include the historic market towns of Bradford on Avon and Devizes. It takes around 38 hours to cruise from Monkton Combe to Pewsey and back, passing through 74 locks (37 each way).
6. Journey to Llangollen North Wales and visit the Horsehoe Falls
On a week’s break from Whixall Marina, on the Prees Branch of the Llangollen Canal in Shropshire, you can reach the historic town of Llangollen on the edge of the Berwyn Mountains. Along the way, you’ll travel through the Shropshire countryside to Ellesmere, with its beautiful Mere and woodland walks. You’ll cruise across the magnificent Pontcysyllte and Chirk aqueducts, enjoying incredible views of the Welsh Mountains. At Llangollen, nestled in the Berwyn Mountains, you can visit the famous Horseshoe Falls. The journey from Whixall to Llangollen and back takes around 24 hours and passes through four locks (two each way).
Enjoy a summer holiday boat trip across the Stream in the Sky
Over the school summer holidays, our ‘Little Star’ trip boat will be operating five trips a day, offering the chance to enjoy a skippered cruises across the UNESCO World Heritage Pontcysyllte Aqueduct.
Described by Sir Walter Scott as a ‘stream in the sky’ where ‘fish swim above birds’, the aqueduct carries the Llangollen Canal 19 metres high across the Dee Valley in North Wales.
Enjoy a fantastic family day out this summer
This ‘bucket list’ journey give you the chance to experience amazing views across the Dee Valley, and make some fantastic family memories over the school summer holidays.
Trips depart daily at 11am, 12 noon, 1.30pm, 2.30pm and 3.30pm from Canal Wharf, Trevor, Llangollen LL20 7TT. There’s a public car park nearby at LL14 3SG.
Adult tickets are priced at £10 each, children (aged under 16) are priced at £6. Family tickets for two adults and two children are priced at £25 each.
Our new two-night deals offer the chance for a quick escape!
For the first time ever, we are offering two-night breaks from our canal boat hire bases at:
Trevor in North Wales;
Bunbury and Whixall in Shropshire;
Tardebigge in Worcestershire;
Wootton Wawen in Warwickshire;
Great Haywood in Staffordshire; and
Oxford on the River Thames.
So whether you are time-short and just looking for 48 hours away, or a newcomer to canal boat holidays wanting to test the waters, our new two-night deals are a great way to get afloat.
Starting at £643 for a boat for up to four people, these special deals need to booked and taken by 14 September 2023.
You’ll be able to pick your boat up from 2.30pm on the Friday afternoon, and return it by 2.30pm on the Sunday.
Prices for our two-night specials
Price band
A
B
C
D
E
F
G
H
23 Jun – 6 Jul
£593
£643
£673
£807
£883
£917
£990
£1,097
7 Jul – 24 Aug
£707
£760
£810
£957
£1,057
£1,153
£1,297
£1,433
25 Aug – 14 Sep
£593
£643
£673
£807
£883
£917
£990
£1,097
**Please note, prices quoted do not include the damage waiver of £50, and fuel deposit of £70 for a short break.
1. Navigate through the Cheshire countryside to ancient Middlewich
From Bunbury on the Shropshire Union Canal, it’s a peaceful five-and-a-half-hour cruise through the Cheshire countryside to Middlewich. After travelling south two miles to Barbridge Junction, home of the Olde Barbridge Inn, you can transfer onto the Middlewich Branch of the Shropshire Union Canal. This quiet canal, with just four locks along its 10-mile length, travels peacefully through the Cheshire countryside. You can stop off along the way at Church Minshull, where the popular Badger Inn is a short walk from the canal. And there’s a choice places eat and drink in Middlewich, which dates back to into pre-history and the first hunter gatherers.
