The path works its way through those trees (a lovely green oasis, fragrant with wild garlic) and over a little footbridge, and we cross the Ceiriog and into England over a little road bridge before heading past the Bridge Inn. The paved road works its way uphill and over the Llangollen Canal; a kissing gate soon takes us into the first of a few fields, either filled with sheep or resplendent in wildflowers. Eventually we exit the fields and walk along a short residential road in Rhoswiel, but we don't stay for long; once over the canal bridge, we head down the steps to the towpath and under the bridge we have just crossed, now following the dusty loose stone path alongside the Llangollen canal. As the road eventually turns left, we head across the fields to the right, soon entering and crossing through Gobowen, where there are a few shops and pubs if you wanted a break....

Hiking Historian

This isn’t a review for the route, but recognising the access issue plus the abundance of road walking, I chose to continue the canal route from Chirk. It can be picked up at Chirk Bank and continues to Ellesmere - the ‘shortcut’ from Lower Frankton reduces total mileage, although may not be available depending on crops. It’s a great combo with the route from Llangollen to a total of c17 miles....

John Scott

I was so taken by it that, rather than walking the Slow Ways route to Ellismere, I kept going on the canal....

John Scott

Unfortunately the condition of the central section of this walk was inaccessible which meant that we were unable to complete the route....

Matthew Axford

There' was a bit of a scramble on the steep path out of Wales down the hill from Chirk but this was soon forgotten as I crossed the Ceiriog into England and followed the lane up to the towpath of the Llangollen Canal. On the other side I followed the path until it seemed to disappear. So I headed on and about 20m from the exit of the woods, the path became seemingly impassable and worked my way around it. This route certainly ticks the direct and safe boxes but I can't help thinking that if you used more of the canal and joined this route further east, bypassing Wat's Dyke it could be a 4 or maybe 5 star walk....

David Sanderson

I would say it's a good walk to include on the network and would happily walk it again....

Mark Webster

I walked from Chirk to Rhosllanerchrugog, but took the long way round to the start point from the station, via Chirk Tunnel and Aqueduct, just for fun – highly recommended! The field crossing entrance was obscured from this direction, and the initial field contained cows....

Mary Oz

From here, we head along Plas Bennion Road (paved on the right) until we're past the solar farm. After a short walk, we reach the car park and good tarmac footpath that runs to the marina and canal junction. At the next tunnel, this is where we exit to the road up a slope, and a paved road into Chirk, where shops, pubs and a bus await!...

Hiking Historian

Just as David says in the previous review, this is lovely at both ends, especially the Chirk end, with a long road section in the middle. It's safe and not toooo busy on the road (it was 6-7pm), so it's worth it for the lovely bits. Very easy to navigate from the Chirk end, from the town to the station, and then along the beautiful canal for ages....

Hannah

This route has been impossible to do since 2021, and to date, only plans have been submitted for road works at Newbridge. But why would you want to do this route when RhoChi Two uses the glorious Pontcysyllte Aqueduct?...

Hiking Historian

The vast majority is along the predominantly wooded towpath of the Llangollen Canal with a very short walk through the town in Llangollen and a slightly longer walk along the pavement past Chirk Station to the meeting place in Chirk. Transport-wise there are buses to Chirk and Llangollen and trains to Chirk....

David Sanderson

It's not far from the pretty high street in Chirk to the well managed grounds of Chirk Castle. There's another brief climb at Pen-y-coed, but this delivers you to a panoramic view of Llangollen before you reach the touristy town. There are cafes, shops and a couple of pubs in Chirk as well as buses and the railway....

David Sanderson

The canal towpath was accessible and the surface was smooth, making the walk pleasant and easy going. Parts of this canal walk were quiet, making this a peaceful and serene walk....

Sumaiya

From a route walking point of view, it’s best to stay on the east side of the Dee bridge in Llangollen right at the start, but it was worth crossing it to look at the view of the water falls and the heritage railway station. It was very busy with tourists on a sunny Saturday in April, at Llangollen and at the aqueduct, but the route south between the aqueduct and Chirk was really quiet, until we reached the end where the chocolate factory made its presence known, by smell as well as sound!...

Mary Oz

This is a lovely route marred by a horrendous inaccuracy at the north end of Pontcysyllte Aqueduct. It expects you to fly/abseil 30 metres/100 feet between the valley floor and the aqueduct towpath. LlaChi Three is the corrected version....

