We love a good canal in Manchester, and whilst we have our fair share of watersports, it’s pretty rare to want to canoe on any of them. Luckily for us, just an hour away in the beautiful Llangollen, North Wales, you can canoe along Pontcysyllte Aqueduct – the highest aqueduct in the world.
Standing at 126ft above the river level, and designed by Thomas Telford, built between 1795 and 1805, Pontcysyllte (pronounced Pont-ker-sulth-tay), is the Welsh name for ‘the bridge that connects‘. The world heritage site boasts 11 miles of stunning canal and countryside spanning two countries, along aqueducts, tunnels and viaducts.
UNESCO has described this world heritage site as “a masterpiece of creative genius”. Taking the Llangollen Canal across the River Dee valley in North Wales, the aqueduct took ten years to complete and is a fine example of the incredible feats of engineering you can find on the canal network. The whole length of the site has also been designated a Scheduled Ancient Monument of National Importance, and an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty.
Many start their journey at the Trevor Basin Visitor Centre, with hands-on models, videos, local information, and gifts to get you started, plus you can grab a drink and a snack, or maybe even an ice cream and enjoy the view.
Depending on your preference (and bravery), you can take a canal boat, walk along or even canoe down the Pontcysyllte Aqueduct, taking in breathtaking sights down either side, full of luscious greenery and miles of countryside. Most tours are between two and three hours long, often along the Llangollen Canal further up taking in the beauty of the Dee Valley, with several opportunities to paddle over the aqueduct.
Canoe tours on Pontcysyllte Aqueduct are run by several outlets, and you can find plenty of information and links to tours on the Canal and River Trust website.
There are also plenty of walks and canal boat trips to explore if you don’t fancy the canoe, and cafes, pubs and outdoor seating adorn the surrounding area, perfect for a sunny day out for all.
Pontcysyllte Aqueduct is just over an hour’s drive from Manchester via the M56, and can be reached via train from Piccadilly Station, making for the perfect day trip. Or why not make it a North Wales sightseeing trip from Manchester, stopping at Llandudno, Conwy and Snowdonia along the way?
📍 Pontcysyllte Aqueduct, Station Rd, Trevor, Llangollen, LL20 7TY.