The Adventure Begins ...

Our boats are moored on at the top of Grindley Brook Locks

Some suggested routes from short to long for the beginner to the bold!

An overview of the sites, views and amenities you can visit along the way.

 Everything you need to know to get ready for your adventure!

The Routes​

The stunning Llangollen

• 64 miles
• 4 locks (the same 2 both ways!)​
• 4-7 nights
• Ideal for First-Timers

A return trip to the town of Llangollen is one of the most popular trips. You will travel over 64 miles round trip and take in three tunnels and two aqueducts, including the famous Ponycysyllte. This is the route that ALL our 'newbies' take as it is the perfect intro to cruising the Cut!

The Four Counties Ring

• 135 miles
• 132 Locks!
• 14 nights​
• Experienced Captains Only​

This circular route takes in four counties, Cheshire, Staffordshire, Shropshire and the West Midlands. You will travel 135 miles and take in 132 locks, including the Audlem Flight!  This adventure is for those with previous experience.
More Details (external site)

The Cheshire Ring

• 144 miles
• 138 Locks!
• 14 nights​
• Experienced Captains Only

Includes the Trent And Mersey, the Macclesfield Canal, the Peak Forest Canal, the Ashton Canal, the Rochdale Canal and the Bridgewater Canal and of course the Llangollen as you need to pick up the ring at the Trent and Mersey Canal. You will travel 144 miles and take in 138 locks. This again is a two week adventure and is for those with previous experience.
More details (external site)

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Unlike some canal boat hire companies, we don't have set holiday lengths or start and end days. We are very flexible and it is up to you to decide what day works best for you and for how long you want to book. We just ask that you book for a minimum of three nights.

Above are just some of the suggested routes but of course there are numerous other places to explore. If this is your first time, then we insist that you stay in the Llangollen canal, travelling from Grindley Brook Wharf towards the town of Llangollen. It can be stressful on your first trip, especially the first day as you get to grips with handling a narrowboat and navigating the canal safely. This is why we only allow travel towards Llangollen for newbies as you'll have two days to settle in before encountering your first lock.

Please bear in mind that a canal boat holiday should be one of relaxation and fun, so don't put too much pressure on yourselves, it's not a race - it's about kicking back and chilling out.

Places to Visit

Chirk Aqueduct

The Swan at Marbury

Horse Shoe Falls Llangollen

Made for Adventurers

The Swan in Marbury is a fantastic place to visit for an evening meal, being a personal favorite. However there are numerous pubs along all the available routes - far too many for us to list but we have found this great site full of every pub on every canal!
​Pub Guide

The Meres Ellesmere

Be Prepared

If this is your first time on a canal boat, then we strongly recommend that you visit our New to Canals? page.

Getting There

Search for Drifting Wood Canal Breaks in your favourite map tool (use the link to the left if you like), or enter the postcode in your sat nav.  Once you arrive at Grindley Brook, make sure you are on the Whitchurch (southeast) side of the canal bridge. Then take the small  side road on your right (as you drive towards Whitchurch) sign-posted "Grindley Brook Wharf".  Drive all the way to the end and we'll meet you there!  You can leave your car there during your trip at no additional cost.

For those who use what3words 
https://w3w.co/magical.unwound.installs
​I have to be honest, couldn't be a more fitting 3 words for us!

On the Day!

We usually suggest you aim to be at Grindley Brook Wharf at 09:30 however we are aware that for some this may be a bit of a push so we are more than happy to work around what works best for you.

Laura or Dana will meet you at the mooring and show round your boat. Once your belongings are on, we'll take you on a short cruise under our expert guidance to show you the ropes. This is something that we do for all customers, new or experienced, as every boat is different and we want to ensure you are happy handling one of our boats. For those who have no previous experience this is hands-on training to help you make the most of your adventure and keep you safe.

You will also be given a copy of the onboard inventory for your boat, this will have been checked and signed before you board and what we will use on your return to check if anything has been lost/damaged. Once this has been verified we will then return your damage deposit via our Wise holding account.

Acorn's Galley ready for the off!

What Should We Bring?

All you need is yourselves, your clothing, pyjamas and toothbrush and a sense of adventure!  

Everything you will require is already on board, including all bedding, two towels per passenger, and plenty of toilet roll! And if your canine friend is joining you then they too will have their own towel.

In the a kitchen (galley!), you'll find tea, coffee, sugar, condiments, cooking oil, cutlery, cups, glasses, crockery, napkins, and even tea lights for those peaceful bank side evenings! 

The boats also have TV and DVD player, radio, torch, books, maps and many other homely touches.

Finally, to get you started, we put a substantial 'Welcome Pack' on board which will easily see you through a full day, at least!  After that, if you are heading towards Llangollen,  you can moor up right outside Tesco's in Ellesmere to stock up.

The Welcome Pack does deserve it's own recognition! This usual consists of - Fresh Fruit, Fresh Local Bread, Cheeses, Ham, Fresh Eggs, Butter, Water and a Bottle of Wine. If your four legged friend is joining you, then we'll leave a little something for them too!

​If you or any of your party are veggie or vegan just give us let us know and we'll make sure it's perfect for everyone, or if there's a special event happening, we love the excuse to make little additions!
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