A wonderful 6-mile Paddleboarding Trip Over the Pontcysyllte and Chirk Aqueducts

The Ponty!

Pronounced: pont-ker-sulth-tay, But as I still can't pronounce it, it's also known as The Stream In The Sky or simply the Ponty.  It's an amazing aqueduct on the Llangollen canal 'flying' over the River Dee at Trevor. It is an awesome sight from below or on top. You can see for miles and miles! It is one of the World Heritage sites and is an amazing feat of industrial engineering opening in 1809. Thomas Telford is the man we need to thank for his architectural skills, and it never ceases to blow my mind - the notion that all this was done without computers, and the heavy plant machinery that we have today, or even metal scaffolding...how!!!???  

Anyway, on to my point. It is a phenomenal sight and well worth a paddle. However, there are rules, and these are there for our safety and to save our lovely 999 services the nasty job of scraping up any mess. There would be quite a spread from that height!

There is a 3' towpath and handrail on the one side, which many people I know have to grip tightly to, to even allow themselves to traverse it on foot! But the other side? That simply has about an 8" rail. Yes! 8"! This comes up to my shin and one random unexpected puff of wind and your SUP will crash into the rail - and abruptly stop, but your body, with all its wonderful momentum - (can you spot the physicist in me?) - will keep going...over....and down...and down....and down...all 38m of fresh air shattered by your screams for help from the Holy One that you never even knew you believed in!!

The only thing that could save you is an angel wing, or perhaps a parachute if you happened to pack one AND keep it handy! BUT, remember, you will still be attached to your board by the leash, so that will swiftly follow you and completely bugger up the parachute opening - mind you, it will make your leg easier to spot by the paramedics! So yes, if you are in a canoe or kayak, paddle away.

But if you are on a SUP, please respect the rules and prevent us from being banned and walk your board over – it’s well worth it!

How to walk your SUP over the Ponty

Then if you continue along, you will come to a short tunnel, then a longer one for which you need a good head torch and your wits about you, to prevent you from being met mid-tunnel by a narrowboat! 

Chirk tunnel

BTW, the boaties that hire the narrow boats get a 30–45-minute instruction lesson before being set loose to their own devices, and don’t have a clue how to navigate these enormous lumps of metal.  So, if someone asks ‘which side do you pass a narrow boat?’ The answer is ‘Any side it decides!’ LOL

You’ll soon reach the Chirk Aqueduct.

The viaduct runs parallel, and I have frequently seen the most amazing sunsets when on the aqueduct from under the arches of the viaduct!.

The views are simply amazing – across the vista and down to the River Dee winding its way below and underneath

Everyone can stand to paddle it safely, as you'd have to be some kind of gymnast to traverse the wide towpath on either side!

And now I have your attention, paddle a little further to the Poachers Pocket pub, or a little longer still to the Lion Quays resort where you can moor up alongside the terrace for a drink and food.

To start your journey, head to Trevor basin, Station Rd, Trevor, Llangollen LL20 7TY. There is a car park (paid) and toilets (free)

The journey to the Poachers Pocket is approximately  5.5 miles and perhaps .5 miles more to Lion Quays, with the gentle flow, and took us just 2.5 hours including a picnic stop on the turning / waiting circle after the long tunnel 

It’s a wonderful trip and well worth keeping your head torch and camera handy! 

Enjoy. xx

Just one more thing. Don’t forget  to allow time to shuttle your cars (There is parking by the Poachers and at Lion quays – but please buy some food or drink as a thank you x)