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
Wrenbury Mill on the Llangollen Canal
Wrenbury Mill Marina is on the Llangollen Canal near Nantwich in Cheshire, and its boats sleep from two to ten people. The canal is known for its scenery, and sights along it include the Ellesmere meres and the Pontcysyllte Aqueduct, one of the Seven Wonders of the Waterway. With plenty of routes on offer, there are options for both first-time and experienced boaters.
That rules out the Llangollen and return route, which runs towards Whitchurch and Ellesmere, past Frankton Junction and across the Chirk and Pontcysyllte aqueducts. It also rules out the Chirk and return short break.
Week-long routes via Hurleston Junction
Cruising to Hurleston Junction takes you onto the Shropshire Union Canal, and from there to Chester and Ellesmere Port. The seven-day Chester and return follows the Llangollen Canal to Hurleston, then the Shropshire Union past Bunbury and Christleton, with rural moorings and canalside pubs along the way. You reach Chester, the Roman city known for its amphitheatre and medieval Rows, by day four, with time to explore. On the way back you stop near Bates Mill and visit Beeston Castle, then spend a final evening in Wrenbury.
Another route follows the Shropshire Union up to the industrial town of Ellesmere Port. The National Waterways Museum there tells the story of Britain's waterways through a fleet of historic boats and its archives. You can also head down the Shropshire Union to Market Drayton.
For longer trips there are two rings. The Four Counties Ring takes in the Shropshire Union Canal, the Middlewich Branch, parts of the Llangollen Canal, the Staffordshire & Worcestershire Canal and the Trent & Mersey Canal. From Wrenbury it includes two tunnels, over 20 aqueducts and 112 locks, and you can do it in seven nights or more gently in 14. The Cheshire Ring takes in parts of the Llangollen, Shropshire Union, Trent & Mersey, Bridgewater, Rochdale, Ashton and Peak Forest canals, plus all of the Macclesfield Canal.
Short breaks from the marina
The four-day Beeston and return runs along the Llangollen and Shropshire Union canals through countryside. You spend the first night at Swanley Bridge. On day two you pass the Bunbury staircase locks and continue to Wharton's Lock, which has a pub nearby. Day three starts with a walk to Beeston Castle and then a cruise to Barbridge. On the last day you go back through Hurleston Junction to Wrenbury and finish with an evening by the canalside Dusty Miller pub.
Getting to Wrenbury Mill
By road, leave the M6 at junction 16 and follow signs for Crewe and Nantwich. The marina is just over a lift bridge on the approach. The postcode is CW5 8HG and the what3words address is ///appeal.samplers.fuzz. By rail, take a train to Crewe and then a taxi to the marina. Trains from London Euston take about two hours. From Manchester Airport, a bus every half hour goes to Manchester Piccadilly, where you can catch a train to Crewe. The marina recommends Nicholson guide N4, Lockmaster L8 and Pearsons P3.
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.
