Frankton Junction

Will is in charge of route planning and has never been more on top of the weather forecast. Rain makes cruising miserable and winds make it very difficult. We waited for the worst of the weather to pass and set off from Ellesmere after lunch.

It was a smooth cruise with no locks or bridges to Frankton Junction, where we turned left and had to break the ice to moor at the top of Frankton Locks on the Montgomery Canal. There was still enough daylight to take the dogs on a short and muddy circular walk around the junction, crossing the two road bridges over the Llangollen and the lock bridge on the Monty.

This Shrewsbury waterway extends 33 miles to Newtown but was closed in 1936 when the transport of lime and coal was no longer profitable enough to maintain it. Restoration began in phases in 1987 and is ongoing. At present only 7 miles is accessible to narrowboats from the Llangollen and passage must be booked in advance as there is a limit to the number of vessels allowed on at any one time.Read more