Body

Llangollen & Montgomery Canals

(all locations are listed as though travelling from Hurleston to Llangollen)

Pubs & Restaurants

Location What's there Comments Date

Wrenbury, Bridge 20 Cotton Arms Decent beer, good food, but expensive. March 2005 (CA)

Willeymoor Lock Willeymoor Lock Inn Great lockside location, good food and good choice of beers July 2005 (CA)

Grindley staircase locks café Lunch was delicious but disorganised! May 2005 (CH)

Whitchurch, Whitchurch Arm

Old Town Hall Vaults This pub had all the credentials for a "good pub" but the beer that we had was on the turn - probably just bad luck though. March 2005 (CA)

Red Lyon Yuck - This was a former market town hotel ripped apart by Wetherspoons and now sold on to a third party. It's got all the worst features of a Wetherspoons plus it's got none of their good features. Having said all that it produced the best pint of the night ! March 2005 (CA)

Greyhound Another example of how to turn what was probably a decent pub into a big barn with no atmosphere. March 2005 (CA)

Black Bear From the outside it looks a fine pub. Once inside you just want to get back out again. March 2005 (CA)

Bridge 43 The Waggoners' Inn Pearson's shows moorings after the Bridge going towards Wales but these are poor and taken up with long term boats. You can moor before the bridge and the Waggoners' is a short walk up the road. The pub is attractive, the food (not tried) looks o.k., the beer is good. May 2005 (JM)

Ellesmere, Ellesmere Arm

Black Lion Closest pub to the moorings and it's a smashing place. Good selection of meals at excellent prices (main courses are less than a fiver at lunchtime). Good beer too. March 2005 (CA)

Ellesmere Hotel One hand pump selling a poorly kept Plassey pint albeit at the remarkable price of £1.60. Looks like they abandoned selling food recently - doubt if it will be long before they abandon selling any cask beer. June 2005 (CA)

Railway No real ale. June 2005 (CA)

Red Lion, near Mere Typical old coaching inn made over - usual pub style menu. One cask beer which was OK but possibly unpredictable. October 2005 (CA)

Swan Locals' pub - looks like continuous horse racing on tv. OK for a quick pint though (Tetleys cask beer). June 2005 (CA)

White Hart, Birch Road Fine old pub with three cask beers - food is restricted to burgers and chips etc. June 2005 (CA)

Corner House Cafe (opposite Ellesmere Hotel) Excellent cafe selling great breakfasts (v) from 8.30 am. Sells food until 4 pm when they start to wind down. June 2005 (CA)

Take Aways (various) The Chinese takeaway (Coral) opposite Ellemere Hotel was OK but is closed on Tuesday.
The Chinese next to the Swan is closed on Monday as is Asian Spices which is next to The White Hart.
October 2005 (CA)

Montgomery Canal

Queens Head We highly recommend the restaurant but make sure you reserve a table. It's a bit pricey but we found the food very good verging on excellent. The beer isn't bad either. May 2005 (MB)

Navigation Inn Highly recommend the Navigation Inn. The lunch was very good and the dinner menu also looked good. May 2005 (MB)

We tried to have a meal without booking in advance early on Saturday night but they were "full up" October 2005 (CA)

Maestermyn, Bridge 5

Narrowboat Inn Part of Maestermyn boatyard. It's a big building serving 2 good guest beers. The menu is quite good in a "simple" way - it's certainly good value and you can hear the carrots getting scraped from your table which makes for a pleasant change from the pre frozen mush called carrots in most pubs. March 2005 (CA)

Nothing really to recommend the place other than it's convenience. The food was OK but nothing to write home about. May 2005 (MB)

Hindley, Bridge 11

Jack Mytton Inn This place is bizarre. It's as though the guy that owns the big house decided to build a pub in his back garden just to entertain his mates. The place was deserted and we had a couple of good quality pints but quickly returned to the relative sanity of Rodbaston. The menu looked interesting and perhaps in different circumstances (like with some customers) it might be a good place to stop. Passing back along there a couple of days later there were about 6 boats moored - needs more research perhaps. March 2005 (CA)

Rather strange place but very welcoming. May 2005 (MB)

Very enjoyable meal here and good beer. A bit of a strange place though. September 2005 (PK)

