An early autumn cruise, on the other hand, can be very rewarding. At Llangollen the canal is fed by the River Dee (the whole length of the present Llangollen is used as a water transportation system delivering drinking water from the Welsh Dee to reservoirs at its Hurleston junction with the Shroppie - water for Crewe). From the attractive Welsh village of Llangollen, the canal winds it’s way along the side of the hills overlooking the Vale of Llangollen. This stretch was originally just built as a feeder so the channel is narrow - and the water ‘gin clear’.

Arriving at Trevor the canal channel widens, except for where it crosses the Pontcysyllte aqueduct carrying the canal 127ft above the River Dee below. The water channel is carried in an iron trough for over 1000ft. The edge of the trough on the non-towpath side is only a couple of inches wide - with no wall or fence - remarkable and to many - terrifying.

A short distance further east and we pass through Whitehouse and Chirk tunnels before crossing another aqueduct at Chirk. Were it not for our memory of the height of the Pontcysyllte, the Chirk aqueduct would seem outstanding - I think it’s more attractive, if not quite as high.

The Montgomery canal heads off southwards (albeit for only about 7 miles) from Frankton Junction. But its well worth a trip down there just for its attractive rural remoteness (see the photos). Fine restoration efforts here have been hampered and delayed by a silly concern that boats might disrupt rare pond weed. We love wildlife - but the rare weed wouldn’t have been there anyway had the restorationists not provided it with water by restoring the canal - to float boats on. The ‘tree huggers’ seem to continue not to be able to see the wood for the trees - pardon the pun.  Canals restored and used by boats (to keep the channels open) create corridors of environment suitable for wildlife in general, not the reverse - so when will these idiots see sense?

These posts are a speed gauge - pass them in so many seconds tells you your speed - there to prevent speeding past delicate banksides	We find the first part of the Monty a bit straight and featureless, but south of Queens Head, it's charming - lift bridges just part of the interest.	Haven't seen this anywhere else. When the bridge is up, the warning to road traffic is on the underside of the bridge - very sensible actually.	Here we have the end of the line.  Funding and the engineering progress seemingly held up by short sighted 'tree huggers' - I'm not known for being politically correct.

Then, passing Ellesmere (not to be confused with Ellesmere Port), we enter the ‘Shropshire Lake District’ featuring, in particular, Blakemere and Colemere. Very attractive section of canal - and pleasantly attractive market town.

1958, when Nick first experienced the Llangollen Canal near Frankton Junction (aged 6yrs - Mum & Dad were there too)	Willow in the middle distance, waits for guests at the Wharf at Ellesmere.	Just that towpath between the canal and Blakemere - a gorgeous location	And that's a shot from the towpath, out over Blakemere (photographed in winter - partially hidden by tree cover in summer).
Just a about a mile downstream of Blakemere we look out over the other side of the canal, this time at Colemere.	The relative peace of autumn and spring on the Llangollen (mid summer is too busy)	Towpath near Little Mill at Colemere.	Evening winter cruising at Whixall - guests snug in our observation bow cabin.

After the meres the canal plunges into some very sparsely populated heath land areas en-route to Whitchurch, and the Grindley Brook staircase locks. Lift bridges, now mainly hydraulically operated, are a feature of this stretch. The interesting Grindley Brook 'staircase' locks, in particular, provide some serious queues during the main summer season. Grindley Brook is also where our engineering activities were based. East of Grindley Brook the Llangollen passes thru mainly dairy land areas, dropping down onto the Cheshire Plain. Wrenbury village with it’s electrically operated lift bridge is pleasant. Soon the huge Hurleston Reservoir appears on the north side of the canal as we drop down the very narrow Hurleston flight of locks onto the ‘Shroppie’.