All walks › Welshpool & the Border
Welshpool & the BorderWelshpool Canal Loop
The Montgomery Canal through the middle of Welshpool, flat and surfaced, with the restored sections busy with wildlife.
- Distance
- 3.1 mi / 5 km
- Time
- 1 hr 15
- Ascent
- 15 m
- Difficulty
- Easy
- Shape
- Circular
Where it is
The circle shows the general area, not the exact start. Use the directions link below to get to the car park itself. Contours and paths shown are OpenTopoMap, drawn from OpenStreetMap data.
The route
Follow the towpath out of town in either direction and return on the parallel paths and streets. Entirely level with no obstacles.
Worth knowing
- Wheelchair and pushchair friendly throughout, which is rare for a canal towpath.
- The restored sections hold nationally important aquatic plants, including floating water plantain.
- Powis Castle is a short walk from the wharf if you want to extend the day.
What you’ll see
Water lilies, canal wharf buildings, moorhens, and Powis Castle on its ridge above.
Background
The Montgomery Canal carried lime and grain until a breach at Perry Aqueduct in 1936 closed it. Restoration has been running in stages ever since and is still incomplete.