Chirk Bank, Bridge 19 Poachers Pocket Very popular pub serving good beer and good food at reasonable prices. March 2005 (CA)

Chirk Bank, Bridge 21

Bridge Inn Pub is just down embankment from bridge. Unfortunately pub was closed on Thursday lunchtime when we tried despite notice saying it should have been open. Maybe only opens lunchtime in summer. March 2005 (CA)

Very pleasant landlord but scruffy décor. September 2005 (PK)

Chirk Village

Hand Hotel Pleasant hotel selling reasonable selection of cask beers and meals. June 2005 (CA)

Indian restaurant, opposite Hand Hotel Good quality food - makes a change from the usual pub "fayre". June 2005 (CA)

Trevor basin Telford Disappointing really. One cask beer which was poor and the food looked less than inspiring. June 2005 (CA)

Trevor, Bridge 41 Sun Trevor Excellent beers, fair selection of food and suberb views. June 2005 (CA)

Llangollen

Corn Mill Overlooks River Dee - excellent range of food and beers. Meals are served all day and for the high standard are good value. March 2005 (CA)

We would highly recommend this for those who have a good appetite. Jenny had roast beef and I had roast lamb. They were both very good meals with enough to satisfy all but those who have extraordinary requirements at the middle of the day. May 2005 (MB)

The Corn Mill is definitely the place to eat. Arrive as, or even before, the pub opens to get a place on the outside balcony and terrace. May 2005 (JM)

Wynnstay Arms Smashing bar with log fire - very friendly and good beer. Menu looks good but I can't think of any reason not to eat in the Corn Mill. March 2005 (CA)

Bridge End Closest pub to canal wharf / moorings. Obviously trying to attract tourists but it can't escape the feel of being the pub that "the lads" go to. March 2005 (CA)

Bull Inn Superb frontage but the interior has clearly been gutted. I guess it can get noisy on a busy night but was OK when we were there. March 2005 (CA)

Sun, Regent Street This pub is a few minutes walk from the lights at the top (A5) end of town. It's a great alehouse with 7 cask beers on offer, all seem to be in good condition - plus a roaring log fire (in June !). Not a good choice though if you want to eat and feels like it may get lively at night time !. June 2005 (CA)

Llangollen Wharf cafe Traditional breakfast at the canal side cafe for just £4. May 2005 (MB)

Shopping & Facilities

Grindley staircase locks Useful shop At the bottom of the staircase; has newspapers and groceries. May 2005 (CH)

Whixall Moss, between bridges 43 & 44 Barn shop Beautiful garden, eclectic selection of essential food. May 2005 (CH)

Ellesmere

Shops Excellent range of shops in town including the rightly praised Vermeulen's delicatessen. March 2005 (CA)

Bit of a drab little town but most of the essentials can be bought there. May 2005 (MB)

Montgomery Canal, Frankton locks

Milk & Eggs If you're short of eggs or milk the farmer adjacent to Frankton Locks leaves some of each out near the bottom lock with an honesty box for payment. Even if you're not entering the Montgomery Canal you could moor at the top and take a short walk to the bottom lock if you need these essentials. May 2005 (MB)

Stall looked abandoned when we passed - probably only open in summer. October 2005 (CA)

Llangollen

Hardware There is a brilliant hardware shop at the top of the main street and turn left and it's just round the corner, a bit of an Aladdin's cave. May 2005 (MB)

Butchers Specialist sausages at the butchers half way up the main street. May 2005 (MB)

Good & Bad Moorings

Whitchurch Arm

Quiet, off main line If heading towards Wales it's best to reverse into the Whitchurch Arm (too tight to turn into it) and it's probably only worth doing that if you can see a free mooring. From Wales where the approach angle is better you may as well enter the arm as there's a massive winding point at the far end of the arm. From the arm it's a 15 minute walk either via a path along the line of the closed arm or via the streetlit Smallbrook Road. March 2005 (CA)

There is a half hourly bus service to town - details on the notice board in the arm. May 2005 (CH)

Blakemere A lovely setting with ducks peering in the side hatch watching us have supper. May 2005 (CH)

