Denbighshire Guide

The area is mostly hilly moorland, with the Clwydian Range in the east, the Hiraethog Moors (Mynydd Hiraethog) in the west and the Berwyn range adjacent to the southern boundary. The broad, fertile Vale of Clwyd runs south to north in the centre, and there is a narrow coastal plain in the north.

The Town is small with just 3000 people, Llangollen (a town in Denbighshire) is seeped in myth and legend. In many ways it is best known for hosting the Llangollen International Musical Eisteddfod every July which brings in 120,000 visitors and turns the town into a vibrant international stage.

As with so many ancient Welsh towns, it takes it's name from its founding Saint; Collen, a seventh century saint. Llangollen, was established in the 7th Century when The monk St. Collen was instructed to find a valley by riding a horse for one day and then stop and mark out a 'parish' a place to build his hermitage or cell in the custom of the times, with a tiny church, hospice and outhouses all enclosed within a wall.

The famous Dee Bridge, was built by Bishop Trevor of Trevor Hall in 1345. It is a scheduled ancient monument and was widened in the 1960’s to accommodate modern traffic.

Up to the 19th century Llangollen town was located south-east of the bridge around Bridge Street and Church Street, and to the north-west around the old village green, which has now disappeared , but is remembered by such names as 'Green Lane; and 'Green Lodge' which still exist. Nearly all of this densely populated area disappeared to allow the building of the Railway.

Llangollen became important because of its prominent position on the main London to Holyhead coaching road which was improved by Thomas Telford from 1815 and continued for some 15 years. The Canal was also constructed around this and combined to bring considerable immigration into Llangollen during the early part of the 19th century.

These improved communication routes and local natural resources made an ideal location for newly developing industries. The old Water Mill opposite the Railway Station had already functioned for hundreds of years when a new Flannel Mill was erected at the north end of Church Street on a site later to be occupied by a tannery after the business had expanded and moved across the river to Lower Dee Mills.


Here are just some of the places to visit in and around Denbighshire: