About this trip.
Llangollen Canal closure: Closed near Whitchurch since an embankment breach on 22 December 2025. The Canal & River Trust expects to reopen it in March 2027, weather permitting. Until then boats can't pass the breach, so routes that cross it (for example Trevor to Wrenbury or Nantwich) aren't running. Trips that stay on one side, such as Trevor or Chirk to Llangollen and Pontcysyllte, are unaffected. Source
Planning the route? Read our Llangollen Canal guide. Weighing up hire firms? UK narrowboat hire, compared lists 32 firms by canal, dog fees and fuel.
Before you book: Canal du Midi vs UK narrowboating — same week, different country, very different holiday · How we vet operators — and the questions you should ask any small-group operator yourself
Lock-free to Ellesmere, or on to Pontcysyllte
Whitchurch Marina in Shropshire sits on the Llangollen Canal, and the operator describes the boating from here as tranquil and beautiful, with wide open spaces and the hillsides of Wales ahead. The best-known trip is to the Pontcysyllte Aqueduct, described as one of the seven wonders of the waterways. You can reach it on a four-night break or a full week.
For a weekend, the lock-free cruise to Ellesmere and back is the relaxed option. The route passes moss-filled bogs that are home to wildfowl and unusual plants, and runs through green fields where you might spot rare birds. If you carry on to Llangollen, you go through 3 tunnels and 2 locks and cross 2 aqueducts. The week-long Llangollen and return route heads past Frankton Junction, through Chirk and across the Chirk Aqueduct before reaching Pontcysyllte, with 4 locks in total for the round trip. The base is suitable for beginners and experienced boaters alike.
Heading north into Cheshire
If you want more locks, head north to the Grindley Brook staircase and then onto the Shropshire Union Canal. From there you can go to Chester, with its shopping, restaurants, cathedral and the River Dee, or down past Nantwich to the Secret Nuclear Bunker. Shorter options include Wrenbury and back, which runs between the operator's Whitchurch and Wrenbury marinas, and Nantwich and back via Grindley Brook, Wrenbury and Hurleston Junction. The Audlem round trip goes from Shropshire into Cheshire and back, with lock staircases, lift bridges and historic aqueducts.
For longer holidays, the Four Counties Ring takes in parts of the Shropshire Union, the Staffordshire & Worcestershire Canal, the Trent & Mersey and the Middlewich Branch. It has two tunnels, more than 15 aqueducts and 94 locks, and takes 7 nights, or 14 at a more relaxed pace. The Caldon Canal is offered as an alternative to it. The Cheshire Ring covers the whole Macclesfield Canal and parts of the Trent & Mersey, Bridgewater, Rochdale, Ashton and Peak Forest canals.
The fleet and getting there
The fleet has 16 hand-crafted boats for 2 to 10 guests. They range from 49ft four-berth boats to a 69ft boat for eight. The relevant waterway guides are Nicholson N4, Lockmaster L8 and Pearsons P3.
The marina is on Wrexham Road, Whitchurch, SY13 3AA. If you're driving from the north on the A41 or A49, follow signs for Wrexham (A525) onto the bypass west of Whitchurch. At the roundabout with the A525, take the Wrexham exit, and the entrance is 50 yards on the right. The nearest station is Whitchurch. Book a taxi from the station in advance, as none wait there. Manchester, Liverpool and Birmingham airports are about an hour away, and from each you take a train to Crewe or Shrewsbury and change for Whitchurch. No National Express coach runs to Whitchurch, so take one to Nantwich (9.7 miles) or Crewe (13 miles) and continue by train.
The shape of the trip.
Everything you might be wondering.
Q1Do I need a licence?
No. The hire base gives you a short handover covering steering, locks, and safety before you set off. Speed limit is 4 mph on UK narrowboats — slower than a walking pace. If you can drive a car, you can drive a canal boat.
Q2How many locks will I do?
Depends on the route. The Llangollen has about 20 over a week — leisurely. The Caen Hill flight on the Kennet & Avon has 29 in one stretch — a full day's work. Some European routes (Canal du Midi, Camargue) have almost none. The operator's map shows lock counts per day so you can pace yourself.
Q3Can I travel solo?
Most hire companies require two adults on board, mainly so one person can work locks while the other steers. A few allow solo hire on quieter routes — ask the operator before booking.
Q4What's included?
Typically the boat, fuel for the engine, a handover briefing, mooring ropes, fenders and a starter pack (tea, coffee, washing-up kit). Bedding is sometimes included, sometimes £10-20 extra. Food is your own, shopped from towpath-side villages.
Q5What if something breaks?
The hire base has a 24/7 support line. A fitter will usually come out within a few hours. Engines are robust and well-maintained — the most common failures are blocked weed hatches (clearable yourself) and flat domestic batteries.
Q6Is it good for kids?
Yes — lifejackets are provided and kids love working locks. Older children (6+) can help steer under supervision. Toddlers need constant watching near open decks. A reinforced guard rail helps.
Q7Can I bring my dog?
Most hire companies allow one or two dogs for a small supplement (£20-30 per dog per week). They love the towpath walks. The boat will lose its deposit if the dog damages upholstery — bring a blanket.
Q8What about cancellation?
Typically a 25% deposit at booking, balance 8-12 weeks before departure. Each operator has its own cancellation ladder (steeper close to departure). Travel insurance with cruise cover is recommended.
Three canal holidays, side-by-side.
The two closest canal holidays on Mooch, both in England. Prices are the operators' own, per boat.
