THE LLAGOLLEN CANAL
The pack horse and horse drawn wagon were the main form of transportation along the rutted track ways of pre-industrial Britain, this resulted in limited weight of goods carried.
During the 18th century, canal was built. Flat bottomed boats drawn by horses introduced which enabled them to carry much improved weight cargo.
During the 19th century, canals started to fall in to decline due to introduction of steel and steam, which in turn led to production of locomotive. By the 20th century many canals were abandoned. The Llangollen Canal however had a secondary role as a water supplier, therefore saving it from abandonment.
Yet, this water ways have been re-invented for leisure purposes such as canal boating holidays around 1970-ist (as some people says).
The Llangollen Canal said to be one of the most spectacular and scenic canal in Britain. It is 46 miles length, from the feeder above Llangollen to it’s junction with Shropshire Union Canal at Hurleston. The canal is fed from the River Dee at Horseshoe just out Llangollen.
It passes through a spectacular and varied landscape including the upland splendour of the Llangollen vale, the meres (lake) around Ellesmere, the low lying wetland of Whixhall and the rolling pastoral areas of Shropshire & Cheshire.
It has an impressive and historic structures such as the Pontcysyllte and Chirck Aqueducts, Darkie and Whitehouse Tunnels and its distinctive bridges.
Pontcysyllte Aqueduct was built by Thomas Telford & William Jessop in 1795 – 1805. Supported by 18 piers made of local stone. The central stone is 126ft high. The Aqueduct is 1007ft long, 11ft 10 inches wide and 5ft 13 inches deep. Chirk Aqueduct, also built by Thomas Telford, is 70ft height and 710ft long.
Darkie Tunnel is 421M long, while Whitehouse Tunnel is 174M long (as it is written on each signs of the tunnels).
Along the canal, takes you close to lovely & historic towns of Whitchurch, Ellesmere & Llangollen.
Cruising is the finest way to explore the Llangollen Canal. Cutting through hills, cruising through tunnels and over aqueducts as well as the chance to operate lift bridges and any of the twenty one locks along the route.
With all of this and the colour of the boats, the canal wild life along with the tranquillity of the towpath, the Llangollen Canal provides a wonderful experience for all visitors.
