Latest news with #InternationalMusicalEisteddfod
Daily Mirror
16-05-2025
- Daily Mirror
UK tourist hotspot introduces strict new measures amid gridlock chaos
Llangollen, a popular gateway to Wales that attracts thousands of tourists, will introduce the additional parking spaces after struggling with a surge in visitors The picturesque Welsh town of Llangollen in Dee Valley is set to welcome nearly 180 extra parking spaces to cope with a surge in visitor numbers. During the bustling peak season, Llangollen often grapples with an influx of tourists, sparking fears that the town centre could become even more congested if it's included in a new national park. Llangollen is home to six car parks, one of which is the top earner in Denbighshire. Among these is a site at Llangollen Pavilion, the venue for the town's International Musical Eisteddfod, which is due to reveal a fresh parking area on Thursday, May 15. The Eisteddfod team, now tasked with overseeing the Pavilion, said they took action in response to the frequent lack of parking in Llangollen town centre. David Hennigan, a director on the Eisteddfod Board, voiced his belief that the new facility was sorely needed. He shared: "The other day I was speaking to someone from Ruthin who said they would like to visit Llangollen more often but they always found it a struggle to park. "Over the last Bank Holiday weekend, you could see cars driving around trying to find some where to park – the town centre was rammed! It's been a major issue in Llangollen for a while." "It seemed such a shame that when Llangollen was gridlocked, we had all this space available on the Pavilion grounds just a few minutes walk away. As we're always trying to encourage town centre trade, we hope this provision will help - we see it as a win-win for everyone." North Wales Live reports that Llangollen is a charming town nestled by the River Dee and a popular entry point to Wales, attracting thousands of tourists. The town is part of a World Heritage Site, thanks to its beloved canal, and features a heritage railway and scenic hills that are a magnet for walkers. The Pavilion will soon offer 80 new hard-surface parking spaces in an area typically used for stalls during the Eisteddfod. Additional parking will be available on grass, with both areas accessible throughout the year. Parking fees at the main car park will begin at 70p for 30 minutes, £6 for up to eight hours, and £10 for 12 hours. The Pavilion field car park will have the same charges but with a maximum stay of eight hours. Multiple payment methods will be accepted, although overnight parking will not be allowed. Parents dropping off or picking up pupils from Ysgol Dinas Bran will not incur any charges. To manage the car park and Eisteddfod grounds, Automatic Number Plate Recognition (ANPR) cameras have been installed and will operate around the clock. Organisers hope that improved security measures will deter anti-social behaviour and provide peace of mind for visitors spending the day in the Llangollen area. While boasting an 80-space car park, the Pavilion is struggling to maximise its potential being 500 metres from the town centre. According to Denbighshire Council's figures, during 2023/24, the Pavilion's parking facility only generated £3,484.73 – a figure dwarfed by the Market Street council car park which is smack in the middle of Llangollen, raking in over 50 times as much. Parking tensions are on the rise in the town, with Market Street's long-stay car park seeing a significant uptick in issued parking fines. In the year 2023, a total of 359 Penalty Charge Notices (PCNs) were handed out by the council, showing an increase of 146 from the previous year, and by mid-August 2024, the total was already at a comparable level with 349 PCNs issued. Even with new edge-of-town parking options on the horizon, they won't entirely solve Llangollen's parking problems, as these spaces will be unavailable when there are no events scheduled at the Pavilion or on its grounds. Still, John Gambles, chair of the Llangollen Eisteddfod, remains positive about the local impact of this initiative. He reminiscences: "For as long as I can remember, parking has been a huge issue in the centre of Llangollen." Gambles highlights the proactive steps undertaken since taking over the Pavilion: "When we took over the Pavilion full-time in April, one of the first things we did was look if it was possible to open up our site for additional car parking. "Any revenue raised will go towards running the Pavilion for the benefit of Llangollen and towards the running of the Llangollen Eisteddfod." The Dee Valley is on track to be incorporated into Wales' latest national park, which is presently in the process of being designated. A study by estate agency Purplebricks has disclosed that homes within the proposed national park boundaries are already commanding prices up to £100,000 higher than those outside. Critics are concerned about a potential surge in popularity in places like Llangollen if the national park becomes a reality.
