I am by no means an expert on canals and waterways, just interested because of boat people in my family tree. We also have a little boat and cruise the waterways when we can. Heres abit of information on Mountsorrell that might point you in the right direction to do some more research. Mountsorrell (if I've got the right place!) is on the River Soar, between Loughborough and Leicester. The River Soar is part of the Grand Union Canal. The River Soar between Leceister and Loughborough became navigable in 1794 and between the River Trent and Loughborough before this date. To get from Mountsorrell to Manchester your ancestors may have travelled up the River Soar to the River Trent and then on to the Trent and Mersey Canal (opened 1777). From this waterway onto the Macclesfield Canal (opened 1831), then the Peak Forest Canal (authorised in 1826), onto the Aston Canal (1799) and then the Bridgewater Canal (1761). The journey would have been approximately 138 miles. If they went straight to Liverpool they could have continued on the Trent and Mersey Canal to the Weaver Navigation and onto the Mancester Ship Canal and then the River Mersey. The above is just an option, they may well have travelled further north on the Trent and then gone west joining the Leeds and Liverpool Canal. I don't know how Llithfaen ties in. If this is one on the Lleyn Peninsula (I've had a look in my map book!), there are no canals in this area. The area around Mountsorrell has alot of gravel pits. Its a nice little place. We moored over night there last summer, had a walk round and a nice meal in one of the pubs. If you look back at previous messages I have mentioned a couple of web sites with lots of links to canals and waterways. If you have a look on these you may get some more background information. Hope this helps. Helen