Ellesmere Arm Handy for shops. Turning at the end of the arm is fairly easy so it's worth going down there to look for the best Ellesmere moorings. March 2005 (CA)

Frankton Junction These are delightful moorings, just right for a Thursday night before Maestermyn. Walk round to the locks and talk to the lock-keeper. He is mine of information about the Montgomery Canal. May 2005 (JM)

Lion Quays, Bridge 17 Hotel, restaurant An easy two hour cruise for the first night. The online moorings are quieter than the basin if you can stay back from the hotel. May 2005 (JM)

Llangollen

Most impressive moorings in England / Wales ? There's a five pound charge whether you moor overnight on the towpath or in the new pontoon moorings at the new basin right at the (navigable) end. You pay the fee at a blue hut by the rubbish disposal point although there's a fair chance that the BW "parking attendant" will be walking up and down the tow path so just look out for him. The towpath moorings are slightly handier for town but the views of the hills are better from the pontoons. All moorings have water, electric and a light. Loads of space in March - in the peak season the logic may be to get there early but as the moorings are free unless you stay beyond 4pm there will probably be a mini exodus of day trippers just before 4pm creating spaces. March 2005 (CA)

There was oodles of room when we got there (1230), but the Bank Holiday weekend filled it up. In the Basin, noise could be a problem in the high season. May 2005 (JM)

Navigation Notes

Llangollen Canal (general)

The shallowness of the whole of the Llangollen, particularly approaching bridge narrows and on bends is a bit dodgy. I think in all we must have grounded about four times when pulling into the side to give way at a bridge narrows. May 2005 (MB)

Watch out for the weirs at the locks and don't be tempted to stop in the throat of the lock when leaving going up to close the gate - might get stuck on the weir. May 2005 (CH)

Grindley Staircase Locks

Be aware ! When going towards Wales be aware that there's a serious undertow as the middle lock fills, so I'd suggest slow (half) paddles to prevent the boat rocketing ahead. March 2005 (CA)

Avoid this area on Thursday afternoons when the hire boats are all returning to base (4 hours queue). September 2005 (PK)

Ellesmere Tunnel Narrow ! The tunnel is very narrow, so be very careful when entering it from the Whitchurch side. April 2005 (PA)

Montgomery Canal, Frankton locks

These are kept very securely locked. The locks are only opened twice a day, once in the morning and once in the afternoon. The Lock Keeper is an interesting chap but beware that he's a bit of a stickler for things being done correctly. May 2005 (MB)

Opening Times: Frankton Locks
(from 1 August 2005)
From Monday 1 August 2005, the opening hours for Frankton Locks will be:
Monday - Friday 2:30pm - 3:30pm; Saturday 10am - 12 noon; Sunday 2pm - 4pm.
Booking is also required from this date - call 01606 723800. Boats arriving within the opening times will be passed through the locks. Please note, no passages through the locks are available outside these hours. 48 hours notice is required.
www.waterscape.com

Montgomery Canal,
Maesbury Marsh
Winding point Winding point at the end of the navigable stretch of the Montgomery is about 150 metres after the lift bridge at Maesbury Marsh. You might be tempted to try turning immediately after the lift bridge at the entrance to the boat yard but we advise you go straight ahead and turn at the winding point where you have much more room for steerage. May 2005 (MB)

Maestermyn Marine Winding point For boats that need to be turned to face England the "unofficial" winding point is on the offside midway between the bridge at the "welsh" end of Maestermyn and the next bridge. October 2005 (CA)

Llangollen (approach to) Be aware ! There are two long stretches of narrows with single line working just before Llangollen. The first section is easier as there are passing places although you need to judge whether you'll meet any oncoming boats at just the right point. On the way back this section starts with a blind bend so someone really should scout on ahead before the boat enters the section. The second "narrows" have no opportunities to pass so someone needs to walk to the far end of the very muddy towpath to ensure there's nothing coming. 2 way radios are a big help here. March 2005 (CA)

