The Pontcysyllte Aqueduct carries the Llangollen Canal over the River Dee in North Wales. Constructed between 1795 and 1805 by the renowned civil engineer Thomas Telford, it’s the longest aqueduct in Britain and the highest canal aqueduct in the world.
In this guide, I’ll explain how you can board a boat and make your way across this feat of engineering that also has UNESCO World Heritage Site status.
Take a Canal Boat Across Pontcysyllte Aqueduct
Walking across the aqueduct is a great experience, but an even better way to experience the world’s highest canal aqueduct is from the waterway itself, onboard a canal boat.
You can either hop on a public boat trip or hire a canal boat and drive across yourself.
There are several companies offering these trips and they are based at different departure points along the canal. I’ll provide more information about these below.
Pubic Trips
A public trip is the most popular way to enjoy a boat trip across Pontcysyllte Aqueduct. You simply hop on the canal boat along with up to 40 other passengers (usually far fewer than this) and enjoy a trip across the aqueduct, usually with commentary to provide information.
There are two companies currently offering this service.
| Public Trips | |
|---|---|
| Anglo Welsh | These are located at Trevor Basin right next to the aqueduct. This will be a short trip onboard their ‘Little Star’ (or ‘Seren Fach’) boat. Trips depart five times per day during peak season, costing just £10 per person. |
| Llangollen Wharf Horse-Drawn Boats | These are based over in Llangollen so it will be a longer 2-hour trip along the canal from Llangollen to Froncysyllte. There is an option of a meal (book ahead) or light snacks onboard. Return to Llangollen is included via a courtesy coach. Trips run once per day in peak season and several times per week during off-peak, costing £17 per person. The trip is also available in the opposite direction. Note that this is a motorized boat, their horse-drawn boats take a much shorter route which doesn’t include the aqueduct. |
Self-Drive Boat Trips
If you want to drive across the canal yourself, this is possible too. You can choose to hire a day boat and follow the set route as provided by the boat hire company.
Alternatively, you can take a self-drive narrowboat holiday which can last anywhere from a weekend up to several weeks. These boats will be fitted out with accommodation so you can sleep on them overnight too.
As long as you are using one of the companies listed in this article, you don’t need any prior experience or permits to navigate the canal like you would if it were a private boat.
Here is further information about the companies offering day hire and narrowboat holidays:
| Day Hire | |
|---|---|
| Anglo Welsh | Located at the canal wharf in Trevor, next to the aqueduct. Starting from £99 for the day. |
| Llangollen Wharf Horse-Drawn Boats | Located in Llangollen. Day hire only with a set 10-mile route. Up to 10 passengers. Starting from £150 for the day. |
| Self-Drive Narrowboat Holidays | |
|---|---|
| Black Prince | Located at Chirk Marina. Self-drive holidays from a weekend up to 2 weeks. Boats can accommodate from 2 to 10 people. Starting from £800 per week. |
| Anglo Welsh | Self-drive holidays from a weekend up to 2 weeks. Located at the canal wharf in Trevor next to the aqueduct. Many other departure points across England and Wales so you can customize your route. Boats can accommodate from 2 to 10 people. Starting from £1000 per week. |
| Crest Narrowboats | Located at Chirk Marina. Canal boat holidays from 3 days to 2 weeks. Boats can accommodate from 2 to 8 people. Call for pricing. |
Related Questions
Can you walk across the Pontcysyllte Aqueduct?
Yes, there is a footpath alongside the canal which runs across the Pontcysyllte Aqueduct. It is free to cross and there is a visitor centre nearby which is worth visiting.
Is the Pontcysyllte Aqueduct one way?
No, the canal across the Pontcysyllte Aqueduct is two-way. However, it is only wide enough for one canal boat at a time so you will need to wait until the waterway is clear for crossing.
Published: 27 August 2023