A small but charming town in the UK is home to a 700-year-old castle and an impressive that sits 70 feet above a majestic river.
Chirk in Wales is set among the stunning and rural countryside near the Shropshire border, located just 10 miles south of Wrexham. It has a population of less than 5,000 residents, boasting a train station and local amenities – yet, it’s the town’s impressive landmarks that have garnered national attention.
One of its most striking features is the Chirk Aqueduct and Viaduct. Made up of a canal and a railway, the impressive structures are known across Wales and beyond, standing dramatically above the small town of Chirk, arguably as one of the most interesting bridges.
The aqueduct measures 220 meters (720 feet) in length and carries the Llangollen Canal 70 feet above the River Ceiriog. Meanwhile, the viaduct, a part of the bridge adjacent to the aqueduct, carries the railway over the valleys and boasts ten large arches, each spanning approximately 12 meters (40 feet).
Remarkably, the aqueduct is where you can place one foot in England and the other foot in Wales all at once, as it straddles the border between the two countries. The aqueduct was designed by William Jessop and Thomas Telford and completed in 1801, while the viaduct was created by Henry Robertson in 1848.
Just a few minutes walk from Chirk centre, visitors can stroll along the towpath beside the canal (aqueduct) and through the tunnels, known as ‘The Darkies’. Elsewhere, visitors can glide along the aqueduct to admire the sprawling valley views during a guided kayak or canoe tour.
Visitors have long praised the incredible structures, with one sharing on TripAdvisor: “Impressive aqueduct with some lovely views. Also has a train viaduct next to it. You can walk across if you don’t mind heights!”
A second commented: “Amazing engineering for the time. The walk along the canal through the tunnel is worth doing. If you like walking, continue on to the Pontcysyllte Aqueduct. Even more amazing.”
Another marked it as a “must see in Chirk” and wrote: “Parked at the nearby cafe Wylfa for refreshments and then walked over to see the aqueduct and viaduct – amazing architecture and lovely views.”
While one more added: “Great walk along the canal and view from the aqueduct, and a great experience when a narrow boat comes along as you are walking over the aqueduct.”
But Chirk Aqueduct and Viaduct isn’t the only magnificent feature of this small Welsh town, as it also has a beautiful 13th-century Castle. The Grade I listed medieval fortress was originally built for King Edward I as a form of defence and completed in 1310.
The castle was later converted into a stately home, but is today owned by the National Trust. Visitors can explore the state rooms, featuring grand interiors and collections, including its 17th-century long gallery and 18th-century saloon with tapestries, a servants’ hall, library, and a 1920s-style bow room.
The grounds surrounding the castle are just as magnificent, more than 480 acres of estate land, home to wild ponies and sheep. Elsewhere, there are the manicured gardens spanning more than five acres, with a charming terrace offering views across the rural countryside.
Visitors have noted its impressive features, as one wrote on TripAdvisor: “Chirk Castle is a beautifully maintained National Trust castle high on a hill overlooking spectacular countryside. We were fortunate to visit on a lovely day, which showed it off brilliantly. I was particularly fascinated by the restoration work going on in the library while visitors were present. The skill on show and willingness to discuss the work was first-class. Indeed, all the staff I spoke to were excellent.
A second shared: “We had a great time visiting Chirk. An incredible site with so much to see and do, we barely scratched the surface. I’ll happily return one day.”
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This story originally appeared on Express.co.uk
