Britain's 3,000-mile canal network is made up of thousands of historic structures, including hundreds of aqueducts. 

Aqueducts were originally invented by the Romans, but the idea of a 'canal in the sky' was initially ridiculed by the canal builders, concerned about the amount of masonry required to support the weight of the water above.  However, hudreds of canal aqueducts went on to be constructed across the canal network and have survived to become some of the most iconic sights on Britain's waterways.

Drifters Waterway Holidays offers over 500 boats for hire from 40 locations across England, Scotland and Wales.  2025 hire prices start at £630 for a short break (three or four nights) on a boat for four, £875 for a week.  Tuition is included in all Drifters holiday packages.

Drifters has published a guide the top 10 aqueducts for canal boat holiday-makers to cruise across:

1. The Stream in the Sky in North Wales

Standing 38 metres high above the Dee Valley, the awesome Pontcysyllte Aqueduct on the Llangollen Canal in North Wales is the longest and highest aqueduct in Britain. Granted UNESCO World Heritage Status in 2009, the aqueduct was designed by Thomas Telford and completed in 1805. Its 305-metre long cast iron trough is supported by 19 enormous hollow pillars.  Ox blood was added to the lime mortar used to bind the masonry together, as it was believed the blood of a strong animal would help strengthen the structure.  This aqueduct can easily be reached from Drifters' bases at Trevor, Chirk, Blackwater Meadow, Whitchurch, Wrenbury and Whixall.

***The 67ft 'Anna' narrowboat for up to four people is currently available for a weekend break from Trevor 2-5 May 2025 for £882, saving £98. Price includes boat hire, gas, car parking, tuition on arrival, buoyancy aids, bed linen towels and up to three pets.  Diesel is extra – a £70 deposit is taken for short breaks (three or four nights), £110 for a week.  Charge based on use, circa £15 per day. 

2. Avoncliff Aqueduct in Somerset

Designed by canal engineer John Rennie, the beautiful Bath stone Avoncliff Aqueduct carries the Kennet & Avon Canal across the Avon Valley near Bath.  It is over 100 metres long and 18 metres wide.  It can easily be reach on a canal boat holiday from Drifters' bases at Bath, Monkton Combe, Bradford on Avon, Hilperton and Devizes.

**The 47ft 'African Swift' narrowboat for up to four people is currently available for a four-night mid-week break from Hilperton 14-18 April 2025 for £850, saving £149.  Price includes a non-refundable damage waiver, bed linen, towels, car parking, two pets, buoyancy aids and tuition.  A fuel deposit of £110 for a week is payable with the balance of hire. Fuel costs are approx. £15 per day.

3. Chirk Aqueduct on the Welsh border

Also part of the Llangollen Canal World Heritage site, the striking Chirk Aqueduct was completed in 1801.  It was designed by William Jessop and Thomas Telford.  It is 220 metres long and carries the Llangollen Canal 21 metres high above the River Ceiriog, using 10 circular masonry arches.  Narrowboat holiday-makers can easily reach the Chirk Aqueduct from Drifters bases at Chirk, Trevor, Blackwater Meadow, Whitchurch, Wrenbury and Whixall.

***The 52ft Princess narrowboat for up to six people is currently available for a weekend break from Chirk 6-9 June 2025 for £1,190, saving £209.  Price includes boat hire, damage waiver, gas, car parking, tuition, buoyancy aids, bed linen and towels. Diesel is extra, charged based on use on return, circa £15 per day.

4. The Avon Aqueduct in Scotland

At 247 metres long, the impressive Avon Aqueduct in Scotland is the second longest aqueduct in Britain.  It carries the Union Canal 29.5 metres high above the River Avon near Linlithgow.  Designed by Hugh Baird, with advice from Thomas Telford, the aqueduct was constructed between 1819 and 1821. Drifters offers canal boat hire three cruising hours away at Falkirk.

***The 48ft Princess narrowboat for up to four people is currently available for a week's break from Falkirk 4-11 July 2025 for £1,785, saving £314.  Price includes boat hire, damage waiver, gas, car parking, tuition, buoyancy aids, bed linen and towels. Diesel is extra, charged based on use on return, circa £15 per day. An additional licence is required to cruise from Falkirk, priced at £15 for three days, or £25 for longer.

5. The Iron Trunk Aqueduct in Buckinghamshire

This magnificent engineering structure was the world's first wide canal cast iron trough aqueduct.  It carries the Grand Union Canal 12 metres high across the River Great Ouse, close to the village of Cosgrove.  It was built in 1811 by canal engineer Benjamin Beavan, and is made up of two cast iron trough spans, with a single masonry pier.  Drifters' nearest narrowboat hire base is a five-hour cruise away at Gayton.

***The 66ft 'American Thrush' narrowboat for up to six people is currently available for a mid-week break from Gayton 4-8 August 2025 for £1,520, saving £379.  Price includes a non-refundable damage waiver, bed linen, towels, car parking, two pets, buoyancy aids and tuition.  A fuel deposit of £110 for a week is payable with the balance of hire. Fuel costs are approx. £15 per day.

