We don’t know if the Pontcysyllte Aqueduct is the most harmful place to SUP (stand-up paddleboard) on Earth, but it seems like a strong contender. The accessible aqueduct transportations water– and individuals on paddleboards, kayaks, and small boats– taking a trip 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 simply 12 feet broad.
The aqueduct and linking canal are a UNESCO World Heritage Site built between 1795 and 1805. The aqueduct was an ambitious project at the time, almost 3 times higher than existing aqueducts. It kept its title of the highest accessible aqueduct in the world for 200 years.
“The aqueduct is a pioneering work of art of engineering and monumental metal architecture, developed by the commemorated civil engineer Thomas Telford,” UNESCO says on its site. “Making use of both cast and wrought iron in the aqueduct allowed the construction of arches that were light and strong, producing a general effect that is both significant and classy.”
If you wish to see this engineering marvel up close and personal, you can walk on the ledge or cross in the water by boat. Some people press their luck by SUP-ing it.
Ally Law provided it a try, even though he didn’t have any experience on a paddleboard. See it here:
Is This Allowed? Unfortunately, people have actually died by falling from the Pontcysyllte Aqueduct. It is essential to note that anybody who paddleboards here is technically not following the rules. You’re expected to dismount and stroll your paddleboard across.
The Canal & River Trust points out that there is no protective railing on the canal side. The trust even more says it’s “a no-go” crossing for stand-up paddleboarders. Even if you’re steady on your board, there’s constantly an opportunity something could take place to knock you off balance.
If you wish to cross in such a way that more secure (and enabled), you can always schedule an assisted canoe or kayak tour. Or, you can merely walk across.
Would you SUP, kayak, or perhaps stroll across the Pontcysyllte Aqueduct?
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Is the Pontcysyllte Aqueduct the most hazardous place to SUP on Earth? It’s 1,000 feet long, 126 feet high, and just 12 feet wide.