Location	What's there	Comments	Date
Wrenbury, Bridge 20	Cotton Arms	Decent beer, good food, but expensive.	March 2005 (CA)
Willeymoor Lock	Willeymoor Lock Inn	Great lockside location, good food and good choice of beers	July 2005 (CA)
Grindley staircase locks	café	Lunch was delicious but disorganised!	May 2005 (CH)
Whitchurch, Whitchurch Arm	Old Town Hall Vaults	This pub had all the credentials for a "good pub" but the beer that we had was on the turn - probably just bad luck though.	March 2005 (CA)
	Red Lyon	Yuck - This was a former market town hotel ripped apart by Wetherspoons and now sold on to a third party. It's got all the worst features of a Wetherspoons plus it's got none of their good features. Having said all that it produced the best pint of the night !	March 2005 (CA)
	Greyhound	Another example of how to turn what was probably a decent pub into a big barn with no atmosphere.	March 2005 (CA)
	Black Bear	From the outside it looks a fine pub. Once inside you just want to get back out again.	March 2005 (CA)
Bridge 43	The Waggoners' Inn	Pearson's shows moorings after the Bridge going towards Wales but these are poor and taken up with long term boats. You can moor before the bridge and the Waggoners' is a short walk up the road. The pub is attractive, the food (not tried) looks o.k., the beer is good.	May 2005 (JM)
Ellesmere, Ellesmere Arm	Black Lion	Closest pub to the moorings and it's a smashing place. Good selection of meals at excellent prices (main courses are less than a fiver at lunchtime). Good beer too.	March 2005 (CA)
	Ellesmere Hotel	One hand pump selling a poorly kept Plassey pint albeit at the remarkable price of £1.60. Looks like they abandoned selling food recently - doubt if it will be long before they abandon selling any cask beer.	June 2005 (CA)
	Railway	No real ale.	June 2005 (CA)
	Red Lion, near Mere	Typical old coaching inn made over - usual pub style menu. One cask beer which was OK but possibly unpredictable.	October 2005 (CA)
	Swan	Locals' pub - looks like continuous horse racing on tv. OK for a quick pint though (Tetleys cask beer).	June 2005 (CA)
	White Hart, Birch Road	Fine old pub with three cask beers - food is restricted to burgers and chips etc.	June 2005 (CA)
	Corner House Cafe (opposite Ellesmere Hotel)	Excellent cafe selling great breakfasts (v) from 8.30 am. Sells food until 4 pm when they start to wind down.	June 2005 (CA)
	Take Aways (various)	The Chinese takeaway (Coral) opposite Ellemere Hotel was OK but is closed on Tuesday. The Chinese next to the Swan is closed on Monday as is Asian Spices which is next to The White Hart.	October 2005 (CA)
Montgomery Canal	Queens Head	We highly recommend the restaurant but make sure you reserve a table. It's a bit pricey but we found the food very good verging on excellent. The beer isn't bad either.	May 2005 (MB)
	Navigation Inn	Highly recommend the Navigation Inn. The lunch was very good and the dinner menu also looked good.	May 2005 (MB)
	Navigation Inn	We tried to have a meal without booking in advance early on Saturday night but they were "full up"	October 2005 (CA)
Maestermyn, Bridge 5	Narrowboat Inn	Part of Maestermyn boatyard. It's a big building serving 2 good guest beers. The menu is quite good in a "simple" way - it's certainly good value and you can hear the carrots getting scraped from your table which makes for a pleasant change from the pre frozen mush called carrots in most pubs.	March 2005 (CA)
Maestermyn, Bridge 5	Narrowboat Inn	Nothing really to recommend the place other than it's convenience. The food was OK but nothing to write home about.	May 2005 (MB)
Hindley, Bridge 11	Jack Mytton Inn	This place is bizarre. It's as though the guy that owns the big house decided to build a pub in his back garden just to entertain his mates. The place was deserted and we had a couple of good quality pints but quickly returned to the relative sanity of Rodbaston. The menu looked interesting and perhaps in different circumstances (like with some customers) it might be a good place to stop. Passing back along there a couple of days later there were about 6 boats moored - needs more research perhaps.	March 2005 (CA)
		Rather strange place but very welcoming.	May 2005 (MB)
		Very enjoyable meal here and good beer. A bit of a strange place though.	September 2005 (PK)
Chirk Bank, Bridge 19	Poachers Pocket	Very popular pub serving good beer and good food at reasonable prices.	March 2005 (CA)
