Llangollen

Llangollen is renowned for the International Musical Eisteddfod www.eisteddfod-ryngwladol.co.uk held in the town each July. Singers and dancers from round the world perform both in the streets and in the International Pavilion. But Llangollen has much more to offer and is popular with visitors throughout the year.

Llangollen  is an ancient market town nestling on the banks of the River Dee at the foot of the Berwyn Mountains. On a hill to the south east of the town are the ruins of an ancient fortress “Castell Dinas Bran”, Dinas Bran Castle, a ruin with many historic and romantic associations, and commanding splendid views of the surrounding countryside.

The history of Llangollen spans three thousand years, through the Iron Age and the original Dinas Bran Casle to the legend of King Arthur in the Dark Ages. Travel on in time past medieval days to Vale Crucis Abbey, but a mile from the station, and on again to the industrial revolution and the building on the Llangollen Canal and the Llangollen Railway. The Llangollen Railway is now a major tourist attraction, a preserved railway. It was reopened after many years of hard work by dedicated railway enthusiasts. Likewise the Llangollen Canal is a magnet for today’s tourists, with canal trips to Valle Crucis Abbey, the Horseshoe falls and the Pontcysyllte Aqueduct built by Thomas Telford.

The Pontcysyllte Aqueduct  carries the Llangollen Canal over the valley of the River Dee east of Llangollen. The Aqueduct is truly a spectacular sight, carrying the canal 126 feet above the river in cast iron troughs mounted on 19 masonry arches. The aqueduct is 1007 feet long, 11 feet wide, and 5 feet 3 inches deep and the mortar used in the construction comprised of lime, water and Ox blood. It built by the famous civil engineer Thomas Telford. There is a footpath cantilevered over the canal with a hand rail.

Other attractions in Llangollen include:

PlasNewydd, the half timbered house home to the Ladies of Llangollen.

Llangollen Wharf, horse drawn boat trips along the canal.

The Llangollen Railway www.llangollen-railway.co.uk

Three times a year the railway offers a day out with Thomas The tank engine and friends. A perfect opportunity to meet Thomas and some of the other engines and characters from the stories.

All in all they all add up to Llangollen being one of the most popular tourist destinations in North Wales.