Borderland Rotary went on a fact finding walk the other day along a section of the Montgomery canal, currently under restoration.
More than thirty Rotary Members, partners, and guests went for an evening stroll down the Montgomery Canal from the restored section at Crickheath basin recently.
From Crickheath basin, which was opened in June 2023, the group went past the stretch currently being restored at Crickheath tramway wharf, and on to Schoolhouse Bridge that has been built, from scratch, by contractors and funded by public donations. It was formally opened in June 2024. This was followed by dinner at the Dolphin Inn in Llanymynech, at the other end of the Shropshire Gap.
The group were keen to find out what is meant by the term, Shropshire Gap, as they had now visited both ends of it. Chris Bryan-Smith, a Rotarian and canal enthusiast, explained: “The Shropshire Gap is the colloquial name given to the unrestored section of the Montgomery Canal between Crickheath Basin, which we visited earlier and Llanymynech on the Welsh border.
“Strangely enough, we hope that one day, it will not exist, and boats will be able to travel from the national canal network over the border and take advantage of the two proposed new bridges, just south of here”.
Borderland president, Rob Hughes responded: “It certainly is a wonderful section of the canal, a hidden gem, and well worth all the effort to bring it back to life, I’m sure we will all spread the word”.