Narrowboat Hire – Llangollen Canal

The scenery varies from dairy farms to isolated sheep pastures to ancient peat mosses, from tree lined meres (lakes) to the Dee Valley in the foothills of Snowdonia and can take you soaring across the world famous Chirk and Pontcysyllte Aqueducts. The Montgomery Canal is well worth exploring if you have the time.

Chirk Aqueduct & Tunnel

Chirk Aqueduct & Tunnel

  • Enjoy the stunning scenery, as you climb from the Cheshire plain to the River Dee in the foothills of Snowdonia at Llangollen.
  • Cross magnificent aqueducts at Chirk and Pontcysyllte and rock hewn tunnels, amazing early civil engineering taking the canal on one level into the hills, now a World Heritage Site.
  • Explore market towns such as Ellesmere and Whitchurch, the fortified border towns of Chirk, and Llangollen itself with its ancient castle high above on the hill and famous horse-drawn boat trips. Handy short-term moorings just above the town.
  • Look out for the fascinating meres and mosses, left-overs from the last ice age. Meres are tree lined lakes fed by ground water, mosses were dug for peat.
  • The canal can be busy in peak season, sometimes with queues at Grindley Brook and New Marton locks. The basin at Chirk Aqueduct can be busy with canal boats waiting to go through the tunnel when other boats are returning from Llangollen. However many boaters still manage to enjoy a return trip in a week, often helped by a few early starts!

No matter your interests or preferences, this canal has something for everyone. Discover the beauty of Llangollen Canal with its lift bridges, impressive Chirk Tunnel, World Heritage Site of Pontcysyllte Aqueduct, and picturesque Horseshoe Falls on the River Dee. Whether you’re planning a romantic getaway or a family adventure, a Llangollen Canal boat hire holiday promises a unique and memorable experience during your trip to Wales.  Book your canal boat hire today with an independent or family firm and get ready to embark on an unforgettable journey through the heart of  North Wales which is sure to have something for everyone. These firms have canal boats in all sizes and styles so whether you opt for a quick round trip weekend break, a midweek break, a full week or even longer you’ll be sure to have a great time!

Canal Boat Hire from family firms on or around the Llangollen Canal

Bettisfield Boats

Bettisfield Boats Admire the beautiful Llangollen & tranquil Montgomery canals on our 2 & 3 berth traditional style narrowboats. Cruise through tunnels & over spectacular world heritage aqueducts from our Bettisfield base.

Black Dog Boat Hire

Black Dog Boat Hire. The black dog is a unique modern narrowboat perfectly situated on the Shropshire Union Canal with links to cruise the Four Counties Ring, the Cheshire Ring and the Llangollen Canal.

Chas Hardern Boats

Chas Hardern Boats, family run for over 40 years offering a fleet of excellent value, well equipped 2 to 6 berth boats for all year cruising. Ideal for the Shropshire Union Canal, the Llangollen Canal & adjoining canals.

Cheshire Cat Narrowboats

Cheshire Cat Narrowboats, ideal for the Llangollen Canal & Four Counties Ring. Clean, comfortable, well-equipped boats, individual attention, sensible prices, no hidden extras. A warm, friendly welcome guaranteed.

Crest Narrowboats

Crest Narrowboats - Prestigious new fleet of high quality 2-10 berth boats, operated by friendly, well established and experienced staff at our Chirk and Festival Park bases - ensuring a comfortable and enjoyable holiday.

Floating Holidays

Located on the Trent and Mersey Canal, Floating Holidays have lovely traditional and modern boats, large and small for all parties. For couples breaks through to a boat that will comfortably accommodate 10 people.

Lyneal Trust

Lyneal Trust's two specially designed boats, with accessible ramps, lifts and bathrooms, enable people with disabilities, vulnerabilities, or limited mobility, and their families, to enjoy a holiday on the Llangollen Canal.

Marine Cruises

Marine Cruises on the magnificent award winning Llangollen canal have well equipped 2 to 10 berth boats. All boats have bathroom with shower & galley with full size cooker.

Whittington Wharf Narrowboats

Whittington Wharf Narrowboats Enjoy beautiful countryside by canal in one of our luxury narrowboats. Cruise the breathtaking World Heritage Llangollen Canal with magnificent aqueducts and tunnels from our base near Ellesmere.

More Information

Cruising Guide and map for the Llangollen Canal.

More North West hire firms or narrowboat hire firms in other canal areas.

Day hire boats to cruise with a few friends for a few hours.

Help to choose the right canal boat for your holiday.

Plus lots more advice and tips in our Canal Holiday Advice.

Our Listings

We provide contact telephone and email details free of charge for canal based companies, click for details.
Please note: We provide all contact details as an information service. We rely on traders to keep us informed about these listings so we can't guarantee that details are accurate or up to date. Please see our Terms of Use.

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Llangollen Canal

Bettisfield Boats
Bettisfield, Whitchurch
01948 710494
bettisfieldboats@gmail.com
www.bettisfieldboats.com
Crest Narrowboats
Chirk Marina, Chirk, Wrexham LL14 5AD.
01691 774558
info@crestnarrowboats.co.uk
crestnarrowboats.co.uk
Cruiseway Narrowboats
Swanley Bridge Marina, Llangollen Canal
Drifting Wood Canal Breaks
Llangollen Canal
07821 313093
acorn@driftingwood.co.uk
www.driftingwood.co.uk
Lyneal Trust
Lyneal Wharf, Ellesmere SY12 0LQ.
01948 710708
www.lyneal-trust.org.uk
Marine Cruises
Liverpool Rd, Moston, Chester CH2 4BA.
01244 373911
info@marinecruises.co.uk
marinecruises.co.uk
Pea Green Boats
Whixall Marina, Alders Ln, Whixall, Whitchurch SY13 2QS.
SLS Narrow Boat Holidays
Whixall Marina, Llangollen Canal
Whittington Wharf Narrowboats
Ellesmere Rd, Welsh Frankton, Oswestry SY11 4NU.
01691 662424
info@whittington-wharf.com
www.whittington-wharf.com


Shropshire Union Canal

Black Dog Boat Hire
Barbridge Marina, Nantwich Rd, Wardle, Nantwich CW5 6BE.
07436 346855
info@blackdognarrowboats.co.uk
blackdognarrowboats.co.uk
Chas Hardern Boats
Beeston Castle Wharf,, Beeston,, Tarporley CW6 9NH.
01829 732595
chasboats@aol.com
www.chashardern.co.uk
Cheshire Cat Narrowboats
Overwater Marina, Nantwich CW5 8AY.
07867 709195
linda@cheshirecatnarrowboats.co.uk
www.cheshirecatnarrowboats.co.uk


Trent and Mersey Canal

Floating Holidays
Middlewich Wharf, 1 Canal Terrace, Middlewich CW10 9BD
03300 430547
www.floating-holidays.co.uk

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