Llangollen Canal
Llangollen Canal boat hire, direct from owners
Cross the Pontcysyllte Aqueduct in a boat you booked from its owner. The Llangollen is the most spectacular canal in Britain and the busiest for a reason.
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Where to cruise on the Llangollen
Pontcysyllte Aqueduct
126 feet up, one boat wide, with a drop straight off the gunwale on one side. A UNESCO World Heritage Site and the trip everyone remembers.
Chirk Tunnel and Aqueduct
Aqueduct straight into tunnel, with a towpath handrail the whole way. Slow, dark and brilliant.
Ellesmere and the meres
Gentle lock-free cruising past glacial lakes, with a handy town arm for shopping and water.
Llangollen Basin
The final narrow, fast-flowing stretch into town. Moorings need booking in season and are worth the effort.
The Llangollen Canal is managed by the Canal & River Trust.
Llangollen hire, the practical bits
Do I need a licence to hire a boat?
No. The owner holds the boat's licence and the hire endorsement that lets it be hired out. You just turn up and cruise.
Do I need experience?
No. Every owner runs a hands-on handover before you set off, covering steering, mooring, locks and the safety kit on board.
How is BoatStays different from a hire fleet?
You book the owner's own boat and deal with them directly. They know the water, the moorings and the good pubs, and you get their number for the whole trip.
Is the aqueduct safe with children on board?
Yes, boats cross in a cast-iron trough at walking pace. Keep everyone inside or seated, and let one confident person steer.
The Llangollen has a noticeable current against you heading upstream. Add extra time on the way in.