As part of a group of six, we took to the water in Wales to take in the stunning views from the Pontcysyllte Aqueduct – a World Heritage Site.
The unpredictable British weather was kind to us on this particular day, with the sun peeking through the clouds, making our canoeing adventure in Wrexham, Wales, all the more enjoyable.
With assistance from a member of staff at TNR Outdoors, we steadied ourselves into the boat on Llangollen Canal and were directed to follow the straightforward path along the Pontcysyllte Aqueduct – a World Heritage Site.
In pairs, we paddled across the Pontcysyllte Aqueduct, which stretches 1,007ft long and stands 126ft above the stunning River Dee.
This renowned viewing spot offered breathtaking views of the lush greenery surrounding the flowing river.
Thankfully, this peaceful moment came within 15 minutes of our departure, providing a welcome break from the initial bickering among some couples about how to row the boat.
As we navigated through the narrow passageway, we spotted a shop and decided to grab some water and take a breather.
It was at this crucial juncture that we all swapped our canoeing partners, making the remainder of the journey much smoother.
With just over two hours left for round two, we prepared to manoeuvre along the canal that straddles the border between England and Wales.
We had rented the canoes for three hours (£60 per canoe), from 1.30pm to 4.30pm; the other available slot (which we chose not to take) was 9.30am to 12.30pm.
This should have given us ample time to row five miles of waterway but, as a group, we spent most of the time laughing while trying to operate the canoe.
My boat had a knack for colliding with other boats and the canal banks – much to the amusement of everyone on board.
As we navigated through the Chirk tunnel, we were greeted by a herd of splendid cows and before we knew it, it was time to race back to our starting point.
The only snag was waiting for all the boats to pass through the Pontcysyllte Aqueduct on our return journey, which delayed us quite a bit, but we still managed to make it back with just one minute to spare.