Last walked February 2012
Thomas Telford was a bit of a canal building dude. With ten spans, 40 foot each, 70 foot high, masonry and stone, opened in 1801, the Chirk aqueduct is impressive. Flanked by an even higher railway viaduct, it dominates the Ceiriog Valley and carries the Llangollen Canal through a metal trough. And there is another one just 3 miles up the canal.
Canals mean towpaths. Towpaths mean flat, easy walks. Pubs too. 🙂
Just yards from the aqueduct, there is ample parking down Castle Road. The towpath across the aqueduct and along until at least the Poachers Pocket pub, is excellent for access. We met people on bicycles, with push chairs and in mobility scooters. If you carry on towards the Lion Quays it does then turn into the usual grassy path. Definite doggy country,we met loads, but sadly there was only one dog waste bin along the towpath (and one in the car park).
Adjoining the aqueduct you will find an awesome tunnel. Proper dark it was. It is nearly half a kilometre long, with a wooden handrail in various stages of wonkyness. You can return above ground but where’s the fun in that; we went through it again 🙂
However, one word of warning. There are some strange goings on…… At the aqueduct entrance to the tunnel there is a nice sign giving some details and it forecasts that it will take approximately 12 minutes to get through the tunnel ( I think it refers to boats, not walkers). However, on the other end a similar nice sign states it will take 10 minutes….
At the tunnel side of the aqueduct a sign welcomes you to Wales. At the other end it welcomes you to England…… besides a tunnel that steals 2 minutes of your life, crossing the aqueduct clearly takes you across nomans land. Despite these ‘quirks’ a pleasant afternoon at Chirk, all in all a 5 mile walk but the canal goes on and on so fill yer boots.
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