United Kingdom
Llangollen

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    • Day 19

      Over the Aquaduct

      September 4, 2017 in Wales ⋅ ⛅ 20 °C

      The day looked much brighter setting off from Chirk! Not many boaters get up early either it seems and we were all by ourselves going over Chirk Aqueduct and then into the Chirk Tunnel. The aqueduct is 70 feet high and beside it is a 100 foot high viaduct. A lovely warmup to the big event later in the morning. Goodness that tunnel is so long, about 1377 feet to be exact, which doesn't sound like much but took ages to go through. Very eerie too in the early morning with the mist rising off the water!

      The day was brightening up nicely and we came to the Pontcysylite Aqueduct built in 1805, 125 feet high and spanning a 1000 feet across the valley. I was just praying that they really did build things to last back then, cause it didn't seem like there was very much keeping us up there.

      It's a eerie feeling floating across this skinny little waterway so high up and only a thin metal railing on one side. Not that I looked down that side I was firmly planted on the walkway side. Even Graham got a bit freaked out I think.

      Another couple of hours cruising through a really pretty section of the canal and some really narrow one way sections we arrived in Llangollen. What doesn't sound anything like it's spelt, which seems to be a feature of most of the Walsh language. I don't know how the kids ever get the hang of it!

      Llangollen is a really pretty little town with some cute shops even a couple of op shops, lots of pubs and the gorgeous River Dee running through the middle of it. We parked up in the marina and then headed into town for lunch. Don't think we've had a bad meal since we got here and today didn't disappoint either.

      Took the bikes off after lunch and headed up to Horseshoe Falls. Glad we had the bikes or it would have been a bit of a hike. It's not really a waterfall at all but a weir to feed the canal from the river, so a bit disappointing really. But we called in for a drink at the Chainlink Bridge and enjoyed some beautiful views of the Dee River thundering past and watched the steam train stop across the river, so not a wasted trip.

      Rode back down to the boat and had an hour or so chat to the neighbours, who are farmers and their narrow boat is their escape for a few weeks and weekends a year. Now off to find some dinner. Ha ha must seem like all we do is eat and drink but really that is one of the best parts!
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    • Day 8

      Off to the Source

      April 14, 2018 in Wales ⋅ ⛅ 11 °C

      This morning we reluctantly had to return our boat to the marina. This was a long journey which took all of one minute from our mooring to where we picked up the pilot. He skilfully manoeuvred the boat up to the pontoon in less than 5 minutes, this would have taken Andrew considerably longer. Andrew hauled our luggage up to the car before we said goodbye to Penny.

      We thoroughly enjoyed our week on the boat and would love to do it again. Our experience with Black Prince is very positive; the boat was spotless, well designed and the service felt personal. The Llangollen Canal was a good one for beginners, although a summer trip may not be the best time to go. The Grindley Brook Staircase and Pontcysyllte Aqueduct can have queues of up to 4 hours at peak times. We waited no more than 10 minutes at either.

      Having handed back the boat by 09:30 we decided to make use of the final day of our holiday by re-visiting a couple of highlights. We drove the short distance to Trevor and walked along the Pontcysyllte Aqueduct, taking a few more photos along the way. We remembered the hustle and bustle of Sunday as we crossed on the boat. That day we were the subject of many other people’s photos!

      We then drove to Llangollen, made our way back to the wharf and walked the 1 3/4 miles further up the canal (un-navigable to all but horse drawn boats) to the Horseshoe Falls where we had lunch. This is the source of the canal, where water from the River Dee is drawn off and starts the 46 mile journey towards the Shropshire Union Canal. This felt like a fitting end to our journey, not including our return to Harrogate, one we will always remember.

      Thank you readers for joining us on our first canal adventure. We hope you have enjoyed floating along with us.
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    • Day 3

      Llangollen: The End Of The Line

      September 11, 2023 in Wales ⋅ ☁️ 20 °C

      Bacon butties for breakie before we set off on day 3 on what, with bend upon bend, is becoming a very windy journey. After sourkraut with a very nice dinner of ham, boiled potatoes and sweet corn it may well become a windy journey tomorrow. 😉

      Two Aqueducts. Two Tunnels and One & A Half Lifting Bridges today, as well as plenty of lovely scenery and better than expected weather.

