Ellesmere Port to Newtown, Llantysilio, Wolverhampton or Middlewich
251km/157 miles total EASY
Northwest England - Wales - West Midlands
An amalgamation of several historic canals connecting the West Midlands with Cheshire, north Wales and the rivers Dee and Mersey. The canal is rich in engineering achievements: the southern part of the main line follows a straight course on cuttings and embankments through the rolling Midlands countryside, while the Llangollen section is renowned as one of Britain's most spectacular canals, through lovely countryside and across two spectacular aqueducts at Chirk and Pontcysyllte.
The branches of the canal are:
- Shropshire Union main line Ellesmere Port to Autherley Junction, Wolverhampton via Chester, Nantwich and Boscobel 106km/66 miles
- Middlewich Branch Barbridge Junction to Middlewich 16km/10 miles
- Llangollen Canal Hurleston Junction near Nantwich to Llantysilio via Whitchurch, Ellesmere, Chirk and Llangollen 74km/46 miles
- Montgomery Canal Frankton Junction near Ellesmere to Newtown via Llanymynech and Welshpool 56km/35 miles, currently under restoration
A mainly flat, easy walk. For information about sections with wheelchair access, contact British Waterways (below).
Stations at Chirk, Ellesmere Port, Chester, Whitchurch, Wrenbury, Nantwich, Winsford, Wolverhampton. Buses at many other points including Llangollen. Two independent railways connect with the canal in Wales: the Llangollen Railway at Llangollen and the Welshpool & Llanfair Railway at Welshpool.
- Explorer 215216,240, 241, 241, 243, 255, 256, 257, 266, 267, 268
- Shropshire Union Canal, ISBN 0863511597. GEOprojects £4.95.
1:60 000 scale with additional information. - Llangollen and Montgomery Canals, ISBN 0863510337. GEOprojects £4.95.
Connecting routes
Contacts
Regions
Local authorities
