Narrowboats, UNITED KINGDOM
Airing Date: Sep 5th, 2005
The Llangollen canals were built about two centuries ago and are spread throughout North Wales. Starting just above Llangollen near the Dee River they cut through hilly Welsh countryside, crossing the English border near Chirk, then through the 'Shropshire Lake District' around Ellesmere. They then descend through the deserted Shropshire farmlands and on to join the Shropshire Union Canal just north of Nantwich in rural Cheshire.The aqueducts allow some of the best views of the trip, especially the 120ft high one in Chirk. They were built by the engineers Thomas Telford and William Jessup and were among the first to use cast iron troughs to contain the canal. At Chirk the trough is supported by conventional masonry arches but at Pontcysyllte the trough is exposed and sits atop 120 foot high slender masonry towers. When you cross it by boat there is an exhilarating sheer drop on the non-towpath side!
Travelling by narrowboat is the perfect way to explore the region. The waterways are so extensive you can explore as much or as little as you like depending on your time frame. You can stop off just about anywhere you like to explore gardens, villages, castles as well as museums, and there are plenty of other places of interest for you to stop off and visit on your journey through the winding miles of waterways. Restaurants and hotels also line the canals so you can stop off and have a meal.
You don't need a licence to operate one of the vessels; however the operators will give you a 'crash course' before you set sail.
The Hayley is a 70ft long boat. She sleeps ten and is fully heated with small kitchen bathrooms, TV, radio and cd player. Hayley and boats like her are available for hire from Chirk marina from $2,280 per week.
But if you think you'd like to invest in a narrowboat then companies in Britain can help you meet up with other would be buyers, and can organise a boat share. This way you share the cost of the boat and its maintenance, then choose the weeks of the year you'd like to use it.
Sharing a boat with about 12 other people will set you back about $AUD8,230 plus about $AUD1,200 per year in maintenance.
Further information:
Thai International UK Europe Dollar Deals to London From;
$2223 ex west coast
$2315 ex east coast
Includes taxes, conditions apply. Includes $200 spending money & a domestic side trip in Thailand
www.thaiairways.com.au
Boat share rrom $8230 a year. Maintenance from $1200 a year. Boat hire from $2280 a week low season and $3630 a week high season.
website: www.visitwales.com.au
website: chirkmarina.co.uk
Prices correct at 5/9/05
