Llangollen Canal to Pontcysyllte Aqueduct
A flat canal, towpath cycle route which takes you from the beautiful Welsh tourist town of Llangollen to the world famous Pontcysyllte Aqueduct.
This route is not recommended for road bikes, as the towpath is mainly a crushed gravel surface with some tarmac stretches along the way. Make sure you take care when cycling near water and give way to pedestrians.
Llangollen is a beautiful welsh tourist town standing on The River Dee with Castell Dinas Bran standing high above the town. The bridge in the centre of the town which crosses the River Dee was built in 1345. Llangollen also has a fantastic steam railway which runs daily in the holiday season up and down the banks of The River Dee.
Please note that cycling is not permitted over the Pontcysyllte Aqueduct. Please dismount and push your bike over the aqueduct.
1. Start - Llangollen
Start from Heoll y Castell (the main high street in the town).
2. Llangollen to the Wharf Hill
Cycle across the Llangollen Bridge, over the River Dee, away from the main town centre. At the end of the bridge, turn right on to Mill Street and, after 50 yards, turn left up Wharf Hill, which is a very short steep hill. You might like to walk this short section.
At the top of the hill, you will see the Llangollen Canal. When you reach the canal, turn right along the towpath, away from the canal cruise shop, and cycle along the towpath under the bridge and along the right-hand bank of the canal.
3. Wharf Hill to Pontyscyllte
After 100 yards, you will be cycling along the towpath past a wooded area and then you will be cycling out in the open countryside along the canal and under several bridges. The canal roughly follows the route of The River Dee as it meanders along its way, which is over on your right hand side.
After about four miles you will reach Pontyscyllte and will come out at the canal basin by the aqueduct.
Cross over the bridge to the other side of the canal and cycle across the world-famous Pontcysyllte Aqueduct, which is now a world heritage site. It was built in 1805 by Thomas Telford, is 1,007 ft long, and 126 ft high and you can enjoy some fantastic views of the surrounding area from the aqueduct.
Distance
3.98 miles / 6.41 Kilometers
Route Type
Cycling
