Llangollen Accommodation

Picturesque and popular Llangollen

Llangollen Steam Railway. Thomas the Tank Engine with Fat Controller

Canal Boats Moored on the Llangollen Canal near Pontcysyllte Aqueduct

The Pontcysyllte Aqueduct, designed by Thomas Telford

The Llangollen Canal Crossing the Aqueduct

Llangollen Tourist Information - Wales

Pretty Llangollen has an enormous number of attractions and outdoor pursuits pulling in the visitors. It's home to possibly one of Wales' most renowned Eisteddfods, the Llangollen International Musical Eisteddfod held every July. Llangollen has flipped back to it's rural and ancient market town roots, but during the 18th and 19th century it was an industrial hotspot revolving around the Llangollen Canal and famous Pon Aqueduct designed by Thomas Telford no less, and it's railway. The canal and the railway today are big tourist attractions. Beautifully set in the Dee Valley, Llangollen first boomed as a tourist destination of choice during the Victorian era. Combining medieval history and Arthurian legend with spectacular industrial sites (the Pontcysyllte Aqueduct built from 1795 to 1805 when it opened near Llangollen should be on every visitor's itinerary), Llangollen is a North Wales tourist hotspot which does it's Victoriana well.

Llangollen Tourist Information Centre, Y Chapel, Castle Street, Llangollen, Clwyd, Wales, LL20 8NU. Tel: 01978 860828.

Llangollen Canal & Llangollen Aqueduct/Thomas Telford Engineer

One of Llangollen's biggest attractions is taking a canal boat trip from Llangollen Wharf along the Llangollen Canal which includes cruising over the breath-taking Pontcysyllte Aqueduct (see Horse Drawn Canal Boat Trips weblink right for details). Choose from either a horse drawn canal boat trip or a motorised aqueduct cruise. You'll get to see Horseshoe Falls too, a manmade marvel from Thomas Telford again! For exhibits on canal history head to the Motor Museum on Abbey Road in Llangollen.

The scenic Llangollen canal is one of the most popular canals in Europe (the unique Llangollen Aqueduct contributes much to it's appeal!). Stretching for 46 miles branching off from the Shropshire Union Canal, the Pontcysyllte Aqueduct takes canal boats across the Dee River then onwards past pretty market towns including Whitchurch, Ellesmere, Chirk and Chirk Castle. The canal culminates at Horseshoe Falls where you can take a walk and admire this manmade attraction. The Llangollen Aqueduct is Grade I listed and stretches up 125 feet, and almost the same lengthwise at 200 feet. Take a canal boat trip (highly recommended) or alternatively you can walk across the Aqueduct via the towpath.

Whilst you're on the Thomas Telford trail in the area, another of Telford's creations was the A5 main highway which runs through Llangollen. Part of the main road route from London to Holyhead, the A5 was built in 1815 - it's a crucial road serving to open up the Llangollen area, particularly for tourism. Find out more about the A5 road, the aqueduct and Llangollen Canal and the splendid local history marvel, the Llangollen Museum. It's particularly good for it's historic photograph collection. As well as industrial and canal and railway history so pertinent to the area, you'll also find information on Stone age, Roman and Norman history in the area here at the museum.

Llangollen Museum, Parade Street, Llangollen. Tel: 01978 862862. Admission Free.

Llangollen Steam Railway & Llangollen Motor Museum

From canals to railways, another of Llangollen's many attractions is it's delightful standard-gauge railway, once a part of the main Ruabon to Barmouth line. The Llangollen Railway originally opened in the 1860s, but passengers ceased to travel on the line in 1965, then later goods in 1968, but like so many of the historic railways now operating today a group of local enthusiasts put an enormous amount of effort in to reopen this line here in Llangollen. The Llangollen Canal and Railway run alongside each other in parts, and the stretch around Sun Bank Halt is an example. The canal runs above the railway here, and in 1945 it burst it's banks, flushing away the earthworks of the railway (the tracks remained suspended in the air!). The telegraph poles were unharmed, so signalmen knew nothing of the damage until a goods train fell into the breach in the morning, killing all the engine crew. The only survivor was the guard.

