(Near Llangollen)
(Pathfinder Guide N.Wales, Snowdon, Offas Dyke Walk #11)
6.8 Miles, 3hrs 40mins
We woke at Ruthin Castle to the sounds of a peacock crowing at the bedroom window (the only negative thing with this hotel, quite annoying when you want a lie-in past 6am!)
The day was sunny, and so we set off on the short drive through Llangollen and a few miles further on to the Ty Mawr park ( a small park adjacent to the River Dee)
Having parked up, we donned ruc-sacks and headed off to the park entrance then followed a very well constructed path through the park to walk alongside the river.
After about a mile or so we reached the Pontcysyllte Aqueduct. This was designed by the renowned canal engineers Thomas Telford & William Jessop in 1805. It carries the Llangollen branch of the Shropshire Union canal at a height of 127ft above the River Dee.
We followed the steps up to take us onto the top of the aqueduct.
From here we followed grassy tracks with good views over the surrounding countryside valley.
Apart from the steps up to the aqueduct the route is fairly flat and along easy paths.
Eventually after passing near Trevor Hall, we looped back to follow the canal tow path.
The canal was quite busy with colourful narrow boats.
After about 2 miles we came off the canal path, and followed a short detour downhill to a bridge, this gave us a good view of the River Dee and the aqueduct in the distance.
A short pull up the hill and we rejoined the path through the park, taking a slightly different route through it. This took us near the stone railway viaduct, which like the aqueduct made for some good pictures.
We arrived back at the car park around 14:30, taking us 3hrs 40 mins and 6.8 miles.
A mainly flat and easy walk with some good views to the valleys and pleasant canal and riverside walking.
(Afterwards we took a drive to Llangollen but the weather turned and there was heavy rain for an hour or two - the horse drawn narrow-boat ride will have to wait for another time!)
Our Walk Score 7/10
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