2. Head into Birmingham City Centre lock-free
With no locks between Tardebigge and Birmingham City Centre, this five-and-a half-hour cruise is perfect for a two-night break. You’ll cruise for 14 miles along the Worcester & Birmingham Canal. The first half of the journey passes through fields, woods and villages, before gradually becoming more urbanised. There are four tunnels to navigate through, including the 2,726-yard long Wast Hill Tunnel. Once you reach the centre of Birmingham, there are over-night moorings at Gas Street Basin, with easy access to Brindleyplace waterside restaurants, Sea Life Centre, Mailbox shopping centre and other leading attractions.
3. Cruise across the Stream in the Sky to historic Ellesmere
The seven-hour journey along the Llangollen Canal from Trevor to Ellesmere, in the heart of the Shropshire Lake District, offers a fantastic two-night route. The route includes the experience of travelling across the incredible UNESCO World Heritage Pontcysyllte Aqueduct, with jaw-dropping panoramic views of the Dee Valley 38 metres below. There are two locks, two tunnels and two aqueducts along the way.
4. Boat through the Staffordshire countryside to Fradley Pool Nature Reserve
From Great Haywood, you can head south along the Trent & Mersey Canal to Fradley Junction. The journey takes around five hours, travelling 12 peaceful miles through the Staffordshire countryside. There are just five locks to pass through, and you’ll pass canalside pubs at Wolseley and Rugeley. At Fradley, you can enjoy spotting wildlife along the woodland trail and boardwalk at Fradley Pool Nature Reserve. And the Canalside Café and Swan Inn offer waterside refreshments.
5. Navigate through Shakespeare country to Stratford-upon-Avon
From Wootton Wawen on the Stratford Canal, it takes around six hours to reach overnight moorings in Bancroft Basin in the heart of Stratford-upon-Avon. The route through the Warwickshire countryside takes you across the Edstone Aqueduct and through 17 locks. Once there, you can walk to all the top attractions in Stratford, from theatres and museums, to pubs and restaurants.
6. Navigate the Llangollen Canal to historic Whitchurch
From Whixall, it takes around three-and-a-half hours to cruise to visitor moorings on the Whitchurch Arm, perfect for a relaxing two-night break. The route to Whitchurch travels along the Llangollen Canal through six peaceful miles of Shropshire countryside. There are no locks but there are two lift bridges. Once moored up, you can walk into Whitchurch to explore the town with its half-timbered buildings, independent shops, way-marked circular walks and Brown Moss nature reserve. There’s a good choice of places to eat and drink, including the popular Black Bear pub.
7. Take a Thames boating holiday to Oxford
From our Oxford base at Eynsham, it takes just over three hours, passing through four locks, to reach City centre moorings in Oxford. Along the way, you’ll pass through the ancient village of Wolvercote, home to the ruins of Godstow Priory. The 17th century riverside Trout Inn, famous for being a regular watering-hole for Collin Dexter’s Inspector Morse and Lewis Carroll, is also at Wolvercote. Once in Oxford, you take time to explore the city, including Oxford Castle, the Bodleian Library and Ashmolean Museum.
8. Cruise through the countryside to visit Packwood House
On a two-night break from Tardebigge, you can cruise lock-free to the village of Lapworth, home of the National Trust’s Packwood House. The journey takes you along the Worcester & Birmingham Canal, through the remains of the Forest of Arden, to Kings Norton Junction. You then transfer onto the Stratford Canal to reach moorings in Lapworth. From there, it’s a short walk to the Tudor Packwood House, with 150 acres of parkland and gardens to explore, including the famous Yew Garden. The journey to Lapworth takes around seven hours and passes through three tunnels.
9. Travel through the Shropshire Lake District to Ellesmere
From Whixall, on a two-night break you can cruise to historic town of Ellesmere and back. The lock-free journey travels seven miles of the Llangollen Canal and takes around three-and-a-half hours. You’ll pass a series of meres and mosses, including Whixall Moss nature reserve, Lyneal Moss and Cole Mere. Once at Ellesmere, you can take time to explore the Mere with its Victorian gardens, woodland paths, sculpture trail and historic castle, as well as places to eat, drink and picnic.
