Choppy waters for Canal Boat attraction

Volunteers behind a popular local attraction are hoping for smoother waters in 2026 following a tricky year that has impacted its fundraising.

Low waters on the Montgomery Canal meant that the wheelchair accessible boat, the George Watson Buck, based at Llanymynech Canal Wharf in the Heritage Area in Llanymynech, was unable to run for large parts of the year.

The boat trips are a regular activity for visitors and locals alike but the extended dry spell hit its income hard, and with the boat entering a fourth decade they said refurbishment work is also needed.

“Boat trips during the summer is one of the ways we raise funds to keep our lovely narrowboat running,” said Graham Deakin, one of the volunteers at the wharf. “Last year, we were unable to run trips for much of the summer, so our income from trips was significantly down.

“We are hoping that we will be able to run trips throughout 2026 at weekends and bank holidays from Good Friday to the end of September, and the boat will also be available for private hire.”

Graham, who is Chair of the Committee that runs the visitor centre, added: “The wharf is run by volunteers from the Montgomery Waterway Restoration Trust charity. We are aiming to refurbish our boat at the end of 2026 and we are looking for any local businesses or individuals who would like to talk to us about raising funds.

“In 2026 the boat will be about 30 years old and we think we will need to spend at least £10,000 to keep her ship shape for future generations.”

Volunteers would like to meet anyone on New Year’s Day between 1pm and 3pm that wants to get out of the house after the Christmas festivities and enjoy a walk around Llanymynech Heritage Area and a hot drink and chat about the George Watson Buck.

To find out more, visit https://themontgomerycanal.org.uk/llanymynech-canal-wharf.