Wrexham On-line Tour

Pontcysyllte Aqueduct

Pontcysyllte Aqueduct is generally regarded as one of Thomas Telford's greatest civil engineering achievements. Its construction was revolutionary at the time for, apart from its dramatic size and setting, Telford, rejecting all precedents, designed a cast iron trough 3.25 meters wide and 307 meters long laid along the top of 18 stone piers to carry the waterway 37 meters above the River Dee. The first stone was laid in July 1795 and construction took ten years at a total cost of £47,018.

The Pontcysllte Aqueduct is one of the main tourist attractions within Wrexham County Borough. It can be accessed from either end - at Trefor (signed off the A539) or at Froncysyllte (signed off the A5(T)). Car parking is available at both ends of the Aqueduct. It is an amazing experience to walk across the Aqueduct as it towers 37 meters above the River Dee and to take in the panoramic views of the whole area. However, you need a head for heights! The international importance of the Aqueduct is reflected in its inclusion on the tentative list of future nominations for UNESCO World Heritage Site designation.

For the adventurous, it is possible to hire a canal boat both at Chirk Marina (Tel: 01691 774558) or at Trefor Basin (Tel:Anglo Welsh on 01978 821749 or Ribbon Plate on 01978 823215) and cross the Aqueduct by boat, alternatively there are canal boat trips available for those who want to sit and take it all in.

• Pontcysyllte Aqueduct aims to join ranks of World Listed Monuments