Trevor Basin to Chirk (after Aqueduct) - Llangollen Canal

Tuesday 2^nd July

Leaving Trevor Basin

There She Be!!

River Dee Far Below Us

We got up nice and early this morning and set off from our mooring just after 7.30am. Back up through the Basin and there was the Ponty looming in front of us.  It was all clear so over went, crossing the River Dee way down below us.  After about 10 minutes we were over and heaving a sigh of relief and we stopped at the water point to fill the tank.

Going through lift bridge

Bridge on a Bend

We then set off again and soon came to the lift bridge.  I got off and opened it and Kev came through then I closed it as no boats were coming and on we went.  We met a few boats coming the other way.

Whitehouse Tunnel

Coming out of Whitehouse tunnel

We were then approaching Whitehouse tunnel and it was all clear so in we went, this tunnel is 191yds long so didn’t take long to go through.

In Chirk Tunnel

Not too far now

End of Chirk Tunnel

After about a mile we were approaching Chirk tunnel, there was a couple of boats coming through so we waited for them to pass us and then in we went.  This tunnel is a bit longer at 459yds but as the flow of the water is with us now we sailed through.  When you come out the tunnel you go straight onto Chirk aqueduct and it was all clear so across we went.  When we went over last week it was very busy but today it was quiet and we had time to take it in and admire the views.

Over the Aqueduct we go

Nearly back in England

The aqueduct was opened in 1801, and is a splendid massive brick and stone aqueduct carrying the canal in a narrow cast iron trough from England into Wales or the way we were going today Wales into England.  The River Ceirog flows 70ft below, and the great railway Viaduct is beside and a little higher than the aqueduct.

The River Ceirog below us

We were soon over and back in England and chugged around the corner and moored up in the visitor moorings.

Back in England

Aqueduct & Viaduct together

Walking back into Wales

 Chirk village is a short walk away so we walked down the road, past The Bridge Inn where is great views of the Aqueduct and Viaduct and on up the road into Chirk.  We went into the church which was really nice and then went to the butchers, Jamie Ward who sells local beef and lamb and pork from their own farm.  It is a lovely place and we bought a few things.

Nice Window in the Church

We then went for a coffee and then headed back to the boat.  We checked out the bus stop which is near to where we are moored as tomorrow we are having a day out in Oswestry, so looking forward to that. 

We will just chill out this afternoon as we had a very busy morning going over two aqueducts, doing two tunnels and a lift bridge and moored up by 10.00am!.  Tomorrow we are off to Oswestry then on Thursday chug on a bit further.

Moored at Chirk