About this Event
P LEASE NOTE THAT THE DURATION OF THIS EVENT SHOWN ABOVE IS ONLY APPROXIMATE AND CANNOT BE GUARANTEED; IT WILL DEPEND ON FACTORS SUCH AS THE WEATHER AND THE WALKING PACE OF THE GROUP.
Our Sunday rambles usually have three levels of walk, strenuous (A), moderate (B) or leisurely (C), led by Birmingham Ramblers group leaders. Join us and enjoy a great day of social walking with our friendly members.
Please note: Our walks are often on rough tracks and rights of way through fields, woodland and hills. Walkers should preferably wear walking boots and other clothing suitable for the weather. Unless otherwise described, please bring a packed lunch and refreshments for the day.
This Sunday walk has 3 levels of walk:
- A Walk: Details of distance and ascent will be added when available
- B Walk: Details of distance and ascent will be added when available
- C Walk: The total distance is approximately 7 miles along well-surfaced pavements and canal towpaths. There is minimal ascent or descent.
Walk leaders:
- A Walk: Colin Haysom
- B Walk: Walk Leader name will be added when available
- C Walk: Paul Hatton
Walk details:
- A Walk: Walk details will be added when available
- B Walk: Walk details will be added when available
- C Walk: This is a leisurely walk over the Pontcysyllte Aqueduct then about 4 miles along the Llangollen branch of the Shropshire Union Canal to Llangollen Wharf where we will have ample time to explore the many attractions of this historic town.
The coach will either drop us at the coach park near Trevor Basin or at a convenient stopping place. It is a few minutes’ walk to Trevor Basin which sits on the Northern end of the Pontcysyllte Aqueduct with the Pontcysyllte Aqueduct Visitor Centre, a pub, tearoom and shop where we can take our morning coffee.
The Pontcysyllte Aqueduct is one of the most astonishing feats of engineering from the Industrial Revolution, and the jewel in the crown of the Pontcysyllte Aqueduct and Canal World Heritage Site. Pontcysyllte, meaning ‘the bridge that connects’, carries the canal majestically over the raging River Dee below. Designed by Thomas Telford and Williams Jessop and constructed by John Simpson (stonework) and William Hazledine (ironwork), the 307-metre-long Grade 1 listed aqueduct was completed in 1805 and is a result of some bold civil engineering solutions. A cast iron trough suspended 126 feet above the river is supported on arched ribs, carried on 18 hollowed masonry pillars.
We’ll then take a short road walk (with a pavement) to a bridge over the River Dee which gives an impressive view of the aqueduct. We then retrace our steps to the basin to walk over the aqueduct. After crossing the aqueduct, we retrace our steps to the Trevor Basin, again crossing the aqueduct, where a visit to the Aqueduct Museum gives the history of the aqueduct, best appreciated after our walk over it. We could drop into the coffee shop (or pub) again if we so wish.
We then leave the basin along the Llangollen Canal; an easy 4 mile walk into Llangollen Wharf. We come across The Sun Trevor real ale pub after a couple of miles when the canal runs alongside the road into Llangollen where we could stop for further refreshment and maybe a bite to eat if they can accomodate us.
We’ll then continue along the canal to Llangollen Wharf. There are many options to enjoy the rest of the time until we meet the coach, amongst which are:
- a scenic walk from the wharf to the historic Chain Bridge and Horseshoe Falls following the tranquil, flat Llangollen Canal towpath for about 2 miles. The Chain Bridge was built in 1817 by local entrepreneur Exuperiur Pickering to transport coal and limestone to the A5 and the upper Dee valley providing a strong link between the Llangollen railway and the canal; it is a perfect way to cross the River Dee. The route passes the Chain Bridge Hotel which has an outside, often busy, terrace overlooking the bridge and the steam railway. The Horseshoe Falls were built by Thomas Telford c. 1808 to feed water into the Llangollen Canal from the River Dee.
- horse-drawn canal trips from the wharf towards the Horseshoe Falls.
- The Llangollen Steam Railway, the only standard gauge railway in North Wales. Whilst time might not permit a trip on the railway, there is always plenty to see at the station including, naturally, a café and gift shop.
- The Llangollen Motor Museum, a 1-mile stroll along the canal bank from Llangollen Wharf.
- The Llangollen Museum which houses a wealth of information on the history of the town and its surroundings, as well as a variety of exhibitions.
- There is also a wide range of shops, pubs and cafes of all styles in Llangollen to explore whilst we await the coach.
There are a limited number of total places for the walks, which is set by the capacity of the coach. Whilst we hope that everyone will be able to be accommodated on their walk of choice, the allocation of places for each walk will have to be done on the day. No-one will be expected to walk at a higher grade than they prefer - thus, for example, if you prefer the B walk you will not be asked to join the A walk but may be asked to join the C walk. The booking form allows you to specify your preferred walk.
Joining instructions
It will only be possible to join the walk by coach, which will be picking up at 09.00 at the layby at the side of St. Chad’s Cathedral, Queensway, Birmingham B4 6EU. Note that this is not the Cathedral car park in Shadwell Street, which has postcode B4 6EY.
The coach fare will be £15 with 3 options for payment:
- Cash on the day in an envelope with your name and the date of the walk. We are unable to give change for cash payments
- Cheque on the day, made payable to COBRA, in an envelope with your name and the date of the walk.
- Bank transfer in advance of the walk
For payment by bank transfer the walk coordinator will contact you about a week in advance of the walk with bank details. For payments on the day, please put the exact fare in an envelope with your name and date of the walk on it, which will be collected on the coach - unfortunately we are unable to give change for the coach fare.
Note that you cannot pay the coach fare through our Eventbrite account. Your booking for the walk will still show £0.00 but you do have to pay the £15 coach fare on or before the day of the walk
Bookings for this walk will close at 06.00 on Monday 20 July. If you would like to join this walk after the bookings have closed please email [email protected] to enquire about any late availability for the walk.
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If you have a confirmed ticket:
Shortly after bookings have closed the walk coordinator will contact you by email to confirm that you will still be joining us on this walk; this is needed since there are limited seats on the coach and we like to release any unused places to others who may be on a waiting list. The coordinator will also give you our bank details if you have chosen to pay the coach fare by bank transfer. Please check your email, including Spam and/or Junk folders, shortly after bookings have closed for this walk and reply to let us know whether or not you will be still joining the walk.
If you have a waiting list ticket:
The walk coordinator will contact you by email shortly before the walk date to let you know if we are able to offer you a place. Please check your email, including Spam and/or Junk folders, shortly before the walk date and, if we are able to offer you a place, reply to let us know whether or not you will be joining the walk.
If you find that you are unable to join us after booking a ticket it would be helpful if you let us know by sending an email to [email protected] - this will be passed on to the walk leader and will prevent any delay to the start of the walk should the leader be waiting for you. Please note that some walks have a waiting list so tickets are NOT TRANSFERABLE; if you are unable to join us then please cancel your place to free it up for someone who may be on the waiting list rather than sending someone else in your place.
General Information
This is one of several walks and activities offered by the Birmingham Ramblers. If you have found this page through a web search or other means and would like to find out more about the group then please visit the Birmingham Ramblers web site; new members are always welcome.
Event Venue & Nearby Stays
Meet at layby outside St Chad's Catholic Cathedral, 3540 Saint Chads Queensway, Birmingham, United Kingdom
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