Don’t read this if you’re scared of heights or water: packrafting along the world’s highest aqueduct in a 2kg boat

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.

In its current form, it is one of the newest outdoor adventure sports, although the original concept actually dates back to Victorian times, when British inventor Lieutenant Peter Halkett invented a collapsible and inflatable boat that could also be worn as a cloak.

Inflatable, transportable assault craft were used by both sides in second world war, and then through the 1980s and 90s Thor and Sheri Tingey (son and mother) of Alpacka Packrafts developed the concept of the modern packraft for outdoor adventures in Alaska, since when packrafting has become increasingly popular, especially in North America and Scandinavia.

The Pontcysyllte Aqueduct, an elegant, 18-arch structure completed in 1805 and a Unesco World Heritage Site, marks the spectacular finale to an introductory day of packrafting led by Jason Taylor, chief guide with Tirio, one of only two packrafting companies in the UK.