Horse-drawn boat service relaunched on Shropshire border
Visitors will be able to enjoy the peace and tranquillity of the Montgomery Canal thanks to the relaunch of a horse-drawn canal boat service for the summer.
Shropshire man Tim Barker is rejuvenating the service, which was first launched two years ago. He is hoping the good weather will last all summer, giving visitors a chance to learn about the latest work in the long-term project to fully reopen the waterway.
Mr Barker will be leading a horse called Cracker which pulls Countess, a modern boat built in the style of a Victorian packet boat on Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays for three trips per day.
The boat is 35 feet long with comfortable seating inside and out for a maximum of 12 people.
The move into work on the waterway is a change of pace for Mr Barker, from Chirk Bank near Oswestry. He also runs a web design firm but said he was looking forward to enjoying the outdoors and the sights and sounds of the Montgomery Canal over the summer.
Mr Barker said he would be running the boat business for owner Stephen Rhys-Jones and the trips would start from Canal Central Tea Rooms at Maesbury Marsh.
He said: "It is certainly different from what I have done before but having lived next to a canal at Chirk Bank for so long and I know how attractive and peaceful they can be.
"Cracker really is a great horse and a real character and it is great to have the boat trips on for the summer."
Mr Barker said visitors would be able to hear about the work that is being carried out to open up the Montgomery Canal completely.