Wales Online
14-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Wales Online
'Win-win' plan for pretty North Wales town 'gridlocked' by surging tourism
Our community members are treated to special offers, promotions and adverts from us and our partners. You can check out at any time. More info A picturesque Dee Valley town is to get almost 180 new parking spaces to cope with surging visitor numbers. In peak season Llangollen can struggle to accommodate the influx and there are fears the town centre squeeze will tighten if the town is included in a new national park. Llangollen has six car parks, one of which is the most lucrative in Denbighshire. These include a site at Llangollen Pavilion, home to the town's International Musical Eisteddfod, which on Thursday, May 15, will open up a new parking area. The Eisteddfod team, which now manages the Pavilion, said it took action because Llangollen town centre often suffers from a lack of car parking spaces. David Hennigan, Eisteddfod Board director, said the new facility was much needed. 'The other day I was speaking to someone from Ruthin who said they would like to visit Llangollen more often but they always found it a struggle to park," he said. 'Over the last Bank Holiday weekend, you could see cars driving around trying to find some where to park – the town centre was rammed! It's been a major issue in Llangollen for a while. 'It seemed such a shame that when Llangollen was gridlocked, we had all this space available on the Pavilion grounds just a few minutes walk away. As we're always trying to encourage town centre trade, we hope this provision will help - we see it as a win-win for everyone.' Llangollen, next to the river Dee, is a gateway-to-Wales town that attracts thousands of tourists. Part of a World Heritage Site, thanks to its popular canal, the town's heritage railway is a major draw and the countless walkers are attracted by its scenic hills. At the Pavilion, 80 new hard-surface parking spaces will be available in an area allocated for stalls during the Eisteddfod. The rest will be on grass and both areas will be open year-round. Join the North Wales Live Whatsapp community now (Image: Ian Cooper/North Wales Live) Costs for the main car park will be from 70p for 30 minutes, £6 for up to eight hours and £10 for 12 hours. The Pavilion field car park will have the same charges but with a maximum time limit of eight hours. There will be a variety of ways to pay - but there will be no overnight parking. Parents dropping off and picking up Ysgol Dinas Bran pupils will not have to pay. To monitor the car park and Eisteddfod grounds, Automatic Number Plate Recognition (ANPR) cameras have been installed, operating round the clock. Organisers believes that by improving security, it will deter anti-social behaviour and reassure visitors wanting to spend the day in the Llangollen area. The Pavilion already has an 80-space car park but, being 500 metres from the town centre, it is relatively under utilised. Denbighshire Council data shows that, in 2023/24, the Pavilion's existing car park generated a revenue of £3,484.73 – more than 50 times less than the 147-space council-run Market Street facility in the centre of Llangollen. Parking pressures in the town are illustrated by the rising number of parking fines being issued at the long-stay Market Street car park. In 2023, 359 Penalty Charge Notices (PCNs) were issued by the council, up 146 on the previous year. In the following year, this number had almost been matched by mid August 2024 (349 PCNs). (Image: Stephen McKay/Wiki) The new edge-of-town parking provision won't resolve all issues as it won't be available when there are no events on at the Pavilion or its grounds. But John Gambles, chair of the Llangollen Eisteddfod, expects this will be infrequent and believes the new facility will boost the local economy. He said: 'For as long as I can remember, parking has been a huge issue in the centre of Llangollen. 'When we took over the Pavilion full-time in April, one of the first things we did was look if it was possible to open up our site for additional car parking. Any revenue raised will go towards running the Pavilion for the benefit of Llangollen and towards the running of the Llangollen Eisteddfod.' The Dee Valley is earmarked for inclusion in Wales' newest national park, currently going through stages of designation. Research by property firm Purplebricks revealed that properties inside the proposed national park area are already up to £100,000 more expensive than equivalents outside. Critics fear a further surge in popularity in places like Llangollen if the national park comes to fruition. Sign up for the North Wales Live newsletter sent twice daily to your inbox Find family activities near you
