Llangollen Enterprise
Anturieth Llangollen
Parade Street
Llangollen
Denbighshire
North Wales
LL20 8PW
United Kingdom
Llangollen Enterprise Office
telephone: +44 (0)1978 861345
fax: +44 (0)1978 861345
e-mail: le@llangollen.org.uk
Tourist Information Office
telephone: +44 (0)1978 860828
fax: +44 (0)1978 861563
e-mail: llangollen@nwtic.com
Llangollen Wharf
It's a little difficult to imagine any link between the Titanic and one of Wales' oldest visitor attractions but, none the less, there is one!
The Llangollen Horse Drawn Boats have been gently winding their way along the Llangollen Canal since 1884, when Captain Jones, a retired officer of the White Star Line, who launched the unsinkable Titanic on the world a few short years later, headed over to the town to end his days in what he expected to be peace and quiet - but how wrong he was!
Within a short few months of taking daily walks along the canal and having seen the thousands of visitors flocking into Llangollen via the nearly established railway, he had an idea.
A quick trip back to the docks in Liverpool yielded two former lifeboats, that needed nothing more than a lick of paint. A couple of shire horses later, all based at the then disused Llangollen Wharf, saw the start of the canal boat trips that have entertained thousands of visitors over the past 124 years.
But Captain Jones inadvertently did something far more important than just simply provide some very relaxing leisure time, he preserved a part of British industrial history that allows visitors to wonder at the skill of this country's early canal engineers, such as Thomas Telford.
The Wharf itself would have been a real hive of activity 200 years ago with the loading of local limestone and slate for transport to all parts of the world, as well as the delivery of vital goods for the population of Llangollen. The crane still in place on the canal side is a testament to those halcyon days of canal transportation.
Thankfully there are very few icebergs on our canal system and today's modern, covered flat-bottomed boats have replaced the old lifeboats, with the Wharf now an excellent tea-room and gift shop, as well as stables for the horses.
Thomas Telford is also remembered in the name of the attractions' motorised canal boat, taking 2 hour trips to and over Telford's famous 126 ft high Pontcysllte Aqueduct - absolutely stunning!!
A visit to the Dee Valley isn't complete without experiencing the wonders of the Llangollen Canal and who knows, you could be experiencing a World Heritage site soon..
Opening Times
The horse drawn boats operate daily from 11:00 am from Easter to October. Times may vary.
Price
Horse drawn Boats
45 minute trip - Adult £5.00, Child £2.50
(Family ticket 2 adult 2 child £12.50
2 Hours (Parties of 30 or more only) Adult £8.00, Child £6.50
For Aqueduct Trips and any other further information visit www.horsedrawnboats.co.uk
Please Click Here For A Map
Website: www.horsedrawnboats.co.uk
Telephone:01978 860702
Email: bill@horsedrawnboats.co.uk