New day boat maps to guide you on a fabulous day out
We’ve published 10 new day boat destination maps to help you plan and enjoy a fabulous family day afloat this summer.
The free maps provide details of the locks, tunnels, aqueducts and bridges you’ll meet along the way, as well as pubs, shops and other places to visit.
We offer day boat hire from six of our bases, from just £99 per day for up to 10 people.
Don’t worry if you are a newcomer to boating – full tuition is included, so we’ll show you the ropes before you set off. If you’ve ever fancied taking a canal boat holiday, but want to experience what it’s like, our day boats offer a great way to dip your toe in the water.
All our day boats are equipped with the facilities you need for a day afloat – cutlery, crockery, a kettle, cooker, fridge and toilet. So you can plan a picnic afloat along the way, or stop off at a canalside pub for lunch.
There’s indoor and outdoor seating on all our day boats, so whatever the weather, you can enjoy the ever-changing view.
We’ve published a new map for each of the following day boat destinations:
1. Glide across ‘The Stream in the Sky’to Chirk
From Trevor on the Llangollen Canal in North Wales, you can cruise across to the incredible World Heritage Status Pontcysyllte Aqueduct to Chirk and back. The journey there takes around two-and-a-half hours. There are two aqueducts to cross and two tunnels to travel through. 2023 prices aboard our Trevor day boats ‘Jacob’, ‘Daniel’ and ‘Lotty’ are £120 on a weekday, £180 on weekends and bank holidays.
2. Cruise to Llangollen in the Berwyn Mountains
An alternative day boat destination from Trevor is the historic market town of Llangollen, nestled in the Berwyn Mountains. The journey to Llangollen, where there’s a great choice of places to eat, takes around two-and-a-half hours and there are no locks. 2023 prices aboard our Trevor day boats ‘Jacob’, ‘Daniel’ and ‘Lotty’ are £120 on a weekday, £180 on weekends and bank holidays.
3. Potter south along the Stratford Canal to Wilmcote
From Wootton Wawen in Warwickshire, you can cruise south along the Stratford Canal to Wilmcote and back. The two-and-a-half-hour journey to the historic village of Wilmcote takes you across the impressive Edstone Aqueduct. And passes through just one lock before reaching moorings a short walk from the village. Prices aboard our Wootton Wawen day boats ‘Dolly’ and ‘Charlie’ are £99 for up to 10 people on a weekday, £150 on weekends and bank holidays.
4. Navigate north along the Stratford Canal to Lowsonford
From Wootton Wawen, you can cruise north along the Stratford Canal to the pretty village of Lowsonford and back. The journey takes three hours each way, and passes through eight locks each way. 2023 prices aboard our day boats ‘Dolly’ and ‘Charlie’ are £99 for up to 10 people on a weekday, £150 on weekends and bank holidays.
5. Cruise south along the Trent & Mersey Canal to Rugeley
On a day afloat from Great Haywood, near Stafford, you can cruise to the historic market town of Rugeley and back. The journey to Rugeley travels four miles, passes through two locks and takes around three hours. Along the way, you’ll pass Little Haywood with a choice of pubs, and the Wolseley Arms at Wolseley Bridge. 2023 day hire prices for ‘Daphne’ and ‘Abi’ are £99 on a weekday, £150 on weekends and bank holidays.
6. Navigate north along the Trent & Mersey Canal to Sandon
From Great Haywood, you can head north along the Trent & Mersey Canal to the Dog & Doublet pub at Sandon. The journey takes around two-and-a-half hours and passes through three locks. 2023 day hire prices for ‘Daphne’ and ‘Abi’ are £99 on a weekday, £150 on weekends and bank holidays.
7. Travel through the Forest of Arden in Worcestershire
From Tardebigge near Bromsgrove, you can cruise along the Worcester & Birmingham Canal, through the remains of the Forest of Arden, to Kings Norton. The journey takes around three hours, and passes through two tunnels and over two aqueducts. There’s a choice of pubs along the way, including the Crown at Alvechurch. Prices aboard day boat ‘Emma’ are £99 on a weekday, £150 on weekends and bank holidays. ‘Emma’ can also be hired for a night for two people, with prices starting at £198, plus fuel.
