Holidays A holiday that floats your boat A B E R FA L L S
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Life in the slow lane on the Llangollen canal
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re you considering how to spend your summer break? Then this is the perfect time to look at the various options available at Blackwater Meadow Marina in Ellesmere. Not only does it operate a fleet of canal boats you can hire for a day or longer, there is also a holiday cottage to let – perfect if you like being by, but not necessarily on, the water. The three-bedroom apartment in the beautiful Shropshire countryside has direct access to the Llangollen canal towpath. It’s also within walking distance of four tranquil meres and a number of other attractions. The property consists of a lounge/ diner, a fully equipped kitchen, three double bedrooms that can have either a double bed or two singles, a bathroom with bath and shower, and a second WC. There is central heating in all rooms, plus a TV/DVD player and a music centre in the lounge. Outside,
you also have access to a private patio with barbecue and seating. Anyone renting an apartment also receives a discount on boat hire. It doesn’t matter if you’ve never been on a boat before – all the holidays are designed for repeat visitors and complete newcomers alike. Boats are available for collection from 2.30pm on your first day and full tuition is given before you head off. There is comprehensive cruising information on the boat, and details are sent out with the holiday documents to introduce you to how locks work and the ‘rules of the road’, as well the number of a 24-hour emergency helpline. There’s no itinerary on a canal Blackwater Meadow holiday – you can set your own agenda and go at your own pace. In a week on the canal you’re likely to cover the distance you could cover in an hour by car – but the journey is far richer! www.blackwatermeadow.com
he tumbling torrents of Aber Falls are a must-see for anyone who is on holiday in Gwynedd. Located two miles south of the village of Abergwyngregyn, the waterfall formed where the Afon Goch plunges 37 metres over a sill of igneous rock in the foothills of the Carneddau range. Two tributaries merge to create the dramatic surge, and the enlarged stream is known as Aber Falls or Rhaeadr Fawr. Visitors using the main footpath towards the falls may be able to spot several small Bronze Age settlements on the way. There’s also recording equipment located there to survey the weather. Parking is available at Bont Newydd, from where the Falls are accessible on foot; toilets and picnic benches are available there too. It is possible to bathe in the plunge pool of the falls, but the water is cold even at the height of summer and the rocks can be slippery, so it’s not for the faint-hearted!
Book now to guarantee a relaxing summer
Expert tuition is given before you set off
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pend a relaxed week or two watching the world drift by on board a Cheshire Cat Narrowboat this summer. This small family-run firm, which is based at the award-winning Overwater Marina, Audlem, on the Shropshire Union Canal, deals with a flurry of enquiries
and bookings at the beginning of Your floating holiday home comes equipped with everything to ensure your the year – so act now to snap up the right craft at a price that suits you! comfort. All boats, ranging from two The team at Cheshire Cat Narrowboats to eight berths, have central heating, aim to ensure you have a truly enjoyable flushing toilets and hot and cold running and memorable holiday experience water. Each fully-equipped galley has from the moment you arrive. a hob, grill, oven and fridge, ‘The experts as well as ample crockery, Expert tuition is provided can tell you to set you on your way with cutlery and kitchenware. All all about confidence, including a bedding is provided, and the amazing practical demonstration of everyone from beginners to scenery and expert sailors is welcome. working through locks. The cosy pubs With offers available for experts can also suggest a along the way’ choice of suitable routes if both weekend and day boat you’re looking for inspiration, and tell hire, as well as longer holidays, there you all about the amazing scenery, is always a special offer to be found early in the year at Cheshire Cat cosy pubs and historic architecture Narrowboats. Perhaps it’s time you you’re likely to see along the way. Throughout your holiday, free friendly set sail on the holiday of a lifetime. advice is always just a phone call away. www.cheshirecatnarrowboats.co.uk January/February 2019 | SHIRE MAGAZINE 61
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