The Chirk Aqueduct and Viaduct on the Chester-Shrewsbury Line

View of a wooded valley from Ponycysyllte

Train travelling along the Chester to Shrewsbury picturesque line

Train travelling along the Chirk Viaduct on the Chester to Shrewsbury line

Journey along impressive viaducts and see amazing panoramic views of cities, towns and villages along the line.

From Roman Chester with its walls and world famous Rows travelling through rolling countryside in to the retail centre of Wrexham. Along the way, look out for the World Heritage site at Pontcysyllte, this stunning aqueduct known as the stream in the sky can be seen from the train window. You’ll reach the end of the line at the picturesque town of Shrewsbury with its riverside walks, castle and abbey to explore.

Discover how you can explore Wales by public transport for safe, sustainable, scenic journeys with Wales on Rails here.

Highlights

Great views of the Dee Valley from the impressive Newbridge Viaduct and of the Ceiriog Valley from the Chirk Viaduct

Stop off and explore the 11 mile World Heritage site and Pontcysyllte Aqueduct from either Ruabon or Chirk stations

Explore Chester, great for shopping, eating out but also uncover its heritage and walk along the historic city walls

Find out more

Local line website

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Getting there

Train/bus Car Plane

Shrewsbury and Chester are railway hubs with good train connections both to Liverpool and Manchester at Chester and Birmingham, Aberystwyth and Heart of Wales at Shrewsbury. Look up times.

Route

Chester - Shrewsbury

Cost

£11.40 Off-Peak Day Return

Opening times

7 days a week | all year

Journey time

55min

Distance

84 miles | 136 km

Time from London

2:00 hours (see itinerary)

Plan your trip

Suggested itinerary

Take the train from Cardiff to Shrewsbury. Trains leave regularly throughout the day (look up times) and the journey takes approximately 2 hours.

Walking the aqueducts and tunnels of the Llangollen Canal (3½ mile walk)

Catch a morning train from Shrewsbury or Chester to Ruabon – leaving hourly, taking 30 minutes. Buses leave every 10 minutes or so from outside the station entrance for Llangollen. It takes 10 minutes to reach ‘The Pontcysyllte Aqueduct’– ask the driver where to get off. It is pronounced 'Pont-kus-sulth-the'.

From the bus stop follow the big brown sign to Pontcysyllte World Heritage Site. It is only a five-minute walk. Enjoy canal boats on the basin. There is also in the summer a snack bar and toilets. Boat trips can be taken from here or start your exciting walk.

You will need a good head for heights to cross the breathtaking 1007ft long aqueduct. Built by the famous Thomas Telford it carries the canal 126ft above the River Dee. Known as the ‘stream in the sky’.

Once on the other side, it’s an easy 3 mile canal towpath walk including some dark tunnels so a torch might be useful! You emerge from the long tunnel to see the lovely Chirk aqueduct and above it the viaduct for the Chester to Shrewsbury rail line.

A short walk that’s signposted, will bring you out in the village of Chirk where there are places to eat and shop. Chirk railway station is a short walk from the centre where trains run every hour to Chester and Shrewsbury. There are places to stay in the area and if you are staying over why not visit Chirk Castle? It’s a 30 minute very pleasant walk from Chirk Station or a short taxi ride.

Attractions along the Chester to Shrewsbury Line include:

Chester Zoo

Explore the UK's most visited zoo with over 15000 animals and 500 different species, originally opened in 1931.

Journey time – catch the X8 bus from Chester station direct to the zoo entrance

English Heritage Chester Castle

Explore this historic gem in the heart of Chester and the 12th-century Agricola Tower, the first stone gateway to Chester Castle.

Journey time – 23 minute walk from Chester station

National Trust Erddig Hall

Explore a much-loved home, garden and estate filled with the stories of a family and their servants.

Journey time – 38 minute walk from Wrexham station

Pontcysylte World Heritage Site

Walk alongside the stream in the sky. Don’t forget your camera!

Journey time – catch the TrawsCymru bus from Ruabon station

National Trust Chirk Castle

Magnificent medieval fortress of the Welsh Marches.

Journey time – 30 minute walk from Chirk station

Shrewsbury Castle

A red sandstone castle that is now home to the spectacular collections of the Shropshire Regimental Museum Trust including pictures, uniforms, medals, weapons and other equipment from the 18th Century to the present day.

Journey time – 2 minute walk from Shrewsbury station

Shrewsbury Abbey

This picturesque abbey was founded as a Benedictine Monastery by Roger de Montgomery in 1083.

Journey time – 16 minute walk from Shrewsbury station