Pontcysyllte Aqueduct and Trevor Basin
Wrexham
Pontcysyllte Aqueduct carries the Llangollen Canal 38 metres above the River Dee on 18 stone piers, an early 19th century engineering feat by Thomas Telford and William Jessop that is now the centrepiece of the Pontcysyllte Aqueduct and Canal World Heritage Site. Dogs cross it on a lead, since the towpath is narrow with a sheer, unrailed drop on the outer side where boats pass close by. This out and back walk starts at Trevor Basin, where the Llangollen Canal meets the old Ruabon branch, and follows the towpath across the aqueduct before continuing towards Llangollen through stone bridges and wooded, hillside sections with valley views. The towpath is virtually flat, covering around 3.2km each way, and can be shortened by turning back after the crossing.
This is a dog friendly walk on gentle, hard surfaced terrain, popular with local dog walkers for its flat going and woodland variety on the return leg. The exposed towpath across the aqueduct is the one section to take seriously: it is narrow with a real drop, so keep a dog on a lead while crossing, however confident it normally is off lead. Away from the aqueduct there is more freedom, with little livestock along the canal corridor, though sheep graze some surrounding fields. There is no water access for a swim. Trevor Basin has a pay and display car park, a visitor centre cafe, and the nearby Telford Inn and Aqueduct Inn are known to welcome dogs.
At a Glance
- Distance
- 6.4 km (4.0 miles)
- Difficulty
- Easy
- Duration
- 1 hr 50 min
- Walk Type
- Canal, Historic
- Route Type
- Out and Back
- Off Lead Potential
- Low
- Livestock Risk
- Low
- Facilities
- Cafe and toilets at Trevor Basin Visitor Centre; the Telford Inn and Aqueduct Inn nearby are dog friendly.
- Parking
- Trevor Basin Visitor Centre car park, Canal & River Trust, pay and display.
Dog Friendly Stays Nearby
Make a weekend of it. These are the closest dog friendly places to stay to Pontcysyllte Aqueduct and Trevor Basin, each one checked for its dog policy before we listed it.
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All dog friendly stays in WrexhamFrequently Asked Questions
Is Pontcysyllte Aqueduct and Trevor Basin dog friendly?
Yes, this is a well-loved spot for dogs and their owners, earning a solid 8/10 on our dog friendly rating. The towpath is flat and hard surfaced, making it easy going for most dogs, and there's little livestock along the canal corridor itself. Trevor Basin has a visitor centre cafe with toilets on site, and both the Telford Inn and Aqueduct Inn nearby are known to welcome dogs.
Can dogs be off lead at Pontcysyllte Aqueduct and Trevor Basin?
Away from the aqueduct itself, there's reasonable freedom along the canal towpath, with little livestock to worry about in the immediate corridor. However, dogs must be kept on a lead while crossing the aqueduct — the towpath is narrow with a sheer, unrailed drop on the outer side where boats pass close by, and this applies however confident your dog normally is off lead. Some surrounding fields do have sheep grazing, so it's worth keeping an eye out as you explore.
What should I know before visiting Pontcysyllte Aqueduct and Trevor Basin with my dog?
The walk starts at Trevor Basin, where you can park at the Canal & River Trust pay and display car park, and follows the towpath around 3.2km each way across the aqueduct and on towards Llangollen — though you can turn back after the crossing if you'd prefer a shorter outing. The key thing to prepare for is the aqueduct crossing itself: it sits 38 metres above the River Dee and the towpath is genuinely narrow with no rail on the outer edge, so a lead is essential here. There's no water access for a swim along the route, so bring enough water for your dog, especially on warmer days.
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Trevor Basin Visitor Centre Car Park, Station Road, Trevor, Wrexham LL20 7TY
52.9723, -3.0865
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