EEP into the Welsh valley, the word rush is erased from the dictionary. Well, in a sense it has to be because travelling on a narrow-boat is hardly the fastest way to get around. And to be honest, if you rushed you would simply ruin the moment. Gliding along the wonderfully crafted waterways of the Llangollen canal, high up in the hills of the Dee Valley, you appear to be in a different world. With the sun glistening on the water and the endless flourishing green hills, this is the place to forget about the hectic life of back home.
Even the ducks are lazy, floating along in the flow of the water building up from the rudders which drive the 70ft boat. They are happy just to be dragged along with you.
While one of you steers, (the boat sleeps up to eight people) the rest of you can do as you like and it mainly consisted of sunbathing on the top of the boat. Well, building up a tan would have been easy but with the canal being narrow and with a few bends to negotiate, not all the crew (family members) managed to steer the ship without the odd bang which left me clinging to the rail to avoid an early bath cooling off in the canal. It all adds to the fun but soon even the most novice captain can become accustomed to hand- ling this mammoth narrowboat. And as I found out when at the helm of the Elgar, it doesn't take long to become so confident that you can give a reassuring wave to other more exper- ienced boaters as they pass by on the canal. Away from the waters, and with the boat berthed for the evening, there are many places to visit. Towns, villages or simply a canalside pub complete with beer garden. It's all there. Llangollen provided me with a taste of the local beer and we all ensconced ourselves down at the wonderful Corn Mill public house, complete with decking overlooking the River Dee. With the rapids building below from the Horseshoe Falls, the Victorian train station across the water and hills in the backdrop, it was the perfect place to enjoy a pint in the sun. If you stop in this Welsh town, this public house is a must for a drink or two. Those living and working in the town are friendly and there are a few quaint little pubs and pleasant cafes to eat in. Back to the boat and we made the most of the weather with a barbecue before refueling with water for the following day's visit to Chirk, a just few miles away.. yet a few hours by narrowboat. There you find the fabulous Chirk Castle, dating back more than 700 years, and a golf course for those who fancy taking clubs. There are plenty of restaurants and pubs for those looking to stay for the night. | But before you get there the journey takes you over the famous Pontcysyllte Aqueduct, providing the thrill of travelling in a boat 126 feet above the River Dee. Taking the boat over the giant arches looks a challenge from a distance, but barriers mean there is no way of missing the waterway from where there are some wonderful views of the valley below. As well the picturesque Welsh countryside, a holiday aboard a narrowboat is a fabulous exper- ience. The craft is modern, with three bedrooms, kitchen, television and stereo and two bathrooms but the narrow corridor led to: "Breathe in while I get past" becoming the most commonly used phrase of our short break. It's fun, if a little cramped, especially showering in the small cubicle and not to mention flushing the toilet and to do that you need water. "Shall we fill up the water tank again?" I was asked twice but being the Captain, I reassured my crew members that I had done this kind of thing before and we would not run out of water in just a couple of days. "No need, it holds 100 gallons of water," I replied. How wrong could I be. After a few drinks in the local riverside pub, we returned to the boat shortly before dusk to enjoy the creature comforts of our floating home and the supplies we had bought from the local off-licence. But a funny sound when the toilet was flushed soon revealed that we had no water... and suddenly I was showered with looks of "I told you so". Sheepishly I sat out at the front as my friends steered on the mad rush back to base to fill up with water and dock before darkness fell upon us. We got there, but only just, And it didn't end there. As we tied up the boat, stressed members of our party unhappy at the water situation slipped and fell in to the shallow waters. Laugh? I had to. In the end we all did. The joys of travelling on the canals.
As I said, we came back relaxed, recharged and ready to go back to normality with a few funny tales to tell. It's a cracking experience, and definitely makes you want to try it again. Relax by day, eat and drink well by night. As for tackling the locks, we got there... eventually. It's a learning curve, to put it mildly. Laughter and relaxation, is what you will get out of it. If that's what you are looking for in a break, either for a few days or a fortnight, a narrowboat trip is the holiday for you. |