North Wales Live
14-05-2025
- North Wales Live
'Win-win' plan for pretty North Wales town 'gridlocked' by surging tourism
A picturesque Dee Valley town is to get almost 180 new parking spaces to cope with surging visitor numbers. In peak season Llangollen can struggle to accommodate the influx and there are fears the town centre squeeze will tighten if the town is included in a new national park. Llangollen has six car parks, one of which is the most lucrative in Denbighshire. These include a site at Llangollen Pavilion, home to the town's International Musical Eisteddfod, which on Thursday, May 15, will open up a new parking area. The Eisteddfod team, which now manages the Pavilion, said it took action because Llangollen town centre often suffers from a lack of car parking spaces. David Hennigan, Eisteddfod Board director, said the new facility was much needed. 'The other day I was speaking to someone from Ruthin who said they would like to visit Llangollen more often but they always found it a struggle to park," he said. 'Over the last Bank Holiday weekend, you could see cars driving around trying to find some where to park – the town centre was rammed! It's been a major issue in Llangollen for a while. 'It seemed such a shame that when Llangollen was gridlocked, we had all this space available on the Pavilion grounds just a few minutes walk away. As we're always trying to encourage town centre trade, we hope this provision will help - we see it as a win-win for everyone.' Llangollen, next to the river Dee, is a gateway-to-Wales town that attracts thousands of tourists. Part of a World Heritage Site, thanks to its popular canal, the town's heritage railway is a major draw and the countless walkers are attracted by its scenic hills. At the Pavilion, 80 new hard-surface parking spaces will be available in an area allocated for stalls during the Eisteddfod. The rest will be on grass and both areas will be open year-round. Costs for the main car park will be from 70p for 30 minutes, £6 for up to eight hours and £10 for 12 hours. The Pavilion field car park will have the same charges but with a maximum time limit of eight hours. There will be a variety of ways to pay - but there will be no overnight parking. Parents dropping off and picking up Ysgol Dinas Bran pupils will not have to pay. To monitor the car park and Eisteddfod grounds, Automatic Number Plate Recognition (ANPR) cameras have been installed, operating round the clock. Organisers believes that by improving security, it will deter anti-social behaviour and reassure visitors wanting to spend the day in the Llangollen area. The Pavilion already has an 80-space car park but, being 500 metres from the town centre, it is relatively under utilised. Denbighshire Council data shows that, in 2023/24, the Pavilion's existing car park generated a revenue of £3,484.73 – more than 50 times less than the 147-space council-run Market Street facility in the centre of Llangollen. Parking pressures in the town are illustrated by the rising number of parking fines being issued at the long-stay Market Street car park. In 2023, 359 Penalty Charge Notices (PCNs) were issued by the council, up 146 on the previous year. In the following year, this number had almost been matched by mid August 2024 (349 PCNs). The new edge-of-town parking provision won't resolve all issues as it won't be available when there are no events on at the Pavilion or its grounds. But John Gambles, chair of the Llangollen Eisteddfod, expects this will be infrequent and believes the new facility will boost the local economy. He said: 'For as long as I can remember, parking has been a huge issue in the centre of Llangollen. 'When we took over the Pavilion full-time in April, one of the first things we did was look if it was possible to open up our site for additional car parking. Any revenue raised will go towards running the Pavilion for the benefit of Llangollen and towards the running of the Llangollen Eisteddfod.' The Dee Valley is earmarked for inclusion in Wales' newest national park, currently going through stages of designation. Research by property firm Purplebricks revealed that properties inside the proposed national park area are already up to £100,000 more expensive than equivalents outside.
