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 The River Dee at Llangollen, Clwyd.
Attractions
Denbighshire
| Erddig Hall |
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 This late 17th-century country house, located 2 miles south of Wrexham, was built between 1684-1687 by Joshua Edisbury, with flanking wings added in the 1720s. Known as 'Britain's most evocative Upstairs Downstairs house', it uniquely showcases the relationship between the eccentric Yorke family and their servants through an extensive collection of portraits and poems. The property features one of Britain's most important surviving 18th-century formal gardens, complete with rare fruit trees, a canal, a pond, and houses around a hundred cultivars of ivy as part of a National Plant Collection. Visitors can explore unique historic buildings including a Joiners' Workshop, Smithy, Sawmill and Stables, alongside 1,200 acres of meadows, lakes, ponds and woodland. The estate encompasses parts of the ancient Wat's Dyke and features the remains of a Norman motte-and-bailey castle, whilst a distinctive 'cup and saucer' cylindrical cascade adds to its architectural interest. The tea parlour offers local Welsh ice cream from Erbistock in flavours such as honeycomb and fresh raspberry. |
| Chirk Castle |
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Built in 1295 and completed in 1310 by Roger Mortimer, Chirk Castle stands as part of Edward I's chain of defence castles in North Wales, featuring its original 700-year-old medieval dungeon and tower. The estate encompasses 480 acres of parkland and has been designated a Site of Special Scientific Interest, being one of Wales's finest examples of ancient wood pasture. In February, visitors can witness two acres of snowdrops creating a white carpet in the Pleasure Ground Wood, whilst evergreen trees and topiary sparkle with frost, complemented by yellow Mahonia flowers and witch hazel blooms. The castle features magnificent wrought iron gates commissioned in 1712, with interiors designed in neo-classical style by Chester architect Joseph Turner and later updated by AW Pugin, the designer of London's Palace of Westminster. Nature enthusiasts can spot seven different bat species, including the rare lesser horseshoe bat, which forages near the River Ceiriog and roosts in the castle's roof spaces. |
| Bodrhyddan Hall |
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Bodrhyddan Hall is a Grade I listed building that has been home to Lord Langford and his family for over 500 years, set in several acres of stunning formal gardens and reclaimed woodland, making it one of the few remaining family-owned stately homes in Wales. The estate houses fascinating treasures including a rare 3,000-year-old Egyptian mummy and sarcophagus, whilst its 12-acre gardens feature a formal parterre, cascading lawns, and notable trees including giant sequoia, cedar of Lebanon and an Indian bean tree. The architecture reflects various periods, with contributions from notable architects including Inigo Jones, Frank Lloyd Wright and Clough Williams Ellis, though the original structure dates back to the medieval period, possibly the 14th century, when it was built of timber with wattle and daub infill, later replaced by a stone manor in the 15th century. Visitors can enjoy 90-minute guided tours of the Hall to explore the fascinating collection of historical artwork, antique furniture, and arms and armour, whilst the Tea Room offers refreshments including cream cakes. |
Bodelwyddan Castle  |
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 Originally built around 1460 as a manor house, Bodelwyddan Castle underwent significant transformations, including a remodelling into Greek Revival style in 1805 and reconstruction in the 1830s by architects Joseph Hansom (known for inventing the Hansom cab) and Edward Welch. The castle has gained a reputation for being haunted and served as Lowther College, a pioneering girls' private school from 1920 to 1982, which featured one of the first private school swimming pools for girls and its own golf course. The castle formed partnerships with the National Portrait Gallery and the Royal Academy of Arts, displaying their collections in Victorian-restored interiors, and even earned the title of Museum of the Year in 1989. History enthusiasts can explore the remnants of World War I trench warfare training grounds, which are still visible in the estate. Today, the property includes a luxury hotel operated by Warner Leisure Hotels, and as of 2021, Bourne Leisure Hotels acquired the castle with plans for a full refurbishment. |
| Ruthin |
