Every year, visitors flock to North Wales to discover incredible scenery, breathtaking beaches, historic towns and villages and even the occasional castle or two. But by far one of the region's most unique offerings is a 'stream in the sky' where adventurers can sail along an elevated waterway. The Pontcysyllte Aqueduct carries the Llangollen canal across the river Dee Valley and it is so impressive that the world heritage site was described by UNESCO as ‘a masterpiece of creative genius’.
Once used to carry goods from Wales to England, the canal is now known for its impressive views and unique watersport experiences. The aqueduct took ten years to complete and is a fine example of the incredible feats of Welsh engineering. Jumping in a canoe or kayak is the perfect way to discover and admire the picturesque landscape packed full of aqueducts, viaducts and long tunnels.
READ MORE: Harry Potter fans can catch a glimpse of the Hogwarts Express for free this summer When adventure blogger @beautifulchaotictravel paid a visit to the watery playground up high above the ground, she was impressed with the views and the activities on offer. In a video on TikTok , she asked her followers: " Did you know that you can go kayaking in the sky in North Wales? "Located close to the town of Llangollen, this aqueduct sits 126 feet, or 38 metres above ground level, making it the tallest of its kind in the world. "The aqueduct carries the Llangollen Canal over the River Dee there’s a footpath you can walk along to take in the amazing views or for something even cooler you can go kayaking, canoeing or take a long boat along the canal" Describing it as "definitely one of the coolest and most unique things you can do in North Wales" she also adds a word of warning, she said: " Be warned though - this isn’t an activity for those with a fear of heights.
" If the idea of floating in the water high above the ground makes you giddy, this beautiful corner of Wales offers plenty of other incredible things to see and do. The famous Llangollen Pavilion, for example, is close by. Home of the musical spectacular that is the Llangollen International Musical Eisteddfod, the pavilion is the venue for many other events throughout the year, including food festivals, comedy nights, gigs, bike festivals and much more.
There is also the historically important town of Cefn Mawr, a settlement that grew up around stone quarries, ironworks, clay works and coal mines, and the magnificent Medieval fortress of Chirk Castle, a National Trust property with 700 years of history. How to get to the Pontcysyllte Aqueduct From the M53, M56 or M54 follow the road signs from the A539 (Ruabon interchange). There are also mainline train stations at Chirk and Ruabon, where you can catch a bus to the World Heritage Site.
There is a small amount of parking close to the canal, with further parking in Chirk town centre and at Gledrid. Chirck has a station. It is a 25-minute walk to the best place to access the towpath that leads up to the aqueduct.
Kayaks and canoe trips are available from a variety of local companies including TNR Outdoors and Ty Nant Outdoors , amongst others..
