The iconic structures along the 11-mile corridor of the Dee Valley in North Wales will be lit up for three weeks to mark the 10th anniversary of World Heritage status.

Pontcysyllte Aqueduct, a UNESCO World Heritage Site in North Wales

The event runs from 7th to 27th October and celebrates the ten-year anniversary since Thomas Telford’s breathtaking nineteenth century Pontcysyllte Aqueduct was given the prestigious UNESCO World Heritage Status in 2009. It also coincides with the hosting of the UK’s World Heritage Annual Conference and AGM in Llangollen, entitled ‘Making The Most Of World Heritage’, in October. 

Each site is unique and is either graded, a scheduled monument, or both, and will be lit up for two hours each evening from 7.30pm - 9.30pm.

The sites that will be lit up are:

• Aqueduct, Chirk (Grade II Scheduled Monument)
• Viaduct, Chirk (Grade II)
• Pontcysyllte Aqueduct, Trevor (Grade I Scheduled Monument)
• Dinas Bran Castle, Llangollen (Scheduled Monument)
• Horseshoe Falls, Llangollen (Grade II)

Organisers believe that the spectacle, which places the 126ft Pontcysyllte Acqueduct at the centre of the celebrations, will come to life under the cover of darkness and will encourage visitors to explore the five structures along the stretch of the Llangollen Canal from Llangollen to Chirk, within the Clwydian Range & Dee Valley Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty.

A narrowboat on the Pontcysyllte Aqueduct

Adnan Saif, Regional Director of the Canal & River Trust, said: "The Llangollen Canal is a beautiful waterway and is a lovely place to visit throughout the year. Research shows that being next to water makes you happier and healthier and this luminaire event will allow visitors to see the canal in a different light whilst helping to celebrate ten years since it became a World Heritage Site."

Lord Elis-Thomas, Deputy Minister for Culture, Sport and Tourism in the Welsh Government, said: "I’m delighted that we’ve been able to support this exciting project which is an excellent way of celebrating Pontcysyllte Aqueduct’s tenth anniversary as a World Heritage Site. This project is a great example of what can be achieved by working in partnership and how innovative ideas like this can help us make the most of our World Heritage Sites."

Janet Redler, Chief Executive of Janet Redler Travel & Tourism, added: “These fabulous structures, which dominate the breathtaking Dee Valley and Llangollen Canal, are set to light up the night sky, allowing visitors to see them as they have never seen them before, in a blaze of spectacular colour.”

This project was made possible with funding from VisitWales and the National Lottery Heritage Fund.

If you or your group would like to enjoy a tailor-made tour of Wales and the United Kingdom, exploring the Dee Valley or visiting some of the country's other 31 World Heritage Sites, please do contact our friendly team today.