Llangollen, 140 mi/225 km north of Cardiff, is nestled in a wooded vale of the same name. Adding to the rustic charm of this country town is a revived steam railway.
Each July, the Llangollen hosts an international music and cultural festival, or eisteddfod. But year-round you can see the haunting ruins of the 13th-century Abbey of Valle Crucis, a few miles/kilometers north, or the 700-year-old Chirk Castle, 6 mi/10 km to the east, on the border with England.
While in the area, make a point to visit Erddig, a country house just south of Wrexham, where things have been left largely unchanged for more than two centuries.
To request access to the full version of this destination guide, please provide your email address below. Your email address will only be used for verification purposes and will not be used for marketing purposes.