It’s around 80 years since the Montgomery Canal was closed as a commercial waterway but only 20 years or so passed before interested people started campaigning to retain the canal as an important local amenity.

Chairman of the Montgomery Waterway Restoration Trust, Michael Limbrey says there have been massive changes in the last 60 years.

“First a section in Welshpool was restored to stop it becoming part of the A483 bypass, resulting in an attractive Town Wharf. Sections near Oswestry have been restored with boats now being able to get to Crickheath near Pant.”

But, says Michael, the benefit goes way beyond boatowners. “The Monty, as we call it, benefits local people as a place to walk, cycle or just enjoy nature and the built heritage.”

Creating a new tourist destination near Oswestry

He says that careful, environmentally sensitive restoration of the Monty will create a new tourist attraction which will benefit local businesses.

Says Michael: “Some visitors will come by boat but many, many others are in the area anyway and the more things there are to see and do locally, the longer they will stay and the more they will spend with local businesses.“

“We already see that at Llanymynech Canal Wharf where our dedicated volunteers run a popular visitor centre. There they welcome visitors from across the world, many are passing through and find the Montgomery Canal an interesting place to stop, some come to explore Llanymynech Heritage Area and the canal while others are enjoying walks in the area, including Offa’s Dyke footpath.”

Thanks to magnificent work over the years, including by volunteers of another charity, the Shropshire Union Canal Society, much of the canal towpath offers a wonderful amenity as a place to enjoy nature and with nature reserves along the route, the Monty is popular with bird watchers.

The next big phase in the restoration and reopening is to link Crickheath with Llanymynech, which will involve much work and funding, but will see boats able to reach Wales for the first time in decades. At the same time, it will create much improved walking along the towpath through Pant. 

If you are local and would like to get involved in our charity, you can visit https://themontgomerycanal.org.uk to find out more. We’d love to hear from local businesses who see how a reopened Montgomery Canal would benefit the local area as well as anyone who just wants to get out and enjoy this wonderful historic structure.