Chirk Base – Chester and return

Chirk Base Chester and return canal boat holiday

112 Miles | 70 Locks | 1 Week Cruise | 9 hours per day

Based on the breathtaking Llangollen Canal in North Wales, Chirk’s lovely marina is where you begin your canal boat holiday to Chester. The marina is on the site of the Chirk Golf & Country Club. The Llangollen Canal meanders gracefully through the beautiful countryside where the World Heritage Site – the Pontcysyllte Aqueduct – spans across the Dee Valley.

Such a feat of engineering is sure to take your breath away. Cruise the Montgomery Canal, recently reopened to boats for the first time in over fifty years, where a four mile length of the canal has been restored giving you the chance to cruise this once dormant waterway.

This route is challenging, so you should not be disappointed if you do not reach Chester.

Travelling down the canal, you pass through the towns of Ellesmere and Whitchurch to Grindley Brook with its staircase of three locks. Whilst in Ellesmere, you can visit The Boathouse Restaurant and Visitor Centre, which has recently been refurbished, and see Ellesmere’s historic town hall, built in 1833. Whitchurch also has its delights, including the Grade I listed Church of St Alkmund, which was built of red sandstone in 1712.

The locks then become more frequent, taking you down through lovely countryside to the Shropshire Union Canal at Hurleston.

The rural atmosphere continues through to Chester. Chester is a lovely city that contains a variety of interesting activities and delightful architecture. It also has great historic relevance as one of the final towns to fall to the Norman Conquest. The city was originally established as a Roman fort in the year 79 and has some of the best-preserved city walls in the UK as well as a stunning Norman cathedral. You can also find plenty of bars, restaurants, and shops.
A visit to Llangollen is well worthwhile to see the Castel Dinas Bran, a medieval castle standing on a hill above the town. It is important to remember, however that the Llangollen Canal flows, so it will take you longer to return to the base.

Book our Chirk Narrowboat Hire Base to Chester canal boat holiday by using our online Availability Search, or by calling Black Prince on 01527 575 115.