Moorings on the Montgomery Canal

The Montgomery Canal stretches 56 kilometres through the Welsh Marches from Frankton Junction (where it leaves the Llangollen Canal in Shropshire) southward through Welshpool to Newtown in Powys. Largely abandoned in 1936 after a major breach, the Montgomery is undergoing one of the longest-running restoration projects on the UK network — significant sections from Frankton to Maesbury and from Welshpool southward have been reopened, but the canal is not yet through-navigable in full. For boat owners, this gives the Mon Canal a distinctive character: quieter than fully open waterways, with cruising restricted to the open sections, but with a remarkable sense of space, peace and nature. Designated as a Site of Special Scientific Interest, the canal is internationally important for its floating water plantain, dragonflies and aquatic life. Long-stay moorings are available at Maesbury Marsh, Welshpool Wharf, Berriew and Garthmyl. The canal passes through some of the most beautiful unspoiled countryside in mid-Wales — the Severn Valley, the Berwyn Mountains, and the rolling hills around Welshpool. Restoration work continues steadily, with several lock and bridge projects completed each year. For boat owners willing to accept the limitations of a partially restored waterway, the Mon offers a uniquely peaceful and ecologically rich cruising experience. Rail at Welshpool gives onward connectivity.