Cool canals Guides & Waterways Directory

Approx distance: 4 miles   Llangollen Canal
Start: Llangollen Wharf Grid ref: SJ214422
Finish: Trevor Basin Grid ref: SJ270422

High above the town, Llangollen Wharf is busy with boats, people and horses. With the canal on your left, follow the towpath out of town. The canal is very narrow here, often only wide enough for one boat but, once you're past the visitors' moorings, both canal and towpath widen as the glorious views spread out in front of you. Passing an enticing bench near the open lift bridge, the canal curves under bridge 42, then the trees clear and the view of the Dee valley below is breathtaking. This is a great spot for a picnic as you not only have the view of the valley and the ruins of Castell Dinas Bran on the hill behind you, but also a birds-eye-view of boats slowly wending their way through this narrow passage. Once you've dragged yourself away from the view, and past the Sun Trevor pub above bridge 41, the canal continues to wind its narrow way past sheep-filled fields, trees and under pretty stone bridges, until you arrive at the edge of Trevor Basin. Here cross a narrow footbridge over the canal, past some houses then cross over the road to the gate to the Basin. Anglo Welsh's base and cafe/shop are on your left, and the magnificent Pontcysyllte Aqueduct awaits you to the right.