One of the more unusual experiences of our recent trip to Europe occurred our first day in Wales. We rode in a very skinny boat across an aqueduct 126 feet in the air looking straight over the edge of the water to the river below!

The Pontcysllte Aqueduct (and the skinny canal boats that travel across it) was one of the oddities that came up when I explored things to do on our way from Birmingham, England to Conwy, Wales.

Pontcysyllte Aqueduct is the longest and highest aqueduct in the UK. Crossing the Dee Valley, it’s a grade 1 listed building and part of a World Heritage Site. The aqueduct is 1,007ft (307m) long and 126ft (38m) above the river. Designed by engineer Thomas Telford, it was one of his first major projects.

https://www.ice.org.uk/what-is-civil-engineering/what-do-civil-engineers-do/pontcysyllte-aqueduct

From the pull off down the river, the aqueduct looked like a normal bridge. We drove up to Trevor Basin along one end of the aqueduct where we parked along the canal, walked a footbridge across the water, and then explored along the bank while we waited for our canal boat trip to begin.

On the opposite bank from the parking area there was a visitor center, gift shop, and restroom facilities. The visitor center was small but well done, and we learned more about the history of the canal systems and this specific aqueduct.

The area experienced “canal mania” between 1790 and 1810, with more than 1,000 miles of canal created during this time period to connect Welsh and English industries. The Pontcysyllte Aqueduct was started in 1795 and an ambitious departure from the previous stone and clay structures that rarely surpassed 35 feet in height. This project was made using hollowed out stone piers and a cast-iron trough about 12 feet wide and 5.5 feet deep lined with a mixtures of wool and lead dipped in boiled sugar and then set with a mortar of lime water and ox-blood!

The top of the aqueduct is just wide enough for the canal trough and a narrow pedestrian towpath. We walked the length of the aqueduct, enjoying the impressive views of the Dee Valley before returning to catch our canal boat ride.

We had a wonderful guide on our boat who shared more about the area’s history and the ongoing use of the canal systems. In addition to our down and back, 45-minute canal boat tour, there are five companies that operate boat rentals lasting from one-day trips to multi-week adventures.

Brian got very excited about the idea of returning and renting a boat for a month or two to explore all of the canals and the surrounding countryside. While I often get sick taking boat rides on open water, I think I could get onboard (see what I did there?) with traveling and staying on a narrow houseboat on these relatively calm canals.

While our ride was relatively uneventful, I will say that sitting on the side of the boat overlooking the drop-off to the river below was a little unnerving. There’s no railing – just the open air below. The video below gives a little taste of that experience!

Our first time riding in a canal boat over an aqueduct was certainly a memorable one, and Brian was excited to have his first boat ride of our trip.

I’d definitely recommend it if you’re in the area – you can spend as much or little time as you like in the visitor center, and the boat ride was well worth the time and expense.