North Wales Live
21-04-2025
- North Wales Live
Beautiful North Wales river town with old-school steam trains, boat trips and waterside pubs
The charming town of Llangollen fuses industrial grit with a proud Welsh music and culture scene. It sits where the Dee Valley narrows into a dramatic corridor carved through a UNESCO World Heritage landscape. The eleven-mile canal route from Gledrid to the Horseshoe Falls threads through this scenic stretch, soaring above the valley on the towering Pontcysyllte Aqueduct, a masterpiece of 19th-century engineering. Llangollen is also well-known as Wales's festival capital. Each summer, it bursts to life with the International Musical Eisteddfod – a bold, joyful celebration of global performance. Here's why you should visit this riverside town. What to do in Llangollen Canals and Aqueducts UNESCO made the eleven-mile canal from Chirk Bank to splendid Horseshoe Falls in Llangollen a World Heritage site in 2009 for its engineering features and historical operation. The popular Pontcysyllte Aqueduct is also found here and is a must-visit civil engineering destination as it's one of the more astonishing achievements of the Industrial Revolution. At 38 metres over the Dee Valley, the 'stream in the sky' is also the highest navigable Aqueduct in the world and the oldest in Britain. Designed and built by Thomas Telford and Williams Jessop, this architectural marvel is still in use over 200 years after construction began. It is a seemingly impossible canal spectacle. 18 arched stone pillars support deep cast-iron troughs filled with water, forming a River in the Sky that can be accessed by foot or boat. Each year, the canal and river trust welcomes nearly half a million visitors who arrive in droves to admire and photograph 'the stream in the sky', accessing the canal as walkers, boaters, anglers, cyclists, canoeists or kayakers. From superstar gigs to cosy pubs, find out What's On in Wales by signing up to our newsletter here. Paddle across the aqueduct Explore the waterways by canoe, and you'll find that one minute you'll be leisurely paddling through a pretty tree-lined canal and next, you're 126ft in the air, still sitting in your boat. Book a guided canoe trip with local experts Bearded Men Adventures, to paddle across the sky with the pros and experience the most epic views as you glide across the towering Pontcysyllte Aqueduct. It's a very busy waterway with loads of traditional canal boats filled with day trippers slowly chugging along this scenic stretch, so you'll need to pay close attention and give way to these larger vessels. The first 11 miles of the Llangollen Canal is an outstanding piece of industrial and engineering heritage comprising embankments, tunnels, viaducts and aqueducts, including the historic Pontcysyllte Aqueduct and 31 other listed structures. After a few glorious miles of spotting narrow boats, birdlife and cutesy cottages, you'll finally cross the 307-m-long aqueduct just 12 feet (3.7 metres) wide. This one's for the fearless: on one side, there's nothing but a sheer drop and a narrow wall separating you from a 126-foot plunge. But once you start paddling, you'll find yourself gliding high above a stunning Welsh valley, surrounded by lush greenery and jaw-dropping views in every direction. Horse-Drawn Boats Turn back the clock and experience a slow, traditional horse-drawn boat trip from Llangollen's canal wharf towards the Horseshoe Falls, built by Thomas Telford c. 1808 to feed water into the Llangollen Canal. Visitors have been enjoying leisurely trips from Llangollen Wharf for over 100 years. Today, you can still experience this leisurely, 45-minute-long trip aboard modern purpose-built boats with inside and outside seating areas. Step back in time and soak up the slower pace of life as you cruise along one of Britain's most beautiful canals. Sit back, relax, and watch lovely horses do all the hard work, effortlessly pulling your boat through the calm, treelined waters. White Water Rafting With rugged mountain peaks, rocky coastlines and some of the best rivers in the UK to raft on, it's easy to see why North Wales is known as the adventure capital of the UK. Take a guided rafting trip with Bearded Men Adventures down the lengthy River Dee in Llangollen and experience the adrenaline of paddling against the surging rapids, ranging from grades 2 to 4. Locally, these rapid sections are known as Serpent's Tail, Tombstones, and the classic Town Falls and are best navigated by qualified guides as part of an organised adventure activity. Enjoy scenic valley views as you crash through fast-flowing waves, sail through the shallows and plunge into deep pools on a river that shifts between turbulent and tranquil. Llangollen Railway Llangollen Railway is the only standard-gauge heritage railway in North Wales. It takes visitors on a vintage voyage through captivating Welsh scenery. Board a 1950s carriage hauled by a classic steam engine and enjoy a spot of nostalgia as the train follows the river and climbs the curves of a lush, green landscape. The line is a labour of love. For over 45 years, rail enthusiasts have meticulously rebuilt and restored 10 