Pontcysyllte Aqueduct & Canal UNESCO World Heritage Site – Canal Paths, Valleys, and Industrial Heritage Walking
Canal Towpaths, River Valleys, and Historic Engineering Routes
The Pontcysyllte Aqueduct & Canal UNESCO World Heritage Site is a linear heritage landscape in North Wales, shaped by level towpaths, quiet waterways, and historic structures set between Llangollen, Chirk, and Wrexham in the Dee Valley. Continuous paths follow the Llangollen Canal across aqueducts, cuttings, embankments, and wooded slopes, linking villages, countryside, and waterside places along a consistent route.
The ground is largely flat and firm underfoot. Gravel towpaths, grassy verges, and compacted tracks trace the canal edge for long distances with minimal gradients. The route crosses open farmland, passes through short tunnels, and reaches the high crossing of the River Dee on the Pontcysyllte Aqueduct, where the canal runs above the valley floor with wide views across the surrounding landscape.
Woodland, pasture, and open valley scenery alternate along the corridor. Locks, bridges, and former wharves mark sections of the working canal, while boats and moorings give the route a slow, steady character. The result is a continuous, low-gradient environment that connects places gradually across the valley.
About the UNESCO World Heritage Site
The Pontcysyllte Aqueduct & Canal was inscribed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2009 for its significance as an outstanding example of Industrial Revolution transport engineering. Built between the late 18th and early 19th centuries, the canal includes aqueducts, tunnels, locks, and embankments designed by Thomas Telford and William Jessop.
The Pontcysyllte Aqueduct carries the canal more than 35 metres above the River Dee in a cast-iron trough supported by masonry piers, making it the highest navigable aqueduct in Britain. Nearby structures such as Chirk Aqueduct and Whitehouses Tunnel form part of the same integrated system, demonstrating the scale and ambition of early canal construction.
Today, the canal functions as both a protected heritage landscape and a continuous public route along the valley.
Where to Walk
Llangollen to Trevor Basin (Pontcysyllte section)
Towpaths following the canal through the Dee Valley between Llangollen and the aqueduct.
Pontcysyllte Aqueduct Crossing
The elevated canal crossing above the River Dee with open views across the valley.
Chirk Aqueduct & Tunnel Section
Rural towpaths linking the Pontcysyllte and Chirk aqueducts, including woodland cuttings and Whitehouses Tunnel.
Offa’s Dyke Path (Dee Valley section)
Higher ground above the canal with ridge and valley views between Chirk and Llangollen.
Dee Valley Local Paths
Riverside and valley routes connecting the canal with surrounding countryside and settlements.
Highlights
- UNESCO-listed Industrial Revolution canal engineering
- Pontcysyllte Aqueduct, the highest navigable aqueduct in Britain
- Long, level towpaths with consistent surfaces
- Continuous routes linking Llangollen, Trevor, Chirk, and Wrexham
- Historic locks, bridges, tunnels, and former wharves
- Canal, river valley, and farmland landscapes combined
- Rail and bus connections supporting car-free access