8. Cruise through the Cheshire countryside to Nantwich
On a day out from Bunbury on the Shropshire Union Canal near Tarporley, you can cruise to Nantwich and back. The lock-free journey takes you past the canalside Barbridge Inn. And across the impressive Nantwich Aqueduct, with panoramic views across the town. Prices aboard day boat ‘Bella’ are £99 on a weekday, £150 on weekends and bank holidays.
9. Glide through the Shropshire countryside to historic Whitchurch
On a day afloat from Whixall on the Prees Branch of the Llangollen Canal, you can reach the historic market town of Whitchurch. The lock-free journey, which takes around two-and-a-half hours, passes the Hadley Farm Café along the way. Prices for day boat ‘Julia’ are £99 for up to 10 people on a weekday, £150 on weekends and bank holidays.
10. Navigate through the Shropshire Lake District to Ellesmere
From Whixall, it takes around three hours to reach the historic market town of Ellesmere, in the heart of the Shropshire Lake District. The lock-free route passes Cole Mere and takes you through Ellesmere Tunnel. Prices for day boat ‘Julia’ are £99 for up to 10 people on a weekday, £150 on weekends and bank holidays.
Celebrate the King’s Coronation with a boat trip across the Pontcysyllte Aqueduct
Across all three May bank holiday weekends, including the King’s Coronation weekend (6-8 May), our ‘Little Star’ trip boat will be operating five trips a day, offering the chance to enjoy skippered cruises across the Pontcysyllte Aqueduct.
Also known as ‘The Stream in the Sky’, at 300 metres long and 39 metres high, the awesome Pontcysyllte Aqueduct is the longest and highest aqueduct in Britain.
Opening in 1805, it took over 500 men and 10 years to build, using wooden scaffolding and simple cranes.
In 2009 it was designated a UNESCO World Heritage site, putting it on a par with the pyramids in Egypt and the Taj Mahal in India.
Our ‘Little Star’ daily boat trips across the incredible Pontcysyllte Aqueduct offer the chance to cruise across this incredible structure and to experience amazing views across the Dee Valley, and make some fantastic family memories celebrating the King’s Coronation weekend.
Our knowledgeable team provides commentary on board about the Pontcysyllte Aqueduct and the Llangollen Canal, which is a great way to learn more about the fascinating history of the site as you cruise gently along.
Trips depart daily at 11am, 12 noon, 1.30pm, 2.30pm and 3.30pm from Canal Wharf, Trevor, Llangollen LL20 7TT.
‘Little Star’ (‘Seren Fach’ in Welsh) offers space for up to 48 passengers. Adult tickets are priced at £10 each, children (aged under 16) are priced at £6. Family tickets for two adults and two children are priced at £25 each. Refreshments are available to purchase on board, including hot and cold drinks.
Try canal boating at one of our free open day events
On Sunday 23 April 2023, we are offering people the chance to try canal boating for free at six of our canal boat hire bases across England and Wales.
The taster sessions, which are part of the Drifters national open day event, will include free short trips on skippered narrowboats, and the opportunity to look round holiday-hire boats at some locations.
Our open day events will be on from 11am to 4pm at the following locations:
We offer a range of different types of holidays such as City Breaks, Relaxation Cruises and Popular Destinations
So why choose Anglo Welsh?
Over 55 years providing unique canal boat holidays in England and Wales.
Modern and spacious narrowboat and wide beam barge hire – from 2 to 12 berths.
Wide choice of narrowboat hire locations and canal boat holiday destinations.
Canal boat holiday routes for novices & experienced boaters.
Flexible holiday booking, no hidden costs.
Family friendly and pet friendly holidays.
Great days out on the water.
Luxury canal boat hire and Thames boating holidays.
Anglo Welsh. So much more than narrowboats
...but don't just take our word for it
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