miles of neglected lines and stations between Llangollen and Corwen. The result is a splendid community asset that makes for a unique family day on Wales's heritage rails. Offa's Dyke Path The most dramatic section of the 177-mile Offa's Dyke path passes through the Vale of Llangollen, with shorter sections also available for keen hikers visiting the area. The scenic path passes through eight counties and two of Wales' Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty (the Wye Valley and Clwydian Range). According the Visit Wales, we've got Saxon monarchs to thank for the Offa's Dyke Path. In the 8th century, King Offa of Mercia erected a wide border rampart to separate Wales and England: Offa's Dyke. Much later, in 1971, the path was placed alongside it so that everyone could enjoy the ancient monument and the places it cuts through as it works its way from coast to coast. Alongside its mythical qualities, the path takes in some of Wales' most impressive landscapes and historic castles, loosely following the Welsh and English boundary. Day hikers can attempt the 13-mile-long Llangollen to Llandegla section to see highlights of the Llangollen Canal, Castell Dinas Bran and UNESCO landscapes. Visit curious Plas Newydd At the southern edge of Llangollen is the medieval chocolate box house of Plas Newydd, where the iconic 'Ladies of Llangollen' lived. In 1780, Sarah Ponsonby and Lady Eleanor Butler escaped from their aristocratic families in Ireland. They began a bohemian lifestyle together, away from the rather dull constraints of societal norms, instead choosing to embrace intellectual curiosities. The pair were said to be mildly eccentric and scandalised rural society at the time by dressing in top hats and men's clothing and decorating their abode in gothic chic. Notable visitors to the cosmopolitan residence included Robert Southee, William Wordsworth, and statesmen like the Duke of Wellington. Today, the house and manicured gardens are an unlikely tourist attraction and a quaint museum for visitors. Their grandiose and non-conformist quality sets the tone for the town's free-spirited and accepting nature. Where to eat This picturesque town has plenty of options for hungry visitors. From country pubs and cafes to fancy wine bars, there's something to suit all dining budgets. For waterside dining, The Corn Mill has a huge outdoor terrace overlooking the river and serves a selection of pub classics, including fish and chips, steak and pies. The pretty Wharf Tea Room next to the canal serves homemade cakes, scones and proper cooked breakfasts. For a local speciality, pop into Llangollen Oggie Shop and Fine Foods for Welsh oggies (a Welsh equivalent to the Cornish pasty). Also, try their artisan sausage rolls, scotch eggs, cakes and full dairy Welsh ice cream. Gales Wine Bar and Hotel is a superb place for a tipple or three in its impressive wood-panelled wine bar. They also serve various seasonal dishes featuring fresh local produce and delicacies. For homemade country fare and afternoon tea, head to Cottage Tearooms and Bistro. Located in a natural courtyard under 100m from the iconic landmark of Llangollen Bridge, the whitewashed, rustic tearooms are popular for cream tea in a historic setting. Where to stay Pretty Llangollen has modern and historic hotels, BandBs and even a 16th-century drovers' inn, where you can enjoy a restful night. For a boutique bed and breakfast stay near the River Dee, book the beautifully renovated Riversdale House. Winners of the North Wales Tourism Awards in 2023, this swish Victorian townhouse BandB features large, stylish rooms with views and a continental breakfast delivered to your door in the morning. Further afield lie a range of luxury properties within easy access to the Llangollen valley. The nearby five-star Chester Grosvenor Hotel offers a stylish stay with individually decorated rooms, spa facilities and a Michelin-starred restaurant and hatted doormen. Dating back to 1865, the Chester Grosvenor is a historic and luxuriously appointed hotel with muted tones of ivory, champagne, and gold and a grand column façade. Another opulent stay within reach of Llangollen is the distinctive 18-bedroom Pale Hall, a historic country home under new management, expertly transformed into a luxury destination hotel with fine dining.
Wales Online
21-04-2025
- Wales Online
The beautiful Welsh river town with old-school steam trains, boat trips and waterside pubs