Mary Oz

It started with a very nice walk through woods, full of wild flowers, before entering the well-tended landscape of Chirk Castle. This was a really gorgeous route, although a little more strenuous than our walk back along the canal....

Mary Oz

The town is pretty and the walk along the pavement to the towpath of the Llangollen Canal is interesting and direct. The next section, by necessity, follows the pavement of the Llangollen Road and fun becomes functional. There is a little more pavement pounding, on a quieter road before you leave it again....

David Sanderson

A variety of path types: fields, pavements, a short stretch of towpath and lanes which echo with birdsong....

David Sanderson

Tricky to navigate around the canal due to building works - would definitely recommend following the canal tow path further as suggested in previous reviews. Oswestry Fort is an impressive structure with good views from the top - worth a detour....

J Walker

The wild countryside around Rhos, the slightly lawless feel along Delph road, the views of the viaduct from above, all well worth the trek. Just scuppered by the road closure....

J Walker

The section into Dudleston Heath means that you must then walk on a road section with no footway. It's a pretty dodgy road section. Much better would be to carry on to Greenhill Bank via the much quieter lanes....

Tree hunter Rob McBride

An interesting walk to Oswestry, crossing the border into England at Chirk Bridge and taking in the old Oswestry Hill Fort outside the town- but some major road crossings and path diversions need careful navigating and possible re-routes. In any case, a more pleasant solution might be to re-route this section, crossing the Rhosweil Bridge and following the towpath on the far side of the canal. In view of this hazardous crossing, it may be preferable to keep to the established Watt’s Dyke route through Gobowen, this means more road walking, however, you’d be following a B road on pavement and would cross the A5 via a bridge....

C Hanson

Looked at Chiosw Route Two, along the Llangollen Canal, and this is preferable from Rhoswiel to Gobowen. Nice to get onto Wat's Dyke - cos the waymarkers were reassuring and nice pastureland with old farm buildings with bags of historical interest....

J Mitchell

Path seems to go through someone's private land - or so he says (Dogs. Signs saying he'll shoot.) Avoiding it means walking on the Delph Road at Acrefair. Major issue though: due to landslide, the bridge - the ONLY bridge across the Dee for miles - is closed. After Newbridge, if the bridge were to re-open, the landscape gets more rural and less frenetic (not on roads much) and I loved the hill above Chirk coming down through fields into Whitehurst....

J Mitchell

To follow the route to Chirk is still possible but involves a lengthy detour from Newbridge - under the railway bridge, along the river footpath, under the Pontcysyllte Aquaduct until the path meets the Offa’s Dyke route at the road bridge in Trevor. Here it’s possible to cross the river and follow the canal towpath/Dyke path all the way to Chirk. It may make more sense to re-route from Rhos to hit the road bridge at Trevor....

C Hanson

Canal towpaths make for easy navigation and good conditions underfoot....

Eddie Jones

Lots of historical sites on route including Old Oswestry and the start of Pontcysyllte UNESCO World Heritage Site around Chirk aqueduct. Many may prefer to follow the canal around Chirk with this adding no extra time but taking in a bit more scenery. Very good transport connections....

Eddie Jones

Beautiful views of the Rivers Dee and Ceiriog and their valleys, two aqueducts with great views make it special....

Peteproadventure

This route goes over the hill, using permissive paths near Chirk Castle, tracks, lanes and a woodland path near Llangollen. Much of it is uphill/downhill with good views....

MaddyT

This is an easy walk along a canal tow path - flat and easy to navigate with great views of the surrounding hills. It’s also a cycle route. The only issues are for anyone with an extreme fear of the dark or of heights: the path goes through the 174m long Whitehouse Tunnel and over the Pontcysyllte Aqueduct....

MaddyT

The canal towpath from Lion Quays to Moors Lane, St Martin's is cloesd for the rest of 2021....

k8jowens

The trail starts as the canal emerges from a tunnel, follows it over the Aqueduct and on into Llangollen. (I did not exactly follow the given route at this point. It requires you to lose a lot of height and gain it again. Following the signposts to 'Llangollen' works just as well, and takes you past a path offering a view of the aqueduct)....

Marion Frankland

The route follows identifiable paths so is easy to navigate. The paths occasionally have a width reduced to about 600mm....

PeterW