The Pontcycyllte Acqueduct

The Pontcysyllte Aqueduct - the 'stream in the sky' - has been named as the most captivating UNESCO World Heritage Site in the world.

UNESCO has described this world heritage site as ‘a masterpiece of creative genius’. The first 11 miles of the Llangollen Canal is an outstanding piece of industrial and engineering heritage comprising embankments, tunnels, viaducts and aqueducts, including the stunning Pontcysyllte Aqueduct itself and 31 other listed structures.

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 our canal network.

Travelling to the Pontcycyllte Acqueduct

Head west from Whitchurch Marina. Your final destination on this part of the trip is the Llangollen Basin. This is an excellent place to explore and it's worth spending a whole day there.
The total distance to the basin from the marina is 30 miles, 6¾ furlongs. Along the way you will encounter:

• 2 locks
• 6 moveable bridges (of which 1 is usually left open)
• 2 small aqueducts or underbridges
• 3 tunnels - the Ellesmere Tunnel (87 yards long), the Chirk Tunnel (459 yards long) and the Whitehouses Tunnel (191 yards long)
• 2 major aqueducts  - the Chirk Aqueduct (237 yards long) and the Pontcysyllte Aqueduct (336 yards long)

The trip will take approximately 16 hours, 39 minutes which is 2 days, 2 hours and 39 minutes at 7 hours per day.

Recommended Itinerary

Saturday: Cruise to Morris Lift Bridge No 45 (3 hours). There are moorings after the bridge and down to Whixall Moss Junction. You will have to travel for about 45 minutes before reaching the next moorings.

Sunday: Cruise to Hindford Bridge No 11W (7 hours). This mooring is just before the locks. You can avoid delays by setting off early in the morning.
If you want to stop at Elsmere on the way there then you can usually moor by the towpath before the Blackwater Meadow Marina entrance (finding a mooring on the short arm into Elsmere would be unusual). There is a large Tescos at the end of the arm if you need any supplies.

Monday: Cruise to Llangollen Basin (7.5 hours) After the locks you’ll cross the Chirk aqueduct and the Cadbury’s chocolate factory before arriving at the Pontcysyllte Aqueduct. Once across take the tricky left turn and head for Llangollen basin. Take it easy along this section. It can be shallow and rocky, and there are two narrow sections that are not wide enough for boats to pass (although the first one you go through does have passing places). Moor up in the basin (remember to pay for your ticket at the cafe) for two nights. Llangollen is a lovely little town. There are good shops, cafes, pubs and restaurants, some good walks and a steam railway.

Wednesday: Cruise to the Montgomery Canal. It’s about 6.5 hours cruising to Frankton Junction at the head of the Montgomery Canal. You will need to call them 24 hours in advance of your arrival as you need to book this in advance.

It’s approximately 8 hours back to the marina from Frankton Junction so I recommend that you are on a mooring before Peters Bridge No 69 on Thusday evening. This will determine how much time you want to spend on the Montogomery Canal.