The beautiful Welsh river town with old-school steam trains, boat trips and waterside pubs This beautiful and underrated riverside town in Wales has cosy waterfront pubs, canal boat trips and white water rafting Cradled by the River Dee in Denbighshire, the charming town of Llangollen fuses industrial grit with a proud Welsh music and culture scene (Image: Portia Jones ) Cradled by the River Dee in Denbighshire, the charming town of Llangollen fuses industrial grit with a proud Welsh music and culture scene. It sits where the Dee Valley narrows into a dramatic corridor carved through a UNESCO World Heritage landscape. The eleven-mile canal route from Gledrid to the Horseshoe Falls threads through this scenic stretch, soaring above the valley on the towering Pontcysyllte Aqueduct, a masterpiece of 19th-century engineering. Llangollen is also well-known as Wales's festival capital. Each summer, it bursts to life with the International Musical Eisteddfod – a bold, joyful celebration of global performance. Here's why you should visit this riverside town. What to do in Llangollen Riverside Llangollen is in the heart of the valley and is best known as the festival capital of Wales (Image: Wales Online ) Canals and Aqueducts UNESCO made the eleven-mile canal from Chirk Bank to splendid Horseshoe Falls in Llangollen a World Heritage site in 2009 for its engineering features and historical operation. Article continues below The popular Pontcysyllte Aqueduct is also found here and is a must-visit civil engineering destination as it's one of the more astonishing achievements of the Industrial Revolution. At 38 metres over the Dee Valley, the 'stream in the sky' is also the highest navigable Aqueduct in the world and the oldest in Britain. Designed and built by Thomas Telford and Williams Jessop, this architectural marvel is still in use over 200 years after construction began. It is a seemingly impossible canal spectacle. 18 arched stone pillars support deep cast-iron troughs filled with water, forming a River in the Sky that can be accessed by foot or boat. Each year, the canal and river trust welcomes nearly half a million visitors who arrive in droves to admire and photograph 'the stream in the sky', accessing the canal as walkers, boaters, anglers, cyclists, canoeists or kayakers. From superstar gigs to cosy pubs, find out What's On in Wales by signing up to our newsletter here . Paddle across the aqueduct This one's for the fearless: on one side, there's nothing but a sheer drop and a narrow wall separating you from a 126-foot plunge (Image: Portia Jones ) Explore the waterways by canoe, and you'll find that one minute you'll be leisurely paddling through a pretty tree-lined canal and next, you're 126ft in the air, still sitting in your boat. Book a guided canoe trip with local experts Bearded Men Adventures, to paddle across the sky with the pros and experience the most epic views as you glide across the towering Pontcysyllte Aqueduct. It's a very busy waterway with loads of traditional canal boats filled with day trippers slowly chugging along this scenic stretch, so you'll need to pay close attention and give way to these larger vessels. At 126ft high, the Pontcysyllte Aqueduct in Wales is one of the most astonishing achievements of the Industrial Revolution (Image: Getty ) The first 11 miles of the Llangollen Canal is an outstanding piece of industrial and engineering heritage comprising embankments, tunnels, viaducts and aqueducts, including the historic Pontcysyllte Aqueduct and 31 other listed structures. After a few glorious miles of spotting narrow boats, birdlife and cutesy cottages, you'll finally cross the 307-m-long aqueduct just 12 feet (3.7 metres) wide. This one's for the fearless: on one side, there's nothing but a sheer drop and a narrow wall separating you from a 126-foot plunge. But once you start paddling, you'll find yourself gliding high above a stunning Welsh valley, surrounded by lush greenery and jaw-dropping views in every direction. Horse-Drawn Boats Turn back the clock and experience a slow, traditional horse-drawn boat trip from Llangollen's canal wharf towards the Horseshoe Falls, built by Thomas Telford c. 1808 to feed water into the Llangollen Canal. Visitors have been enjoying leisurely trips from Llangollen Wharf for over 100 years. Today, you can still experience this leisurely, 45-minute-long trip aboard modern purpose-built boats with inside and outside seating areas. Step back in time and soak up the slower pace of life as you cruise along one of Britain's most beautiful canals. Sit back, relax, and watch lovely horses do all the hard work, effortlessly pulling your boat through the calm, treelined waters. White Water Rafting With rugged mountain peaks, rocky coastlines and some of the best rivers in the UK to raft on, it's easy to see why North Wales is known as the adventure capital of the UK (Image: Portia Jones ) With rugged mountain peaks, rocky coastlines and some of the best rivers in the UK to raft on, it's easy to see why North Wales is known as the adventure capital of the UK. Take a guided rafting trip with Bearded Men Adventures down the lengthy River Dee in Llangollen and experience the adrenaline of paddling against the surging rapids, ranging from grades 2 to 4. Locally, these rapid sections are known as Serpent's Tail, Tombstones, and the classic Town Falls and are best navigated by qualified guides as part of an organised adventure activity. Enjoy scenic valley views as you crash through fast-flowing waves, sail through the shallows and plunge into deep pools on a river that shifts between turbulent and tranquil. Llangollen Railway Llangollen Railway is the only standard-gauge heritage railway in North Wales. It takes visitors on a vintage voyage through captivating Welsh scenery. (Image: Ceidiog Communications ) Llangollen Railway is the only standard-gauge heritage railway in North Wales. It takes visitors on a vintage voyage through captivating Welsh scenery. Board a 1950s carriage hauled by a classic steam engine and enjoy a spot of nostalgia as the train follows the river and climbs the curves of a lush, green landscape. The line is a labour of love. For over 45 years, rail enthusiasts have meticulously rebuilt and restored 10 miles of neglected lines and stations between Llangollen and Corwen. The result is a splendid community asset that makes for a unique family day on Wales's heritage rails. Offa's Dyke Path The most dramatic section of the 177-mile Offa's Dyke path passes through the Vale of Llangollen, with shorter sections also available for keen hikers visiting the area. (Image: Getty Images ) The most dramatic section of the 177-mile Offa's Dyke path passes through the Vale of Llangollen, with shorter sections also available for keen hikers visiting the area. The scenic path passes through eight counties and two of Wales' Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty (the Wye Valley and Clwydian Range). According the Visit Wales, we've got Saxon monarchs to thank for the Offa's Dyke Path. In the 8th century, King Offa of Mercia erected a wide border rampart to separate Wales and England: Offa's Dyke. Much later, in 1971, the path was placed alongside it so that everyone could enjoy the ancient monument and the places it cuts through as it works its way from coast to coast. Alongside its mythical qualities, the path takes in some of Wales' most impressive landscapes and historic castles, loosely following the Welsh and English boundary. Day hikers can attempt the 13-mile-long Llangollen to Llandegla section to see highlights of the Llangollen Canal, Castell Dinas Bran and UNESCO landscapes. Visit curious Plas Newydd At the southern edge of Llangollen is the medieval chocolate box house of Plas Newydd, (Image: Ian Cooper ) At the southern edge of Llangollen is the medieval chocolate box house of Plas Newydd, where the iconic 'Ladies of Llangollen' lived. In 1780, Sarah Ponsonby and Lady Eleanor Butler escaped from their aristocratic families in Ireland. They began a bohemian lifestyle together, away from the rather dull constraints of societal norms, instead choosing to embrace intellectual curiosities. The pair were said to be mildly eccentric and scandalised rural society at the time by dressing in top hats and men's clothing and decorating their abode in gothic chic. Notable visitors to the cosmopolitan residence included Robert Southee, William Wordsworth, and statesmen like the Duke of Wellington. Today, the house and manicured gardens are an unlikely tourist attraction and a quaint museum for visitors. Their grandiose and non-conformist quality sets the tone for the town's free-spirited and accepting nature. Where to eat Llangollen Oggie Shop (Image: Portia Jones ) This picturesque town has plenty of options for hungry visitors. From country pubs and cafes to fancy wine bars, there's something to suit all dining budgets. For waterside dining, The Corn Mill has a huge outdoor terrace overlooking the river and serves a selection of pub classics, including fish and chips, steak and pies. The pretty Wharf Tea Room next to the canal serves homemade cakes, scones and proper cooked breakfasts. For a local speciality, pop into Llangollen Oggie Shop & Fine Foods for Welsh oggies (a Welsh equivalent to the Cornish pasty). Also, try their artisan sausage rolls, scotch eggs, cakes and full dairy Welsh ice cream, Gales Wine Bar & Hotel is a superb place for a tipple or three in its impressive wood-panelled wine bar. They also serve various seasonal dishes featuring fresh local produce and delicacies. For homemade country fare and afternoon tea, head to Cottage Tearooms & Bistro. Located in a natural courtyard under 100m from the iconic landmark of Llangollen Bridge, the whitewashed, rustic tearooms are popular for cream tea in a historic setting. Where to stay For a boutique bed and breakfast stay near the River Dee, book the beautifully renovated Riversdale House. (Image: Portia Jones ) Pretty Llangollen has modern and historic hotels, B&Bs and even a 16th-century drovers' inn, where you can enjoy a restful night. For a boutique bed and breakfast stay near the River Dee, book the beautifully renovated Riversdale House. Winners of the North Wales Tourism Awards in 2023, this swish Victorian townhouse B&B features large, stylish rooms with views and a continental breakfast delivered to your door in the morning. Further afield lie a range of luxury properties within easy access to the Llangollen valley. The nearby five-star Chester Grosvenor Hotel offers a stylish stay with individually decorated rooms, spa facilities and a Michelin-starred restaurant and hatted doormen. Dating back to 1865, the Chester Grosvenor is a historic and luxuriously appointed hotel with muted tones of ivory, champagne, and gold and a grand column façade. Another opulent stay within reach of Llangollen is the distinctive 18-bedroom Pale Hall, a historic country home under new management, expertly transformed into a luxury destination hotel with fine dining. Article continues below
