Part Two: Llangollen to Wrenbury Mill
Day 5 Llangollen to Ellesmere
After a leisurely breakfast we set off on our return journey at 8.50 a.m and by 11.15 a.m. we had reached Trevor which was even busier with boats than on our arrival two days earlier. We had considered taking a look in the Visitor Centre but with no moorings available, continued across the Pontcysllte aqueduct which was just as impressive on the return leg with the dramatic views down below.
We then made steady progress with one lifting bridge already open and the boat behind us offering to close it after passing through. We stopped for lunch at 1.20 p.m. securing the boat to the bank with pegs and then enjoyed a lengthy afternoon cruise all the way back to Ellesmere, reaching there by 7.30 p.m. This time around we found a mooring in the dock basin less than five minutes walk from Tesco so we popped in there for some groceries before preparing supper on board.
Day 6 Ellesmere to Whitchurch
A dull, damp start to the day as we departed Ellesmere. It was a quiet morning’s boating with just ducks, swans and a heron for company. After topping up with water at 12.00 noon we paused for lunch an hour later and by then it had gladly stopped raining.
There was then another lifting bridge to negotiate and with a three boat queue, a slight delay. As bridges should never be left open and as there wasn’t another boat waiting to pass through, my son hopped off the boat to close it before we set off on our way again.
As we’d made good progress the previous day we opted to take a slight detour at Hurleston Junction where it meets the Shropshire Union Canal along the short Whitchurch Arm. On arriving into Whitchurch at 4.45 p.m. we found it to be a busy place and it took us awhile to find a mooring, needing us to turn our 66ft boat around and tie the boat up further back.
We’d not been to Whitchurch before so set off on foot without delay so we could look around the shops before they closed for the night. It was a 15 minute walk into the charming small Shropshire town with its characterful Tudor buildings, interesting small shops and inviting inns and definitely worth a side trip.
Day 7 Whitchurch to Wrenbury
The last full day of our canal boat holiday was to be an energetic one starting with the descent of the Grindley Brook Lock flight. Canal and River Trust volunteers were again on hand to assist and after entering the top of the staircase lock at 9.40 a.m. we had completed the descent and two further locks by 11.15 a.m.
By 12.45 we had reached Marbury Lock and as sunny weather had returned, we enjoyed lunch out on deck in the company of a family of ducks and ducklings. It was then a 15 minute stroll along a country lane to Marbury Village and what a pretty place it was. With its quaint buildings, village green, cosy pub, church and mere (lake) it was delightful and I’d highly recommend stretching your legs off the boat for a look around.
We departed at 3.30 p.m. entering our final lock of the holiday ten minutes later. It was then a gentle cruise back to Wrenbury where we spotted ducks and geese nestling between the reeds. It was around 4.00 p.m. by the time we had secured the boat just outside Wrenbury Mill marina.
As we didn’t have time to explore Wrenbury before picking up the boat, we enjoyed a pre-dinner stroll through the pretty Cheshire village with its village green and rose covered cottages. With a lovely village pub overlooking the marina and lifting bridge it was the perfect end to our boating holiday.
Day 8 Wrenbury Marina
Our boat needed to be returned by 9.00 a.m. with all personal belongings removed by 9.30 a.m. and as we only needed to motor a few metres and then operate the electric lifting gate to get back into the marina, we were back in good time.
Well, what a wonderful week we’d had, and the fond memories of crossing the Pontcysllte aqueduct will live with us for ever. The seven night trip was well balanced with flights of locks near the start and end, a series of lifting bridges and journeys across both the Pontcysllte and Chirk aqueducts. We’d also had time to enjoy exploring Llangollen, Ellesmere, Chirk, Marbury and Whitchurch and to take our first ever ride on a horse drawn boat.
Taking a canal boat holiday is the perfect opportunity to slow down, relax and connect with nature and with stylish, well equipped narrowboats it’s very comfortable too.
Details: Drifters Boat Hire Wrenbury Mill to Llangollen – duration 7 nights, 24 locks and an average cruising of 5.5 hours per day.
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We were guest of Drifters Boating Holidays and as always, all views and opinions are entirely my own.
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