Cruising onwards through the countryside, you will reach bridge number 57 – the Grade II listed Ellesmere Tunnel. While certainly not the longest tunnel on the network at 295ft (90 metres) is considered by many boaters to be one of the darkest so make sure you have your tunnel light on – even if you can see other boats perfectly well, they may not see you especially during busy periods.

Exiting the tunnel you will soon find yourself in the North Shropshire town of Ellesmere. Another historic town featuring medieval streets peppered with half-timbered buildings and elegant Georgian architecture, Ellesmere has evolved over the centuries into a vibrant market town and features many independent shops and small businesses boasting “not a shopping mall in sight!”. Ellesmere features a range of Antiques, crafts, gifts, fresh local produce from the delicatessen and many other shops and the weekly market which was granted its charter in 1221 by Henry III still runs to this day. Of course, Ellesmere also features an excellent range of pubs, cafes, restaurants and
bars to suit a wide variety of tastes so there are plenty of opportunities to recharge your batteries before the next leg of your cruise.
This pretty little market town actually helped birth one of the greatest canal networks in the country and features many feats that proved a challenge to the great engineer
Thomas Telford, whose influence and presence will be felt in much of the rest of your journey.

As you move on, you begin to cross the border between England and Wales and, with thanks again to Thomas Telford, your journey is made both easier and more visually
stunning thanks to the revolutionary Chirk Aqueduct. Completed in 1801, the Chirk Aqueduct stands 70ft (21 metres) high and spans 710ft (221 metres) across the Ceiriog
Valley and was revolutionary at the time as the water is housed in a cast iron trough hidden by stone, we can only imagine that this was done to appease the traditionalists of
the time who likely viewed this new construction technique with some scepticism! Standing alongside the aqueduct is the 100ft (30 metre) tall Chirk Railway Viaduct which
dates from 1848 and the sight of these two marvels of Victorian engineering in the middle of the untouched countryside represents an excellent photo opportunity.
The Aqueduct marks the start of an 11 mile area which was designated as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2009. As you leave the aqueduct, you will enter the Chirk Tunnel. This 1380ft (421 metre) tunnel is designed to allow for the passage of a single narrowboat so passing is not possible. Boats are required to show a light when using this tunnel and it is straight enough that an approaching boat can tell if there is already another boat in the tunnel or not. Due to the shallow, narrow nature of the tunnel and the relatively fast southbound current, it is recommended that Northbound boats maintain steady power and momentum in order to push through.

If you’re feeling adventurous, the Chirk Tunnel was one of the first tunnels to incorporate a towpath through its entire length which will allows people to pass through on foot, but be sure to take a torch as there is a reason that locals call this tunnel “The Darkie”! The tunnel portals and the canal basin are collectively a Grade II* listed structure and form part of the UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Then its on to the jewel in the crown of this extraordinary canal journey – The Pontcysyllte Aqueduct. “The WHERE?”, you may ask! Pontcysyllte is pronounced “pont-ker-sulth-tay” and is a Welsh word meaning “Bridge of Cysyllte”, Cysyllte being the township of the old parish of Llangollen in which the southern end of the bridge lies. The Pontcysyllte Aqueduct carries the Llangollen canal 128ft (38 metres) in the air to cross the River Dee giving unparalleled views across the Vale Of Llangollen – a registered Area Of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB). Completed in 1805, the Pontcysyllte followed the same construction principles as the Chirk Aqueduct, in that water was carried in a cast iron trough, although in the case of the Pontcysyllte, the cast iron trough was left exposed rather than hidden by masonry.

It is worth mentioning that those without a head for heights may want to remain in in the cabin while crossing the “Stream in the Sky” that is Pontcysyllte, as the lack of masonry
means that those crossing the bridge do so alongside a 128ft (38 metre) sheer drop! But if you do choose to stay in the cabin, do try to look out of the windows as the views
and scenery are nothing short of spectacular. The Pontcysyllte is considered one of the “Seven Wonders of The Waterways” and holds the titles of longest aqueduct in the United Kingdom and highest canal aqueduct in the world, as well as the aqueduct itself being a Grade I listed structure, a Scheduled Ancient Monument of National Importance, an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty and forming part of the UNESCO World Heritage Site.

All in all, a trip along the Llangollen canal is one of those “bucket-list” journeys that most boaters want to make at one point or another and while it may be a particularly busy
stretch during peak times, those who are prepared for a bit of waiting here and there have their patience and senses rewarded by the verdant scenery and pleasant surroundings
which evoke simpler times and a much more relaxed pace of life.