Chirk Bank, Bridge 21	Bridge Inn	Pub is just down embankment from bridge. Unfortunately pub was closed on Thursday lunchtime when we tried despite notice saying it should have been open. Maybe only opens lunchtime in summer.	March 2005 (CA)
Chirk Bank, Bridge 21	Bridge Inn	Very pleasant landlord but scruffy décor.	September 2005 (PK)
Chirk Village	Hand Hotel	Pleasant hotel selling reasonable selection of cask beers and meals.	June 2005 (CA)
Chirk Village	Indian restaurant, opposite Hand Hotel	Good quality food - makes a change from the usual pub "fayre".	June 2005 (CA)
Trevor basin	Telford	Disappointing really. One cask beer which was poor and the food looked less than inspiring.	June 2005 (CA)
Trevor, Bridge 41	Sun Trevor	Excellent beers, fair selection of food and suberb views.	June 2005 (CA)
Llangollen	Corn Mill	Overlooks River Dee - excellent range of food and beers. Meals are served all day and for the high standard are good value.	March 2005 (CA)
		We would highly recommend this for those who have a good appetite. Jenny had roast beef and I had roast lamb. They were both very good meals with enough to satisfy all but those who have extraordinary requirements at the middle of the day.	May 2005 (MB)
		The Corn Mill is definitely the place to eat. Arrive as, or even before, the pub opens to get a place on the outside balcony and terrace.	May 2005 (JM)
	Wynnstay Arms	Smashing bar with log fire - very friendly and good beer. Menu looks good but I can't think of any reason not to eat in the Corn Mill.	March 2005 (CA)
	Bridge End	Closest pub to canal wharf / moorings. Obviously trying to attract tourists but it can't escape the feel of being the pub that "the lads" go to.	March 2005 (CA)
	Bull Inn	Superb frontage but the interior has clearly been gutted. I guess it can get noisy on a busy night but was OK when we were there.	March 2005 (CA)
	Sun, Regent Street	This pub is a few minutes walk from the lights at the top (A5) end of town. It's a great alehouse with 7 cask beers on offer, all seem to be in good condition - plus a roaring log fire (in June !). Not a good choice though if you want to eat and feels like it may get lively at night time !.	June 2005 (CA)
	Llangollen Wharf cafe	Traditional breakfast at the canal side cafe for just £4.	May 2005 (MB)
Shopping & Facilities
Grindley staircase locks	Useful shop	At the bottom of the staircase; has newspapers and groceries.	May 2005 (CH)
Whixall Moss, between bridges 43 & 44	Barn shop	Beautiful garden, eclectic selection of essential food.	May 2005 (CH)
Ellesmere	Shops	Excellent range of shops in town including the rightly praised Vermeulen's delicatessen.	March 2005 (CA)
Ellesmere	Shops	Bit of a drab little town but most of the essentials can be bought there.	May 2005 (MB)
Montgomery Canal, Frankton locks	Milk & Eggs	If you're short of eggs or milk the farmer adjacent to Frankton Locks leaves some of each out near the bottom lock with an honesty box for payment. Even if you're not entering the Montgomery Canal you could moor at the top and take a short walk to the bottom lock if you need these essentials.	May 2005 (MB)
Montgomery Canal, Frankton locks	Milk & Eggs	Stall looked abandoned when we passed - probably only open in summer.	October 2005 (CA)
Llangollen	Hardware	There is a brilliant hardware shop at the top of the main street and turn left and it's just round the corner, a bit of an Aladdin's cave.	May 2005 (MB)
Llangollen	Butchers	Specialist sausages at the butchers half way up the main street.	May 2005 (MB)
Good & Bad Moorings
Whitchurch Arm	Quiet, off main line	If heading towards Wales it's best to reverse into the Whitchurch Arm (too tight to turn into it) and it's probably only worth doing that if you can see a free mooring. From Wales where the approach angle is better you may as well enter the arm as there's a massive winding point at the far end of the arm. From the arm it's a 15 minute walk either via a path along the line of the closed arm or via the streetlit Smallbrook Road.	March 2005 (CA)
Whitchurch Arm	Quiet, off main line	There is a half hourly bus service to town - details on the notice board in the arm.	May 2005 (CH)
Blakemere		A lovely setting with ducks peering in the side hatch watching us have supper.	May 2005 (CH)
Ellesmere Arm	Handy for shops.	Turning at the end of the arm is fairly easy so it's worth going down there to look for the best Ellesmere moorings.	March 2005 (CA)
