Dog-friendly Blackwater Meadow Marina, Shropshire

Dog-Friendly Boating Escapes

Discover the hidden delights of the Shropshire countryside on a dog-friendly canal boat cruise beginning at Blackwater Meadow Marina. Together with your best furry friend, meander along the gentle waterways on a comfortable berth packed with modern amenities through routes around the midlands. Stop off for some fabulous walking opportunities and make sure to visit fido-friendly sights along your route starting in Blackwater Meadow. Situated close to the Ellesmere Arm on the Llangollen Canal, which offers scenic beauty and breath-taking engineering, Blackwater Meadow Marina is the closest base to Llangollen if you wish to visit the town on a short break. The Llangollen canal is one of the most popular canal routes in England taking you across the Chirk Aqueduct then Pontcysyllte Aqueduct and back. All ABC Boat Hire’s canal boats at Blackwater Meadow Marina berth two to ten and come equipped with all you need to swap the hustle and bustle of life in the city for an idyllic boating escape with your canine companion.

Begin your boating adventure for the first time or as a more experienced crew member with full tuition provided at the start of every journey. A handover ensures you are comfortable operating the canal boat and includes where you can moor and how to operate locks, lifts and swing bridges. Most visitor moorings on canals and rivers are governed by the Canal & River Trust and are free of charge, meaning your boat will be permitted to moor anywhere on the towpath side of the canal as long as no obstruction is being caused. An overnight fee may be charged for overnight moorings at a select number of privately owned sites such as The River Thames.

A suggested route for those wanting a longer escape is the Four Counties Ring, one of the more rural cruising rings taking you through the counties of Cheshire, Staffordshire, Shropshire and the West Midlands. This route from Blackwater Meadow Marina includes 132 locks and can be completed in 14 nights. Highlights include joining the Trent & Mersey Canal and passing under a distinctive roving bridge, where you can moor up and enjoy a walk with your canine companion along the rolling Staffordshire countryside. Also enjoy the scenery on the climb up ‘Heartbreak Hill’ to the summit at Kidsgrove where you can relax and visit dog-friendly pubs the Canal Tavern and The Blue Bell Inn on arrival.

If you’re looking for a shorter break, the Chirk & Return route from Blackwater Meadow Marina ambles onwards from a landscape sparkling with the ancient meres then winds through the Welsh countryside, totalling four locks over three to four nights. Highlights include views from the Chirk Aqueduct, included in the 11-mile stretch of the Llangollen Canal which was designated as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2009, before mooring up just before the Chirk Tunnel. Here both you and your dog can explore Chirk Castle before enjoying a dog-friendly dining experience in the castle courtyard.

All dog-friendly canal boats are available from April to November. Arrive on Friday, Saturday or Monday for a 3, 4, 7, 10, 11 or 14 night stay. Please note that each route has individual changeover dates. In a canal boat berthing 4, enjoy a 3 night stay from £999 or 7 night stay from £1,399 in the low season, excluding fuel supplement. Supplements apply on summer dates and larger boats.

What To Expect

It's important to bring along a bed, bowl, food, lead and toys for your dog whilst on board and may be advisable to invest in a harness or life jacket for your dog. A welcome pack is provided as well as a TV, CD player and free Wifi. All the ABC dog-friendly canal boats are individually handcrafted in this country with unique interiors and different styles. They come with a well-equipped kitchen where you can whip up a meal for your guests and furry friend too. The kitchen features a four burner gas stove complete with grill and oven, fridge, sink drainer, sink, crockery, cooking utensils and cutlery. Dog-friendly canal boats starting at Blackwater Meadow Marina come equipped with a 12-volt electricity supply. All boats are able to carry around 100 gallons or 450 litres of water. It is advised to refill your water daily by automatic electric water pumps, these are located at many water points along your route which are shown in a Canal Cruising Guide available to be purchased on arrival at a small fee. The boat is fuelled for your arrival and an additional fuel deposit of £90 per week or £50 for a short break is required. When the boat is returned, the balance is refundable after deducting the amount of fuel used. Buoyancy aids are compulsory and available free of charge for both children and adults at the marinas. These do not need to be booked in advance but should be requested upon arrival in order for the correct size to be fitted in preparation for your journey.

Bow wow factor

A canal boat trip makes a fabulous adventure for your canine friend. You have the freedom to go where you want and your dog will love stopping off at the riverside dog-friendly pubs on route.

Need to know

Dine With Pet

Pub Within 1 Mile

Rural

Satellite Television

WiFi

Featured Boats

The dog-friendly canal boats berth from two to ten with bedding configured as singles or doubles. There is a small wardrobe for storing clothes with freshly laundered bedding for each crew member. There is a bathroom with toilet, basin and shower, one medium towel per person and even a hairdryer.

Swift

Sleeps up to 4. One forward cabin which can either be configured as one double bed or two singles. The seating area in the saloon can be converted into a double bed in the evening, if required. There is a wardrobe for storing clothes in the front cabin. Freshly laundered bedding for each crew member. Additional bedding available on request.

Accommodates

4 adults 3 pets