Further extensions to the current 7 1/2 miles of line are planned, pushing up towards Corwen. Trains run mostly at weekends in the winter, and daily in the summer peak season. Check Llangollen Railway's weblink right for a full timetable. Thomas the Tank Engine runs are always a favourite with the kids. Transport Gala Weekend events also run regularly through the year.

The route runs from West (Carrog) to East (Llangollen), and in between are the stations (which are restored) of Glyndyfrdwy, Deeside Halt and Berwyn. Berwyn Station and surrounds is perhaps the prettiest stretch of the line. Llangollen Station buildings are listed buildings. Don't miss a trip on this charming railway! Llangollen Railway, The Station, Abbey Road, Llangollen, Denbighshire, LL20 8SN. Tel: 01978 860951 for Talking Timetable and 01978 860979 for General Enquiries. Check the Llangollen Railway weblink right too for more details.

Visit also the Llangollen Motor Museum, Pentre Felin, Llangollen LL20 8EE Telephone 01978 860 324. A superb collection of vintage motorcyles and cars here, including a model T Ford and classic British bikes like old Nortons and Triumphs. Open March to October, Tuesdays to Sundays from 10am to 5pm. See weblink right for more details on the collection.

Castell Dinas Bran Welsh Castle & Iron Age Hill Fort & More Llangollen Historic Sites

Welsh castles such as Beaumaris, Caernarfon and Pembroke may amaze you with their majestic might - they were built (most by Edward I) to intimidate and keep the Welsh people down. Castell Dinas Bran though is something different. This is a true Welsh Castle - well the striking remains of one. It's thought to have been built here high above the Dee Valley in the 12th century by the Welsh chieftain Madog ap Gruffydd.

Just to the South East of Llangollen is the famous home of the 'Ladies of Llangollen' - Plas Newydd. These ladies, Lady Elanor Butler and Miss Sarah Ponsonby lived here in Plas Newydd with maid Mary Carryl from 1780 to 1829. They came here from Ireland, escaping the distain of their aristocratic Anglo-Irish families who disapproved of the relationship. Celebrated characters these ladies were, and they had some notable visitors, among them William Wordsworth and Sir Walter Scott.

The house itself is a delightfully weird romantic gothic design, surrounded by pretty gardens (note the stone circle in the gardens, used for the 1908 Llangollen National Eisteddfod.

Approximately a mile and a half north of Llangollen sits the remains of Valle Crucis Abbey and adjacent Eliseg's Pillar. The abbey was established in 1201 by ruler of Northern Powys Madog ap Gruffydd, and the foundation was Cistercian. Valle Crucis is an abbey with a typically Cistercian design, with a fishing lake in the grounds. It suffered serveral fires during the Middle Ages (Edward I wasn't too keen on the Abbey as support from the abbot and monks was firmly in the Llywelyn ap Gruffudd Welsh camp). Nearby (300m north of the abbey by the road) is the much older Eliseg's Pillar. Once a great stone cross, now a stone pillar at a height of 2.5m, Eliseg's Pillar was constructed by Cyngen who was the last independent Welsh king of Powys. It dates from the 9th century.

Llangollen Eisteddfod and Llangollen Royal International Pavilion

It's a big one the Llangollen International Musical Eisteddfot, offering an array of international artists (in attendance for 2007 are Joan Baez and Jose Carreras). Llangollen is busy during it's Eisteddfod week in Mid-July, so book accommodation well in advance if you're planning to attend.

Song, dance, concerts and parades galore are what you can expect. The main venue for the event is the Royal International Pavilion on Abbey Road. (weblink right)

Royal International Pavilion, Abbey Road, Llangollen, Denbighshire. LL20 8SW. Tel: 01978 860111.

Alongside the more commercial big smoke of an Eisteddfod is the quietly growing Llangollen Fringe Festival (see weblink right for details). This one's a not for profit festival run entirely by volunteers. It's coming upto it's 10th year in 2007. Cerys Matthews performed in the Llangollen 2006 Big Fringe. Alongside music in different venues across Llangollen, there are workshops and comedy. See the Llangollen Fringe Festival weblink right for details of this year's events, or telephone 01978 860600 for details.

Click Search

Tourist Information

Internet Links

Home Top