Frankton Junction		These are delightful moorings, just right for a Thursday night before Maestermyn. Walk round to the locks and talk to the lock-keeper. He is mine of information about the Montgomery Canal.	May 2005 (JM)
Lion Quays, Bridge 17	Hotel, restaurant	An easy two hour cruise for the first night. The online moorings are quieter than the basin if you can stay back from the hotel.	May 2005 (JM)
Llangollen	Most impressive moorings in England / Wales ?	There's a five pound charge whether you moor overnight on the towpath or in the new pontoon moorings at the new basin right at the (navigable) end. You pay the fee at a blue hut by the rubbish disposal point although there's a fair chance that the BW "parking attendant" will be walking up and down the tow path so just look out for him. The towpath moorings are slightly handier for town but the views of the hills are better from the pontoons. All moorings have water, electric and a light. Loads of space in March - in the peak season the logic may be to get there early but as the moorings are free unless you stay beyond 4pm there will probably be a mini exodus of day trippers just before 4pm creating spaces.	March 2005 (CA)
Llangollen		There was oodles of room when we got there (1230), but the Bank Holiday weekend filled it up. In the Basin, noise could be a problem in the high season.	May 2005 (JM)
Navigation Notes
Llangollen Canal (general)		The shallowness of the whole of the Llangollen, particularly approaching bridge narrows and on bends is a bit dodgy. I think in all we must have grounded about four times when pulling into the side to give way at a bridge narrows.	May 2005 (MB)
Llangollen Canal (general)		Watch out for the weirs at the locks and don't be tempted to stop in the throat of the lock when leaving going up to close the gate - might get stuck on the weir.	May 2005 (CH)
Grindley Staircase Locks	Be aware !	When going towards Wales be aware that there's a serious undertow as the middle lock fills, so I'd suggest slow (half) paddles to prevent the boat rocketing ahead.	March 2005 (CA)
Grindley Staircase Locks	Be aware !	Avoid this area on Thursday afternoons when the hire boats are all returning to base (4 hours queue).	September 2005 (PK)
Ellesmere Tunnel	Narrow !	The tunnel is very narrow, so be very careful when entering it from the Whitchurch side.	April 2005 (PA)
Montgomery Canal, Frankton locks		These are kept very securely locked. The locks are only opened twice a day, once in the morning and once in the afternoon. The Lock Keeper is an interesting chap but beware that he's a bit of a stickler for things being done correctly.	May 2005 (MB)
Montgomery Canal, Frankton locks	Opening Times: Frankton Locks (from 1 August 2005)	From Monday 1 August 2005, the opening hours for Frankton Locks will be: Monday - Friday 2:30pm - 3:30pm; Saturday 10am - 12 noon; Sunday 2pm - 4pm. Booking is also required from this date - call 01606 723800. Boats arriving within the opening times will be passed through the locks. Please note, no passages through the locks are available outside these hours. 48 hours notice is required.	www.waterscape.com
Montgomery Canal, Maesbury Marsh	Winding point	Winding point at the end of the navigable stretch of the Montgomery is about 150 metres after the lift bridge at Maesbury Marsh. You might be tempted to try turning immediately after the lift bridge at the entrance to the boat yard but we advise you go straight ahead and turn at the winding point where you have much more room for steerage.	May 2005 (MB)
Maestermyn Marine	Winding point	For boats that need to be turned to face England the "unofficial" winding point is on the offside midway between the bridge at the "welsh" end of Maestermyn and the next bridge.	October 2005 (CA)
Llangollen (approach to)	Be aware !	There are two long stretches of narrows with single line working just before Llangollen. The first section is easier as there are passing places although you need to judge whether you'll meet any oncoming boats at just the right point. On the way back this section starts with a blind bend so someone really should scout on ahead before the boat enters the section. The second "narrows" have no opportunities to pass so someone needs to walk to the far end of the very muddy towpath to ensure there's nothing coming. 2 way radios are a big help here.	March 2005 (CA)