Llangollen

Happy Christmas! We came here for my Christmas present. Canoeing over the Pontcysyllte Aqueduct. At 126 feet tall, it’s the highest aqueduct in the world. It was completed in 1805 , having taken 10 years to build. The engineer was Telford. On the Sunday James and I kitted out in buoyancy aid took to the water in a canoe and under the guidance of the tour guide we made out way to the aqueduct down the beautiful canal. The guide giving us lessons in how to paddle as we went. James and I gave ourselves away doing strokes that we had not been taught by him. John and Cameron walked along the tow path until the aqueduct and then went to the pub. Stopping in the middle of the aqueduct , a narrow cast iron wall between us and nothing, I took pictures of the stunning view, now James is a little scared of heights, so I don’t think me stopping was appreciated. After crossing the bridge we parked the canoes and went to look under the aqueduct, the very enthusiastic guide giving lots of facts about the aqueduct, its sealed with sugar, the aqueduct isn’t fastened on, no-one died building it, etc.

We’d hired a airbnb, a cottage outside Llangollen, very nice and peaceful, with an abundance of house martins swooping around it, and an almost constant call from a buzzard. We went to look at Plas Newydd House an intriguing place if you are ever in the area, although I didn’t really like the style of excessive carvings personally. Llangollen is a nice little town, rather a tourist trap, but you can see why. Before leaving on the Monday John and I climbed Castell Dinas Brân and completed the day looking at the horseshoe waterfalls, also built by Telford to feed the canal. Rather a pleasant weekend

Thankyou James for the Christmas Pressy.