Pontcysyllte Aqueduct
After leaving the abbey we looked for signs to take us to the Pontcysyllte Aqueduct.
We turned into the pay and display car and followed the signs to the canal. We passed the canal basin which was full of canal boats and headed towards the viaduct. The aqueduct was designed by Thomas Telford and William Jessop. It is now a UNESCO World Heritage site.
Past the basin our left was the visitor centre and this cafe in a canal boat.
Behind us we could see canal boats making the turn away from the basin and back down the canal.
Once at the aqueduct we could see that the path at the side of the cut was quite narrow. On the other side there were no barriers at all.
Once on the aqueduct the views were were stunning but the whole time I did not feel particularly safe!
Once off the aqueduct we took the signposted path down to the river below to look up at the aqueduct.
Both the path down and the path back up under the aqueduct were steep. As we walked back towards the basin we watched canal boats manoeuvring. One in particular lost control and hit the small bridge by the canal boat cafe. Luckily no real damage was done – only to the pride of the helmsman!
Back at the car park we took our lunches and sat on a wall to eat. While we ate we watched this unlikely bicycle set off.
Then we set off on the journey home. We stopped briefly on the lane to catch this view of the aqueduct from a different direction.
