NEED TO KNOW
LOCATION Part of the Llangollen Canal, the aqueduct runs between Froncysyllte and Trevor DIMENSIONS Length: 1,000 ft (305 m); height: 115 ft (35 m)
CONSTRUCTED 1795–1815
DAYTIME TEMPERATURES Jan: 39°F (4°C); Apr: 46°F (8°C); Jul: 63°F (17°C); Oct: 57°F (11°C)
Without doubt, this is Thomas Telford and William Jessop’s finest work. Faced with the problem of getting canal barges over the River Dee, the two engineers built a 115-ft- (35-m-) high aqueduct, complete with a towpath and a sheer drop down the other side. The water is carried along a cast- iron trough perched on 19 hollow columns, all bound together with a mortar of lime, water, and ox blood. The aqueduct is still used by canal boaters, and links the village of Froncysyllte with its neighbor Trevor. The view over the River Dee, if you can bear to look, is magnificent.
Practical Information
Getting There and Around You can cruise across the aqueduct on a barge or narrow boat – the 41-mile (68-km) stretch of the Llangollen Canal takes around 3 days. There is a regular bus service from Wrexham to Trevor, which is a short walk from the aqueduct. Wrexham can be reached by train from Cardiff and Birmingham. For those who would rather walk, Offa’s Dyke, a long-distance footpath, also passes nearby.
When to Go The canal is open year round but July to September is the best time to visit. However, it can get very crowded in August.