      No onboard picture could capture the experience of sailing across the Pontcysyllte Aqueduct behind a group of canoeists. There are indeed many spectacular pictures of the aqueduct and today we probably became part of a few more as walkers pointed their cameras up from the valley below.

      We passed lots of interesting garden art but you'll have to wait for the YouTube movie to see that. Kevin once again steered us on a true and safe course.
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    • Day 24

      Day 24 Froncysyllte to Llangollen

      June 21, 2023 in Wales ⋅ ☀️ 21 °C

      Wednesday - the longest day if the year : Up 06:30, away 08:10 to walk the mile into Llangollen. Caught bus to Froncysyllte to resume walk from where I finished yesterday. Offa's Dyke path passes near Wern Isaf farm campsite, so I left tent setup to pack up as I pass on way back. This meant I avoided having to carry full rucksack. Having mooched around Trevor Canal basin north of the Pontcysyllte aquaduct, I decided on the walk back, to stay another night to explore Llangollen and shorten tomorrow's walk.

      The walk started along the Canal then ascended the hillside through woodland. Eventually reaching a road along the foot of an enormous quarry labelled on the map as 'The Panorama walk' then the 'Trevor rocks'.

      I left Offa's Dyke path here to walk up to Castell Dinas Bran. This is the remains of a local castle of some note built in the 13th century. It lasted 2 decades before being sacked. From here it was a short walk down hill to the campsite then, after charing device and doing laundry, I walked into town. Bought new thin socks but with more padding than the inners I had been using and posted my heavy outer socks home saving 303gm. Also picked up some thread to repair tent. Yesterday I had foolishly tugged at the tensioner that pulls the end of the inner towards the fly sheet to get more headroom when lying down. It had been glued into a wrap of fly sheet fabric but my tugging meant it no longer was! I repaired it yesterday with a clamp I had bought years ago for just such an equipment failure, which worked a treat. Back at camp today I think I made rather a good job of sawing a repair. Judge for yourself from the photograph.

      Walked the mile down hill into Llangollen for supper and Cider in Gales wine bar, where I was yesterday. Great food again.

      4 miles from Froncysyllte to Llangollen completed at end of 24th day of walking and 16th on Offa's Dyke path. Plus 6 miles walking to, from & around Llangollen and Castell Dinas Bran.
      Total miles so far : 250
      Average speed : 1.6 ... I admit it, I was dawdling around town.
      Weather sunshine and glorious. Another hot day with occasional breeze.
      Number of people passed : 5
      Objective tomorrow : Pen-y-Stryt
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    • Day 4

      Lolling About In Llangollen.

      September 12, 2023 in Wales ⋅ 🌧 13 °C

      So the plan was to have a look around the town and make a start on the return trip late afternoon. Sometimes plans change and so they did and an extra nights mooring was booked.

      In the morning we dropped into Llangollen to have a look around the town. After wandering along the main streets, we found ourselves in St Collen's Church. There has been a church on this site since early in the 7th century.

      Around lunchtime, we took a break for teas and coffees and scrumptious homemade plain scones served with lemon curd or strawberry jam. We then acquired the following days dinner, three enormous pasties of artisan fayre and a sufficiency of baked beans to accompany them before going our separate ways.

      Monica, Ann and Pauline much enjoyed a visit to Plas Newydd historical house, a short way out of town. Alas no photos.
      Me, Kev and Ron further separated with Me and Kev dropping Ron off at the barge to take a nap while we took a hike to the end of the canal, Horseshoe Falls and St Martin's Church.

      The day finished with the usual G&T aperitifs, Ann's delicious oriental beef dish accompanied by the usual flow of wine and then film night on the DVD player, 'Fisherman's Friends 2'

      Although not gloriously sunny, the weather was once again good to us not delivering all the rain the forecast had predicted.
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