Llangollen Guide, Wales
Jake Davies
A small, picturesque community nestled along the banks of the River Dee in Denbighshire, northeast Wales, Llangollen is a great destination for a day trip or as a base to spend a longer time exploring the area's numerous attractions set in an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty.
Walking
Known as a great destination for walkers, Llangollen offers the compete range of opportunities from gentle strolls to serious multi-day mountain hikes.
The Victoria Promenade is a riverside path established in 1897 that has been popular ever since and includes various sites for kids.
A variety of historical walks explore the town and include visiting Plas Newydd, the former estate of the Ladies of Llangollen with its landscaped gardens and unusual house. Within the small town are also a couple of historic churches worth a visit.
A more strenuous walk will take you up above the town to Castell Dinas Bran, a ruined castle dating back to the 13th Century built on the site of a much earlier hill fort. At 307 meters above sea level (1000 ft) the views are remarkable and the hills, valleys, and mountain ranges of the surrounding area are all crisscrossed with hiking paths.
If you want a less challenging type of walk you could walk the towpath of the Llangollen Canal. From Horseshoe Falls through the town, along the Dee valley and to the impressive Pontcysyllte Aqueduct, that crosses the valley, The Llangollen Canal is a UNESCO Listed World Heritage Site.
The walk along the canal passes through some lovely countryside, and of course the views of and from the aqueduct are stunning.
There are possibilities to travel on the canal by boat, including the most unique way, and the original way, by horse-drawn narrow boat.
Llangollen Wharf
Wharf Hill
Llangollen
LL20 8TA
Tel: 01978 860 702
Transport
The canal dates back to the first years of the 19th century, and by mid century the railway had also reached Llangollen.
Almost exactly 100 years later in 1965 the train line was closed. A few years after volunteer groups began plans to renovate and re-open a section of the Ruabon to Barmouth Line up the Dee Valley from Llangollen.
The Llangollen Railway's collection of heritage trains include several steam locomotives, some diesel locomotives, and diesel carriages. For details of timetables and prices see the website.
5 Abbey Rd, Llangollen LL20 8SN
01978 860 979
facebook.com/llangollen.railway
If you haven't had enough of transport-themed attractions there is yet another. Just outside the town center in a large warehouse-type building is the Llangollen Motor Museum!
Here you can peruse a quirky and nostalgic collection of vintage cars and motorbikes dating from 1912 to 1975.
Pentrefelin Mill, Pentrefelin, Llangollen LL20 8EE
Tel: 01978 860 324
llangollenmotormuseum.co.uk
Llangollen Museum
In the middle of the town, in an unusual circular building, is the Llangollen Museum devoted to local history.
The most unusual architecture in the town though is the striking and modern Pafiliwm Llangollen Pavilion. A venue for a variety of events and festivals, the most famous being the International Music Eisteddfod held in July.
Llangollen has a multitude of cafes, tearooms, and restaurants as well as craft and gift shops. It has a complete range of accommodations including campsites, guesthouses, hotels, and self-catering.
A good place for info is the Llangollen Tourist Information Office in the middle of the town.
Y, Capel, Castle St, Llangollen LL20 8NU
Tel: 01978 860 828
Access - Getting to Llangollen
By public transport, the two closest railway stations are Chirk and Ruabon.
Chirk Station is an unmanned station immediately adjacent to the entrance to Chirk Tunnel and trains connect with Chester Station in Chester or Shrewsbury.
Ruabon is the next station north of Chirk and has buses that run to Pontcysyllte Aqueduct.
Llangollen Station is the eastern terminus of the Llangollen Railway.
Llangollen itself is on the A5.
Map
Accommodation
See a listing of hotels in and near Llangollen and Wrexham
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