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Llangollen and Pontcysyllte
Telford's Pontcysyllte Aqueduct, horse-drawn canal boats and a riverside town in the Dee Valley
Llangollen is a small town on the River Dee in Denbighshire, north-east Wales, at the edge of the Clwydian Range and Dee Valley Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty. Its stone bridge, its canal wharf and its heritage railway sit within a few minutes' walk of each other, and the ruins of Castell Dinas Brân stand on the hill above the town.
About 6 km east of the town, Thomas Telford's Pontcysyllte Aqueduct carries the Llangollen Canal across the Dee valley. Completed in 1805, it is the longest aqueduct in Great Britain and the highest canal aqueduct in the world. The aqueduct and 11 miles of the canal, from Gledrid near Chirk to the Horseshoe Falls above Llangollen, were inscribed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2009.
- Site du patrimoine mondialSince 2009The Pontcysyllte Aqueduct and 11 miles of canal, from Gledrid to the Horseshoe Falls
- Nearest main-line stationsRuabon and ChirkThe World Heritage Site's own guide lists both, with buses on to the canal
- BusArriva number 5Hourly from Wrexham bus station and Ruabon station to Trevor and Llangollen, according to the World Heritage Site guide
- Eisteddfod7 to 11 July 2027The Llangollen International Musical Eisteddfod's 80th festival
Quartiers
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Arriving in Llangollen and Pontcysyllte
Llangollen has no main-line station; the heritage railway runs only up the valley to Corwen. The World Heritage Site's own guide recommends the train to Ruabon or Chirk and a bus on. Check the operators for times and fares.
En train
The nearest main-line stations are Ruabon and Chirk, according to the Pontcysyllte Aqueduct and Canal World Heritage Site guide, with buses from both to the canal. Wikipedia puts Chirk station 1.5 miles from Chirk Castle.
En bus
The World Heritage Site guide says the Arriva number 5 bus runs every hour, 7am to 10pm, from Wrexham bus station (25 minutes past the hour) and Ruabon station (43 minutes past), along the A539 past Station Road for Trevor Basin and on to Llangollen. The number 2 links Chirk with the number 5 at Plas Madoc.
En voiture
The World Heritage Site guide suggests the M53 or M56 from the north-west and the M54 from the Midlands, then the A539 from the Ruabon interchange. Its three aqueduct car parks are signed off the A539: Queen Street near Cefn Mawr (LL14 3SG) is the main one. Do not park at Froncysyllte Basin off the A5.
Travel details are as published by the Pontcysyllte Aqueduct and Canal World Heritage Site (checked 3 November 2026). Check the operator before you travel.
Walk the town
The bridge, the wharf, the railway station and St Collen's Church are all in the town centre. Plas Newydd is a short walk uphill to the south-east.
Along the canal
The towpath follows the canal from Llangollen Wharf east towards Trevor and the aqueduct, and west along the narrow feeder to the Horseshoe Falls. Llangollen Wharf also runs motorised boat trips across the aqueduct.
Up the valley
The Llangollen Railway runs 10 miles west to Corwen, stopping at Berwyn, a short walk from the Horseshoe Falls. Valle Crucis Abbey and Eliseg's Pillar are about 2 miles north of the town.
Paying for local transport in Llangollen and Pontcysyllte
Transport for Wales.Transport for Wales Rail lists Advance, season, single, return, flexible and off-peak tickets, sold online, in its app or at stations, with no booking fees. Its site also promoted a £1 bus fare for children and young people (as shown on 1 November 2026).TfW ticket types (opens in new tab)
Meilleure période
Llangollen and Pontcysyllte through the year
The canal and the town are open all year, but boat trips, the railway and the historic houses run to seasons and timetables. Check each operator's own site before you travel.
The Llangollen International Musical Eisteddfod fills the town: the 2027 festival runs from 7 to 11 July. Book accommodation early.
Plas Newydd house reopened for the 2026 season on 28 March, and the Llangollen Railway runs daily services in summer, according to Wikipedia.
Quieter, with Santa Specials on the railway from 28 November 2026. Wikipedia notes the Horseshoe Pass road is often closed by snow or landslides in winter.
International choirs, dancers and evening concerts in the Pavilion; 2027 is the festival's 80th year.
Llangollen International Musical Eisteddfod →Christmas steam trains in the Dee Valley; book on the railway's site.
Llangollen Railway →FAQ
Bon à savoir avant de partir
How do I get from Llangollen to the Pontcysyllte Aqueduct?
Take a motorised boat trip from Llangollen Wharf, walk the canal towpath east, or catch the Arriva number 5 bus to Station Road for Trevor Basin, at the north end of the aqueduct.
Can you walk across the Pontcysyllte Aqueduct?
Yes. A towpath runs along one side of the water channel, according to Wikipedia. The World Heritage Site's canal safety advice asks walkers to keep dogs on a lead and stay away from the water's edge.
Where should I park for the aqueduct?
Use the signed car parks off the A539, mainly Queen Street near Cefn Mawr (LL14 3SG). The car park next to Trevor Basin is for blue badge and permit holders, and the World Heritage Site asks drivers not to park at Froncysyllte Basin.
When is the Llangollen Eisteddfod?
The 2027 Llangollen International Musical Eisteddfod runs from Wednesday 7 to Sunday 11 July 2027, according to the festival.
Nearby places
Guides near Llangollen and Pontcysyllte
Our closest other guides, by straight-line distance between centres. Road and rail distances are longer: check a journey planner.
Crédits photos
- Llangollen and Pontcysyllte (header): Adrian Pingstone, Public domain, source
Photos from Wikimedia Commons, used under the licences shown. All photo credits
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More guides for Llangollen and Pontcysyllte
- Where to stay in Llangollen and PontcysyllteQuel quartier convient à quel voyageur, avec chaque hébergement que nous avons vérifié.
- Getting around Llangollen and PontcysyllteAvec et sans voiture, d’après les pages officielles des transports.
- When to go to Llangollen and PontcysyllteMétéo, durée du jour et bagages, mois par mois.
- Rainy-day ideas in Llangollen and PontcysyllteActivités en intérieur, par quartier.
- Events in Llangollen and PontcysyllteFestivals, marchés et événements de saison, d’après les organisateurs.
- Attractions in Llangollen and PontcysyllteSites et musées, avec indications d’entrée et d’accès lorsqu’elles sont vérifiées.
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