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Ruthin is a small historic market town overlooking the River Clwyd, whose name derives from the Welsh words for 'red fort', referring to the red sandstone used to build its castle. The grand Ruthin Castle, now a luxurious hotel, was originally an Edward I fortress that witnessed Owain Glyndwr's uprising in 1400 and fell to Parliamentary forces after an 11-week siege during the Civil War. The town centre boasts more listed buildings than any other market town in North Wales, and visitors can explore its rich history through an innovative art trail featuring ten spy holes in the town walls, 22 hidden figures in shopfronts and roofs, and specially designed trees and benches. The town's gaol, constructed in 1654 and rebuilt in the 19th century, is the only purpose-built Pentonville style prison open to the public in the UK6. Rather uniquely, visitors might encounter the castle's resident peacocks roaming the grounds. |
| Pistyll Rhaeadr Waterfalls |
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 Pistyll Rhaeadr is a magnificent 240-foot (73-metre) waterfall that cascades in three distinct stages over a Silurian cliff face, forming the river Afon Rhaeadr. The name itself means 'well' or 'spout of the waterfall', and its most remarkable features include a natural arch in the middle of the falls and its largest single drop of about 40 metres. Recognised as one of the Seven Wonders of Wales and designated as a Site of Special Scientific Interest, visitors can explore the falls via walking paths that lead to the summit, offering stunning valley views and several smaller waterfalls around the top, whilst at the base, there are coin-operated toilets and a quaint B&B with a café. The 19th-century author George Borrow poetically described the falls in his book 'Wild Wales' as resembling 'an immense skein of silk agitated and disturbed by tempestuous blasts', noting that he had 'never saw water falling so gracefully, so much like thin, beautiful threads'. |
Other attractions
 Denbigh
Llangollen
Prestatyn
Rhyl
St. Asaph
Wrexham
Flintshire
Bangor-on-Dee
Flint
Hawarden Castle (ruins)
Mold
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Ireland Guide
Scotland Guide
This late 17th-century country house, located 2 miles south of Wrexham, was built between 1684-1687 by Joshua Edisbury, with flanking wings added in the 1720s. Known as 'Britain's most evocative Upstairs Downstairs house', it uniquely showcases the relationship between the eccentric Yorke family and their servants through an extensive collection of portraits and poems. The property features one of Britain's most important surviving 18th-century formal gardens, complete with rare fruit trees, a canal, a pond, and houses around a hundred cultivars of ivy as part of a National Plant Collection. Visitors can explore unique historic buildings including a Joiners' Workshop, Smithy, Sawmill and Stables, alongside 1,200 acres of meadows, lakes, ponds and woodland. The estate encompasses parts of the ancient Wat's Dyke and features the remains of a Norman motte-and-bailey castle, whilst a distinctive 'cup and saucer' cylindrical cascade adds to its architectural interest. The tea parlour offers local Welsh ice cream from Erbistock in flavours such as honeycomb and fresh raspberry.
Originally built around 1460 as a manor house, Bodelwyddan Castle underwent significant transformations, including a remodelling into Greek Revival style in 1805 and reconstruction in the 1830s by architects Joseph Hansom (known for inventing the Hansom cab) and Edward Welch. The castle has gained a reputation for being haunted and served as Lowther College, a pioneering girls' private school from 1920 to 1982, which featured one of the first private school swimming pools for girls and its own golf course. The castle formed partnerships with the National Portrait Gallery and the Royal Academy of Arts, displaying their collections in Victorian-restored interiors, and even earned the title of Museum of the Year in 1989. History enthusiasts can explore the remnants of World War I trench warfare training grounds, which are still visible in the estate. Today, the property includes a luxury hotel operated by Warner Leisure Hotels, and as of 2021, Bourne Leisure Hotels acquired the castle with plans for a full refurbishment.
Pistyll Rhaeadr is a magnificent 240-foot (73-metre) waterfall that cascades in three distinct stages over a Silurian cliff face, forming the river Afon Rhaeadr. The name itself means 'well' or 'spout of the waterfall', and its most remarkable features include a natural arch in the middle of the falls and its largest single drop of about 40 metres. Recognised as one of the Seven Wonders of Wales and designated as a Site of Special Scientific Interest, visitors can explore the falls via walking paths that lead to the summit, offering stunning valley views and several smaller waterfalls around the top, whilst at the base, there are coin-operated toilets and a quaint B&B with a café. The 19th-century author George Borrow poetically described the falls in his book 'Wild Wales' as resembling 'an immense skein of silk agitated and disturbed by tempestuous blasts', noting that he had 'never saw water falling so gracefully, so much like thin, beautiful threads'.
Denbigh
: Outstanding place
: Must-see in the country
: Top cities in Europe