I’m gazing out across a vibrant green summer landscape from 38 metres above the River Dee in North Wales, sitting in a rubber raft. To achieve this feat I’ve travelled to the Snowdonia National Park, an area of wild, green mountains and hills through which runs the world’s highest navigable aqueduct, and paddled my ‘packraft’ across the aqueduct, which transports the 200-year-old Llangollen Canal across the River Dee.
My ‘packraft’ is essentially a lightweight inflatable raft that is carried in a backpack until ready to use, with collapsible paddles attached to the outside the pack; the raft folds down so small when not in use that you can also get all your other travel essentials inside your pack and then set off across the countryside to explore for a few hours, days or even weeks.