Llangollen
is renowned for the International Musical Eisteddfod held in the town
each July. Singers and dancers from around 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 Castle to the legend of King Arthur in
the Dark Ages. Travel on in time past medieval days to Valle Crucis Abbey,
but a mile from the station, and on again to the industrial revolution
and the building of the Llangollen Canal and the Llangollen Railway. The
Llangollen Railway is now a major tourist attraction,
a preserved railway which runs from Llangollen to Carrog. 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, Elisegs Pillar, the Horseshoe falls and the spectacular
Pontcysyllte Aqueduct built by Thomas Telford.
The Pontcysyllte Aqueduct, proposed as a World Heritage Site, carries
the Llangollen Canal over the valley of the River
Dee east of Llangollen. Built in 1805 it is the longest and highest
aqueduct in Britain and although construction took place long before
the days of elf'n-safety (Health and Safety) only one person died
during construction, and this accident was described as "his
own fault" !
In 2005
it celebrated its bicenteenary, with a 16 gun salute, a Napoleonic battle
re-enactment, music and fireworks. 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 was built by the famous civil
engineer Thomas Telford and supervised by the more experienced canal
engineer William Jessop. Although the structure looks substantial closer
inspection shows that the cast iron is but 3/4" thick and indeed the
trough is not bolted into place but is held down by the weight of the
water. There is a footpath cantilevered over the canal with a hand rail
but there is no hand rail on the Barge side, just the edge of the trough
and a sheer drop. So take care!
Other attractions in Llangollen include:
Plas Newydd, the half timbered house home to the Ladies of Llangollen.
Llangollen Wharf, horse drawn boat trips along the canal.
JJ Canoeing and Rafting, offering a range of activities from rafting,
canoeing, kayaking, climbing, abseiling, and gorge walking from the banks
of the River Dee.
Llangollen Museum of Local History.
Llangollen Angling Association, for fishing on the River Dee
All in all they all add up to Llangollen being one of the most popular
tourist destinations in North Wales. At www.walesdirectory.co.uk you are
able to find the top attractions in Wales and then make an instant online
room reservation close to the attraction.
