Black Prince - Chirk Base

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The Llangollen Canal unarguable has a lot to offer both first time and regular holidaymakers. It meanders gracefully through the beautiful countryside where the world famous "stream in the sky" - the Pontcysyllte Aqueduct spans the Dee Valley, such a feat of engineering is sure to snatch your breath away!

Perhaps you would like to visit the walled City of Chester. Another first that Black Prince Holidays are proud to announce is the opportunity to cruise the Montgomery Canal from the national canal network, very recently reopened to boats for the first time in over fifty years, a one and a half mile length of canal has now been restored, and has been officially opened, giving you the chance to be one of the first to cruise this once dormant sleepy waterway.

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Click here for Chirk Base information (pdf file 490 Kb)
Click here for Chirk Routes information 1 (pdf file 681 Kb)
Click here for Chirk Routes information 2 (pdf file 669 Kb)

Suggested Routes From Chirk

1. LLANGOLLEN AND WHITCHURCH
60 Miles, 4 Locks, 1 Week Cruise, 4 hours per day (GREEN ROUTE)
A very pleasant and easy route. Traveling first to Llangollen you cross the famous Pontcysyllte Aqueduct 120 feet above the River Dee. After this the canal perches on the side of the lovely Dee Valley up to Llangollen itself. Retracing your steps you encounter the more robust Chirk Aqueduct and through to the lovely small town of Ellesmere after encountering the only two locks on your trip. After Ellesmere you travel through the Shropshire Lake District with its meres to the market town of Whitchurch.

2. LLANGOLLEN CANAL
88 Miles, 42 Locks, 1 Week Cruise, 6 hours per day (RED ROUTE)
About 40 hours. A trip along the full length of this lovely canal. Traveling towards Hurleston you cross the Chirk Aqueduct and down the first two locks. After passing Ellesmere and its lakes, you come to the less hilly Whixall Moss to Whitchurch. After this, undulating countryside sprinkled with locks takes you down to Hurleston with its reservoir, which provides water for Chester. Retracing your steps cross the Pontcysyllte Aqueduct, and up the Dee Valley to Llangollen. A delightful week.

3. CHESTER AND RETURN
112 Miles, 70 Locks, 1 Week Cruise, 9 hours per day (BLUE ROUTE)
A more challenging route, you should not be disappointed if you do not reach Chester. Traveling down the canal you go through the towns of Ellesmere and Whitchurch to Grindley Brook with its three locks in a staircase. From here the locks become more frequent taking you down through lovely country to the Shropshire Union at Hurleston. The rural atmosphere continues through to Chester. You should remember that the Llangollen flows so it will take longer to return, and a visit to Llangollen itself is also well worthwhile.

4. FOUR COUNTIES RING
187 Miles, 136 Locks, 2 Week Cruise, 7 hours per day (YELLOW ROUTE)
For the more experienced crew. Travel down the Llangollen to Hurleston where you join the Shropshire Union and travel southwards through small towns and villages to join the Staffordshire and Worcestershire. This is a more meandering canal still traveling through pretty countryside up to Great Haywood. Here you join the Trent and Mersey and travel towards the more built up area of Stoke. Continuing up to Middlewich through a series of locks, you take the Middlewich Arm to Barbridge, and back via Llangollen.

  Chirk Base Information

Hotels / Guest Houses

Moreton Park Lodge, Gledrid Chirk, Wrexham, LL14 5DG. Telephone: 01691 776666 Fax: 01691 776655 www.moretonpark.com Price Guide: Double/Single room £59.00 , Breakfast £5

The Wild Pheasant Hotel, Berwyn Road, Llangollen. LL20 8AD. Telephone: 0844 411 9030 www.legacy-hotels.co.uk Price Guide: Double room £100.00  /  Single room £70.00 inc breakfast   Wynstay Arms Hotel, High Street, Ruabon, Wrexham. Clwyd, LL14 6BL. Telephone: 01978 822187 Fax: 01978 820093 Price Guide: Double room £55.00  /  Single room £37.50 Prices include breakfast

Public Transport

Nearest Railway Station: Chirk (connections from either Chester or Shrewsbury) www.nationalrail.co.uk - Tel: 08457 484950 www.thetrainline.com - Tel: 0871 244 1545 Nearest Airport: Manchester International Tel. 0161 489 3000 www.manchesterairport.co.uk

Taxi / Minicabs

Swan Taxis - Tel: 01691 773535 A1 Taxis - Tel: 01691 770043 / 01691 770117 Premier Cars - Tel: 01691 777755 Example Prices: A taxi for 4 people from Manchester International Airport to the base at Chirk would be approx. £65.00 (Prices courtesy of Swan Taxis Subject to change)

Car Hire

Hertz Car Hire have depots throughout the UK (including main airports) We have an exclusive agreement with Hertz who will provide reduced rates for all Black Prince customers. Drop-offs, collections and oneways are all available, allowing you to pick up a car at your arrival point and request a car to be waiting at the end of your holiday for onward travel. To book your car visit www.hertz.co.uk or call 0870 844 4844 and quote CDP 694816.

Rail

www.nationalrail.co.uk    /   www.qjump.co.uk National Rail Enquiries: Telephone : 08457 484950

Flying into London

From Heathrow the underground tube train goes through to London Euston station. From Gatwick the train (Gatwick Express) goes through to London Victoria station and then change to the tube train to London Euston. From London Euston station there is a train through to Shrewsbury. Then change for Chirk. Visit www.tfl.gov.uk to plan your route on the London Underground. Manchester railway station is adjacent to Manchester Airport. From here there is a train to either Piccadilly or Wilmslow station where you can change for a direct line through to Shrewsbury. At Shrewsbury you change for Chirk. Other routes are possible. Please check with British Rail before travelling.

How To Find Us (By Road)

From the South: M6: Exit at Junction 10A and take the M54 towards Telford. Join the A5 for Llangollen and continue until you reach the South side of Chirk. Stay on the A5 for 400 yards, until you have passed three roundabouts. You will then see a left turning with a brown tourist sign to ‘Marina and Golf Course’. The Marina entrance is 500 yards on the left. From the North: Pick up the A483 towards Chirk until you get to the signposts for the A5 Llangollen. At the roundabout turn right towards Llangollen and after a short distance you will see a turning to the left with a brown tourist sign to Marina and Golf Course. The Marina entrance is 500 yards on the left. There are a number of shops in Chirk including a Co-op supermarket

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