We don’t know if the Pontcysyllte Aqueduct is the most dangerous place to SUP (stand-up paddleboard) on Earth, but it seems like a solid contender. The navigable aqueduct transports water—and people on paddleboards, kayaks, and small boats—traveling through the Llangollen Canal across the River Dee in northeastern Wales. The Pontcysyllte Aqueduct is a little over 1,000 feet long, 126 feet high, and just 12 feet wide.
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The aqueduct and connecting canal are a UNESCO World Heritage Site built between 1795 and 1805. The aqueduct was an ambitious project at the time, nearly three times higher than existing aqueducts. It kept its title of the highest navigable aqueduct in the world for 200 years.
“The aqueduct is a pioneering masterpiece of engineering and monumental metal architecture, conceived by the celebrated civil engineer Thomas Telford,” UNESCO says on its website. “The use of both cast and wrought iron in the aqueduct enabled the construction of arches that were light and strong, producing an overall effect that is both monumental and elegant.”
If you want to see this engineering marvel up close and personal, you can walk on the ledge or cross in the water by boat. Some people push their luck by SUP-ing it.
Ally Law gave it a try, even though he didn’t have any experience on a paddleboard. Watch it here:
Is This Allowed?
Unfortunately, people have died by falling from the Pontcysyllte Aqueduct. It’s important to note that anyone who paddleboards here is technically not following the rules. You’re supposed to dismount and walk your paddleboard across.
The Canal & River Trust points out that there is no protective railing on the canal side. The trust further says it’s “a no-go” crossing for stand-up paddleboarders. Even if you’re stable on your board, there’s always a chance something could happen to knock you off balance.
If you want to cross in a way that safer (and allowed), you can always book a guided canoe or kayak tour. Or, you can simply walk across.
Would you SUP, kayak, or even walk across the Pontcysyllte Aqueduct?
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