Bridge 13, Llangollen Canal

We are really enjoying the Llangollen Canal. It was a beautiful journey through farmland, corridors of trees and up a few locks.

We caught up with a friendly couple Cath and Jane on NB Serenity (named after the spaceship on the eponymous tv series). Mooring 100m ahead of them to give their CB (their cat) some space to explore, we got to know them through chats at each others' sidehatches. They spent last winter on this canal so were able to give us some handy recommendations on pubs, places to stay and to avoid. Other than Cath, Jane and the very occasional dog walker there was just birdsong to be heard.

The Farmer's Arms was less than a mile away so we decided to dine out for dinner. The shortest route was a right of way over fields. We donned our headtorches, laced our boots and climbed the stile. That was the easy part. Trying to keep to an umarked, rarely trodden grass track in the dark proved very difficult. Dodging the cow trampled mud baths even more so. Nonetheless we arrived safely and were even admitted to the dining room, where we tried not to shed too much mud. The person who served us kindly brought out a paper map and shower us a route back on the country road; longer but a whole lot easier!

The pub had run out of steak and ale pies but the Farmer's Special burger came highly recommended. A huge stack of patties and haloumi topped with battered onion rings. Will was glad of the walk home to help digest it!Read more