Line © OpenStreetMap contributors (ODbL), checked by Global Adventurer.
The paddling route
Put in at the slipway by the lift bridge in Froncysyllte, at the south end of Pontcysyllte Aqueduct, and paddle south along the Llangollen Canal as it curves round the side of the Dee valley. After about 3 km comes Whitehouses Tunnel, 174 m long, and at Chirk the much longer Chirk Tunnel, 421 m, both open to canoes and kayaks. Beyond the tunnel the canal crosses the Ceiriog valley on Chirk Aqueduct, ten stone arches built by Telford, with the railway viaduct towering alongside. The far end is in England: take out on the bank at Chirk Bank.
It is 6 km one way; allow about 1¼ hours in a canoe or kayak and 1¾ on a paddleboard. There are no locks. The grade is Easy because of the tunnels: wear a bright head torch of at least 80 lumens, carry a whistle, look and listen for boats before you go in, and keep to one side. If you are unsure, carry round on the path over the top.
You need a licence: Paddle Cymru or Paddle UK membership includes one, or buy one from the Canal & River Trust. Chirk station is about 1 km from the take-out, with trains back towards Ruabon. Wear a buoyancy aid and check the conditions before you set off.
Route drawn by Global Adventurer along OpenStreetMap waterways (© OpenStreetMap contributors, ODbL), with figures worked out from it. Check the forecast and the ground on the day: paths change.
Good to know
- Through two tunnels, Whitehouses (174 m) and Chirk (421 m), both open to canoes
- Over Chirk Aqueduct, beside the taller railway viaduct, into England at Chirk Bank
- No locks
- Part of the Pontcysyllte Aqueduct and Canal World Heritage Site
On the water
- Put in: Slipway 52.96457, -3.08754
- Take out: Chirk Bank (bank) 52.92550, -3.05700
- No locks or weirs on the way.
- Rules and licences: Canal & River Trust. Check whether you need a licence before you go: on many inland waters in England and Wales you do, and Paddle UK membership includes one for many of them.
- Suits canoes, kayaks, paddleboards.
Getting there
Start: Froncysyllte. 52.96457, -3.08754
Places to stay nearby
Rooms in and around Chirk: Booking.com → Expedia →
Affiliate links: if you book, Global Adventurer earns a small commission at no cost to you.
Water levels, flow and the weather decide the day. The line and figures come from OpenStreetMap and our own checks; wear a buoyancy aid, check the river levels and the forecast, keep well clear of weirs and powered boats, and don't go out in flood.