Takes advantage of Pontcysyllte tourists

Published: Sunday, 01 January 2017

THE Pontcysyllte Aqueduct gaining World Heritage Site status has been a blessing to trip boat operator Peter Jones and his two narrowboats.

It has made the aqueduct a tourist attraction, for people from literally all over the world, so that even now, in the winter he is still operating his boats along the Llangollen Canal and over the aqueduct, Alan Tilbury tells us.

Business booming

In fact unlike many trip boat operators who close down for the winter months, his business is booming with tourists wanting to cruise the Llangollen over the Dee valley.

Only last week he had a party of Japanese tourists booking their seats in advance to take one of the most iconic of boat trips available on the waterways, with the trips including such as roast chicken meals with the trimmings on his boats, and of course Welsh cream teas.

Maintenance work

The only thing that stops his boats is when the canal freezes over, which he remarks last occurred ten years ago, though maintenance work on the aqueduct or the canal does put a stop to any cruises.

Many people though change their minds about a trip after seeing the height of the structure, he remarks. with others walking along with the rails on one side and the moving boat on the other, so afraid are they of heights.