top of page
This is Wrecsam logo

Pontcysyllte Aqueduct and the canal

How to see the Pontcysyllte Aqueduct, the UK’s longest and highest: walking across, boat trips from Trevor Basin, the canal to Chirk, and where to eat and stay nearby.

Family waving Welsh flags beside a narrowboat on the canal near Chirk

The Pontcysyllte Aqueduct carries the Llangollen Canal 38 metres above the River Dee, in a cast iron trough barely wider than a narrowboat. Finished in 1805, it is the longest and highest aqueduct in the UK, and the heart of an 11 mile UNESCO World Heritage Site that runs through Wrexham county. Here’s how to see it: on foot, by boat, or from the towpath.


THE AQUEDUCT IN NUMBERS

  • Built from 1795 to 1805, designed by Thomas Telford with William Jessop, with ironwork cast by William Hazledine.

  • 307 metres long and 38 metres above the river, on 18 stone piers.

  • The canal runs in a cast iron trough 3.7 metres wide and 1.7 metres deep.

  • Inscribed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2009, together with 11 miles of the canal.

Sources: the Institution of Civil Engineers and the official Pontcysyllte Aqueduct site.


WALK ACROSS IT

Start at Trevor Basin, where the visitor centre has displays, a children’s activity area and a gift shop. The towpath crosses beside the water with a railing on its outer edge, but there is no railing on the far side of the trough, so keep a close eye on children and dogs. For a longer walk, start at Tŷ Mawr Country Park near Cefn Mawr, where a walk of about four miles there and back leads up to the aqueduct, with farm animals and a café at the start.


TAKE A BOAT ACROSS

  • Anglo Welsh runs trip boats across the aqueduct from Trevor Basin, usually daily from Easter to October. Booking is advised.

  • Llangollen Wharf runs horse drawn and motor boat trips from Llangollen, including motor trips over the aqueduct.

Check times and prices on the official aqueduct website before you travel.


FOLLOW THE CANAL

The World Heritage Site follows 11 miles of canal from Gledrid Bridge near Rhoswiel to the Horseshoe Falls near Llangollen. It includes the older Chirk Aqueduct, which carries the canal across the Ceiriog Valley with the railway viaduct alongside. The towpath between the two aqueducts makes a quieter walk.


MAKE A DAY OF IT

  • Chirk Castle: a 13th century Marcher fortress with 480 acres of parkland, a short drive from the canal at Chirk.

  • Caffi Wylfa on Castle Road in Chirk: coffee and homemade treats, with a covered terrace where dogs are welcome.

  • Pure Wales: small group and private tours across Wrexham and North Wales, with local driver guides.

  • The Hand at Llanarmon in the Ceiriog Valley: a country inn with rooms for an overnight stay in the hills.

For more ideas, see things to do in Wrexham and our walks in Wrexham.


GETTING THERE

Boat trips leave from Canal Wharf, Trevor (LL20 7TT), with parking a short walk away (LL14 3SG). For travel to the area, see getting to and around Wrexham.


Checked on 8 November 2026. Boat trips are seasonal and the towpath can close for maintenance, so please check before you travel.

bottom of page