The end of the canal

Yesterday we completed our journey to Llangollen. Kathy, Scott, Kaia and Sarah (friend who is staying with them) came with us and then returned by bus. The canal seems to cling to the side of the hill for most of the route and in places is too narrow for two boats to pass so you have to send someone ahead to make sure the way is clear. We moored just before Llangollen Wharf, where the horse drawn boats operate from.



Horse-drawn boat on the Llangollen Canal



 British Waterways charge for the moorings here, but you do get a free electric hook-up which saves on diesel for charging the batteries so some of the cost is offset. Most boats don't take advantage of this as the hire-boats aren't supplied with a land-line for power. the maximum stay is 48 hours so we parted with our cash to the nice BW man.



The last stretch of the canal, even the horse-drawn boats don't do this bit!



The canal continues past Llangollen to the Horseshoe Falls on the River Dee but you cannot take a private boat the last couple of miles, it is even narrower and more shallow than the stretch from Trevor to here. I don't think we would make it even if it was allowed. the horse-drawn boats manage it as far as the Chain Bridge Hotel because they have a shallower draught than powered boats.



The Chain Bridge across the River Dee



The end of the Llangollen Canal

We took a walk up to the Horseshoe Falls this morning, enjoying the sunshine and the fabulous countryside, then spent the afternoon just wandering before returning to the boat. We did wonder about getting the steam train back but they appear to only do a 'round trip' fare for the entire seven miles of the line which would have been a bit expensive for a 'one-way' two mile journey.





The Horseshoe Falls



Tomorrow we will probably do a bit more wandering before heading back to Trevor.



Yesterday's journey 4.5 miles

So far this year we have travelled 173 miles, 115 locks 21 lift bridges and 3 tunnels

Since Ray retired we have travelled 911.4 miles, 760 locks, 55 swing bridges, 25 lift bridges and 28 tunnels