6. Dundas Aqueduct in Somerset

Another Bath stone aqueduct designed by John Rennie, this structure on the Kennet & Avon Canal near Bath was completed in 1810.  It's a Scheduled Ancient Monument and connects the Kennet & Avon Canal to the Somerset Coal Canal.  It can easily be reached from Drifters' bases at Bath, Monkton Coombe, Bradford on Avon, Hilperton and Devizes.

***The 66ft 'Einstein's Fox' narrowboat for up to seven people is currently available for a week's break from Devizes 22-29 August 2025 for £2,614, saving £427.  Price includes diesel, gas, damage waiver, bed linen, towels, canal map, life jackets, parking and tuition. Pets are extra, charged at £30 each.

7. Edstone Aqueduct in Warwickshire

Carrying the Stratford Canal across three railway tracks, a minor road, a stream and a field, this 146-metre-long structure is the longest cast iron aqueduct in England.  Completed in 1816, it was amongst the earliest prefabricated structures, made up of 35 separate sections bolted together.  It is an hour's cruise away from Drifters' narrowboat hire base at Wootton Wawen.

***The 48ft 'Teddington' narrowboat for up to four people is currently available for a weekend's break from Wootton Wawen 19-22 September 2025 for £815, saving £90. Price includes boat hire, gas, car parking, tuition on arrival, buoyancy aids, bed linen towels and up to three pets.  Diesel is extra – a £70 deposit is taken for short breaks (three or four nights), £110 for a week.  Charge based on use, circa £15 per day. 

8. The Lune Aqueduct in Lancashire

This Grade I listed iconic structure carries the Lancaster Canal 16 metres high above the River Lune.  Completed in 1797, it was designed by John Rennie and has five 21 metre high semi-circular arches.  The nearest Drifters base is a week's cruise away at Acton Bridge in Cheshire. 

***The 58ft 'Duchess' narrowboat for up to four people is currently available for a two-week break from Acton Bridge 15-19 September 2025 for £2,924, saving £974.  Price includes boat hire, gas, car parking, tuition on arrival, damage waiver, buoyancy aids, bed linen and towels.  Fuel is charged on return, circa £10-15 per day. 

9. Nantwich Aqueduct in Cheshire

The impressive Grade II* listed Nantwich Aqueduct offers canal boat holiday-makers panoramic views across the historic market town of Nantwich.  It carries the Shropshire Union Canal over the A534 Chester Road.  It was designed by the famous canal engineer Thomas Telford and completed 1826.  Drifters' nearest narrowboat hire base is just two hours away at Bunbury, near Tarporley.

***The 65ft 'Carina' narrowboat for up to four people is currently available for a weekend's break from Bunbury 3-6 October 2025 for £1,062, saving £118. Price includes boat hire, gas, car parking, tuition on arrival, buoyancy aids, bed linen towels and up to three pets.  Diesel is extra – a £70 deposit is taken for short breaks (three or four nights), £110 for a week.  Charge based on use, circa £15 per day. 

10. Barton Swing Aqueduct in Greater Manchester

This Grade II* listed structure carries the Bridgewater Canal across the Manchester Ship Canal.  It opened in 1893 and was the first and only swing aqueduct in the world.  Weighing 1,450 tonnes, this 100-metre long aqueduct swings open, full of water, to allow the passage of ships along the Manchester Ship Canal.  Drifters' nearest base is a nine-hour cruise away at Acton Bridge.

***The 62ft 'Duchess Signature' narrowboat for up to six people is currently available for a week's break from Acton Bridge 27 May to 3 June 2025 for £2,465, saving £434.  Price includes boat hire, gas, car parking, tuition on arrival, damage waiver, buoyancy aids, bed linen and towels.  Fuel is charged on return, circa £10-15 per day. 

For more information about Drifters boating holidays call 0344 984 0322 or visit www.drifters.co.uk

For more information about visiting the canals go to www.canalrivertrust.org.uk

Ends

For further media information and images contact:

Debbie Walker, Drifters Waterway Holidays: 077486 40577/01628 318069 walker.debbie@sky.com

Notes to Editors:

Drifters Waterway Holidays is made up of nine hire boat companies: ABC Boat Hire, Anglo Welsh, Black Prince, Countrywide Cruisers, Kate Boats, Foxhangers, Napton Narrowboats, Shire Cruisers and Union Canal Carriers.  Between them they offer over 500 boats for hire, operating from 40 bases across England, Scotland and Wales.  2025 hire prices start at £630 for a short break, £875 for a week.  Narrowboats range from 32ft to 70ft and can accommodate up to 12 people.  All Drifters operators provide hirers with life jackets and boat steering tuition.  www.drifters.co.uk Tel 0344 984 0322.