Llangollen, Wales
Llangollen is a small market town in Denbighshire, North Wales. It is renowned for its tumbling river and surrounding hills, situated on the south bank of the River Dee
2 May 20 · 3 mins read

Llangollen
By Marco Stojanovik
Llangollen is a small market town in Denbighshire, North Wales. It is renowned for its tumbling river and surrounding hills, situated on the south bank of the River Dee in the narrowest stretch of the Dee Valley, to be enjoyed via railway train journeys, boat trips, and motor passes. Visitors can also travel back in time by exploring historic sites such as Castel Dinas Bran, Valley Crucis Abbey, and the Plas Newydd estate. In addition, with a tour of Llangollen one can experience a range of pleasant cafes, bars, hotels, restaurants, guest houses, and cottages, as well as frequent festivals including the famous annual international Musical Esiteddford.

Llangollen Canal
The Llangollen Canal opened in 1805 to carry slate from nearby quarries to the growing cities of England.
Today it remains a busy canal and major part of the tourist scene due to its picturesque twisting route through the Welsh hills across the lush green countryside of the Dee Valley. Eleven miles of the current waterway from Gledrid to the Horseshoe Falls via the Pontcysyllte Aqueduct is listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Visiting tourists can enjoy the canal via boat rides or horse drawn cruises, while the Horseshoe Pass is a popular route for motorists seeking its rewarding spectacular views.

Castell Dinas Bran
Occupying a prominent hilltop above the town is Castell Dinas Bran, a stronghold built in the 1260s by Gruffydd Maelor II ap Madog, a prince of Powys Fadog, to guard the strategic route through Dee Valley.
In 1277, during King Edward I’s initial invasion of Wales, English troops besieged Castell Dinas. Facing defeat, the Welsh lord of Dinas Bran set fire to and abandoned the castle. However, it was not badly damaged.

By 1282, during Edward’s second invasion of Wales, Castell Dinas had returned to the Welsh held by Dafydd ap Gruffyd, brother of Llywellyn the Last. But, with the English victorious, most of Powys Fadog including the castle was granted to John de Warenne, Earl of Surrey.
Today little remains of this once great castle, but the steep climb up to its ruins reveals spectacular views over Llangollen and the surrounding countryside below.

Valle Crucis Abbey
Established in 1201 by Cistercian monks, under the patronage of Gruffydd Maelor ap Madog, Valle Crucis Abbey was once the spiritual centre of the principality of Powys Fadog and the second richest abbey in Wales.
During the 15th century the abbey gained a reputation as a place of hospitality and hosted several important Welsh poets of the period including Gutun Owain, Tudur Aled and Guto’r Glyn.
The abbey was dissolved in 1537 during the Dissolution of the Monasteries, deemed not prosperous compared to the wealthier English abbeys at the time. It subsequently fell into repair, the ruins open to visitors today.

Ladies of Llangollen
On the south-eastern edge of the town is Plas Newydd, from 1780 the home of the famed Ladies of Langollen, Sarah Ponsonby and Lady Eleanor Butler.
The two escaped their conventional lives in County Kilkenny in 1788, Ireland, to avoid the pressures of society and being forced into unwanted marriages. Eventually settling in Llangollen, they lived together for 50 years in intellectual retreat, their relationship both fascinating and scandalizing contemporary society.
They devoted their time to receiving friends and visitors, studies of literature and language, and improving their estate in the Gothic style. Welsh oak paneling, pointed arches, stained glass windows, and an extensive library were all added.
The house and grounds, with views over Menai Strait and Snowdonia National Park, are open to the public.

Articles on Wales published by Odyssey Traveller.
- History of Wales: The Definitive Guide
- Questions About Wales
- Snowdonia National Park, Wales
- Millennium Coastal Path, Wales
- Caernarfon Castle, Wales
External articles to assist you on your visit to Wales.
Related Tours

