With the opportunity to cruise through the Pontcysyllte Aqueduct World Heritage site on the Llangollen Canal, and the Bannau Brycheiniog (Brecon Beacons) National Park on the Monmouthshire & Brecon Canal, the waterways of Wales offer some of the most dramatic scenery to enjoy on a canal boat holiday.

Drifters (www.drifters.co.uk) offers the choice of 550 boats from 45 bases in England, Scotland and Wales.  All Drifters operators provide hirers with boat steering tuition and canal boat holidays are pet friendly. 

To celebrate the wonderful inland waterways of Wales, Drifters has published a guide to the Top 3 Welsh canal boat holiday destinations:

1. Glide through the Bannau Brycheiniog (Brecon Beacons) National Park to Brecon

Isolated from the main canal network, the beautiful Monmouth & Brecon Canal runs through the Bannau Brycheiniog (Brecon Beacons) National Park.  The canal offers narrowboat holiday-makers incredible mountain views and a series of historic villages and canalside pubs to visit along the way.  On a week's holiday from Drifters' base at Goytre Wharf, near Abergavenny, boaters can cruise to the historic market town of Brecon and back.  The route to Brecon and back travels 51 miles, through 12 locks (six each way) and takes around 25 hours.  Along the way, the passes through Govilon, Llangattock, Talybont-on-Usk and Pencelli.  ***The 56ft 'Red Sea Swallow' for up to four people is currently available for a week 9-16 August 2024 for £2,295, saving £404. Price includes a non-refundable damage waiver, bed linen, towels, car parking, two pets, buoyancy aids and tuition.  A fuel deposit of £60 for a short break is payable with the balance of hire. Fuel costs are approx. £15 per day.

2. Float across 'The Stream in the Sky' in North Wales

From Drifters' base at Chirk on the Llangollen Canal, the Eisteddfod town of Llangollen on the edge of the Berwyn Mountains can be reached on a short break, travelling across the World Heritage Pontcysyllte Aqueduct along the way.  Standing at 38 metres high above the Dee Valley, this incredible 300-metre long structure consists of a cast iron trough supported by 18 enormous pillars.  On reaching Llangollen, boaters can enjoy visiting the town's independent shops, pubs and restaurants, as well as its Steam Railway and Horseshoe Falls.  ***The 52ft 'Princess' narrowboat for up to six people is currently available for a midweek break from Chirk 26-30 August 2024 for £1,275, saving £224. The 32ft 'Lautrec' narrowboat for up to four people is available 29 May to 1 June for £1,360, saving £239. Price includes boat hire, gas, car parking, tuition on arrival, damage waiver, buoyancy aids, bed linen and towels.  Fuel is charged on return, circa £10-15 per day. 

3. Travel through the Shropshire Lake District and into Wales

On a week's holiday from Drifters' base at Whixall on the Prees Branch of the Llangollen Canal in Shropshire, boaters can head west through the Shropshire Lake District and into Wales. The journey begins passing Cadney Moss, Lyneal Moss, Colemere Country Park and Ellesmere.  Soon after, the World Heritage Status section of the Llangollen Canal starts at Gledrid and runs for 11 miles to the Horseshoe Falls in Llangollen.  The series of “outstanding industrial and engineering heritage structures” that make up the World Heritage site include the Chirk Aqueduct, which takes boaters over the border into Wales. And the awe-inspiring Pontcysyllte Aqueduct, carrying boaters 38 metres high above the Dee Valley. The journey from Whixall to Llangollen and back takes around 24 hours, travels 52 miles and there are just two locks to pass through each way.  ***The 65ft 'Aquila' narrowboat for up to four people is currently available for a week's break from Whixall 16-23 August 2024 for £2,185. Price includes boat hire, gas, car parking, tuition on arrival, buoyancy aids, bed linen towels and first pet.  There's a compulsory non-refundable £50 damage waiver and diesel is extra – a £70 deposit is taken for short breaks (three or four nights), £110 for a week.  Charge based on use, circa £15 per day. 

For more information about Drifters boating holidays call 0344 984 0322 or visit www.drifters.co.uk

For more information about visiting the canals go to www.canalrivertrust.org.uk

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For Drifters press enquiries contact Debbie Walker on 01628 618069 mb 077486 40577 walker.debbie@sky.com

Notes to editors

Drifters Waterway Holidays is made up of nine hire boat companies: ABC Boat Hire, Anglo Welsh, Black Prince, Countrywide Cruisers, Foxhangers, Kate Boats, Napton Narrowboats, Shire Cruisers and Union Canal Carriers.  Between them they offer over 550 boats for hire, operating from 45 bases across England, Scotland and Wales.  2024 hire prices start at £590 for a short break, £815 for a week on a boat for up to four people.  Narrowboats range from 32ft to 70ft and can accommodate up to 12 people.  All Drifters operators provide hirers with life jackets and boat steering tuition.  Drifters holidays are pet-friendly.