14 days
Mar, Apr, Jun, Aug, Sep +3The Darling River Run small group tour
Visiting New South Wales, Victoria
Small group tour for the mature and senior traveller of the Darling River. Learn about the history, culture and landscapes of the Darling, a key part of the Australian river system including Aboriginal trading routes and aquaculture. Suitable for mature and senior couples or solo travellers.
From A$9,750 AUD
View Tour
19 days
Jun, Sep, OctEngland’s villages small group history tours for mature travellers
Visiting England
Guided tour of the villages of England. The tour leader manages local guides to share their knowledge to give an authentic experience across England. This trip includes the UNESCO World heritage site of Avebury as well as villages in Cornwall, Devon, Dartmoor the border of Wales and the Cotswolds.
From A$14,750 AUD
View Tour
17 days
May, SepIceland cultural and wilderness small group tour
Visiting Iceland
Our escorted tour gives guests an insight into the history of this Icelandic nation. Travelling as a small group, our daily itineraries explore the Jokulsarlon Glacier Lagoon and others, national parks and majestic waterfalls as we learn about Iceland’s natural heritage and its Viking past from experienced local guides. There is a single supplement for solo travellers.
From A$16,995 AUD
View Tour
16 days
Feb, Apr, Sep, Oct, MarNew Zealand: An Odyssey Down Under
Visiting
A guided small group tour of both the North island and the South island. Your travel itinerary includes Auckland, Rotorua, Milford Sound, Queenstown and Christchurch. Maori culture also forms part of the journey to provide a memorable New Zealand tour experience.
From A$11,995 AUD
View Tour
9 days
AugEdinburgh Festival Fringe Small Group Tour
Visiting Scotland
One of the few European tour companies to have in Scotland an escorted small group tour of Edinburgh during the fringe festival. As well attending performances, this trip includes time to experience, the old town, new town and the royal mile, a UNESCO world heritage site plus Edinburgh Castle and Palace of Holyroodhouse.
From A$5,950 AUD
View Tour
20 days
May, Jul, SepScottish Islands and Shetland small group tours for seniors
Visiting Scotland
An escorted small group tour for couples and solo travellers of the Scottish isles including the isle of Skye draws on local guides to share their knowledge of the destinations in this unique part of Scotland. UNESCO world heritage site are visited as breathtaking scenery and authentic experiences are shared in a group of like minded people on this guided tour of remote Scotland.
From A$14,450 AUD
View Tour
23 days
May, SepProvincial France | Small Group Tour for Seniors
Visiting France, Switzerland
This small group program explores the remote mountain plateaux, perched villages and dramatic gorges as well as the Mediterranean coastline.Travel with like-minded people on this tour especially designed for the mature traveller. The villages of Alsace provide an introduction to the diversity which is France. In Burgundy we explore the local villages. Then onto the Jura Mountains, a region rarely visited by tourists. Finally, Provence and the Côte d’Azur, regions of inspiration for artists such as Van Gogh, Cézanne and Picasso.
From A$15,650 AUD
View Tour
25 days
Sep, AprMediterranean Islands Small Group Tour | Malta, Sicily, Sardinia and Corsica
Visiting Corsica, Italy
For centuries Malta, Sicily, Sardinia and Corsica held the key to the Mediterranean. Unlike other European tour companies, Odyssey provides a tour leader and local guides to share detailed itineraries about the destinations on these small group journeys. This escorted tour of western Mediterranean explores the geography, history, culture and peoples of these 4 islands. Small group tour for mature couples and solo travellers. A reasonable single supplement is charged.
From A$18,750 AUD
View Tour
13 days
Mar, Sep, Apr, OctMalta & Sicily - Mediterranean Islands small group tour
Visiting Italy, Malta
For centuries Malta & Sicily, held the key to the Mediterranean. Unlike other European tour companies, Odyssey provides a tour leader and local guides to share detailed itineraries about the destinations on these small group journeys. For mature couples and solo travellers. A reasonable single supplement is charged.
From A$8,740 AUD
View Tour
14 days
Mar, Sep, Oct, Nov, Jan +1Small group walking tour of New Zealand
Visiting
Escorted 14 day small group walking tour of New Zealand. Off the beaten track, for hiking fit like minded people curious about history, culture wine and landscapes.
From A$10,995 AUD
View Tour
22 days
Apr, May, Oct, AugAncient Turkey escorted small group history tour
Visiting Turkey
As a travel company we seek to keep guests off the beaten path. Trips that are remembered for authentic experiences. Our small group journeys in Turkey are fully escorted by an experienced local guide and an Odyssey guide to give this type of experience whether at one of the many UNESCO World heritage sites explored or local bazaars. It is always about the adventure and memories that we will create.
From A$14,995 AUD
View Tour
22 days
Apr, May, SepAnglo French Tour | Normandy, Brittany, Channel Islands tour
Visiting Channel Islands, England
Our 21 night program has daily itineraries with plenty of authentic experiences provided by passionate local guides in the key destinations in France, Channel Islands and England for this small group of like minded people. For Solo travellers minimal single supplement applies for this European tour.
From A$16,850 AUD
View Tour