Llangollen, a charming town nestled in the heart of North Wales, offers you a range of exciting activities and attractions which is why it's one of my favourite destinations in North Wales.
From its stunning natural scenery to its rich history which you can learn about throughout the town, there is no shortage of things to do in Llangollen. In this article, I’ll share some of my favourite activities and give you some top tips I've picked up from visiting the town over the years.
1. Learn about the Ladies of Llangollen at Plas Newydd
One of Llangollen’s most famous landmarks is Plas Newydd, a 14th-century country house that was the home to the infamous Llangollen Ladies.
I'll give you a brief overview of who the ladies were, but you can learn much more from the museum on the first floor of the house. Lady Eleanor Butler and Miss Sarah Ponsonby moved from Ireland to escape societal norms and live peacefully as a couple at Plas Newydd, a stone house that they transformed into a gothic style with elaborate wood carvings and stained glass.
The house is a paid attraction at £7 per adult, however, you are free to wander the gardens for free. I can recommend the woodland walk and you may even spot a red squirrel if you are lucky.
If you're interested, you can see a memorial to the two ladies in the churchyard of St Collen's Church.
2. Tour the town's top landmarks on the Llangollen AudioWalk
I stand by that the best way to get to know a new place is by taking a tour. As there's no in-person guided tour, I've put together the Llangollen AudioWalk, a self-guided walking tour around the town.
The tour costs £4.99 and can be found on the Wales Guidebook: AudioWalks app available for Apple and Android.
It begins outside St Collen's Church and will take around an hour in total, ending near Llangollen Pavillion. The audio will direct you around the town or you can use the GPS-enabled onscreen map to help you navigate.
Along the way, you'll learn about the history of Llangollen, hear stories about famous past residents, and you'll see the town's most iconic landmarks too.
3. Take a horse-drawn boat along Llangollen Canal
Llangollen's canal has been a huge part of its history as a town and now it's open as a tourist attraction. There are two different boat trips you can take:
- Horse-drawn trip - Before the invention of the engine, canal boats would have been pulled by horses down the horse path and now you can take a step back in time and enjoy a 45 minute trip. These trips run all year but are limited to 4 days per week during low season.
ㅤ - Aqueduct trip - One of the most astonishing parts of this canal is that it runs right across the Pontcysyllte Aqueduct. This trip is much further so even though it's a motorised boat, it's still a two hour trip from Llangollen. The trip is one-way but transport back will be arranged. This one only runs during peak season though.
Check the Horse Drawn Boats website to find out which services are running and to book online. I recommend booking ahead if visiting during peak season in Wales (June to August).
Where To Stay in Llangollen
We stayed at the Chain Bridge Hotel ⭐⭐⭐ - a 3-star hotel just outside the town and I can highly recommend it. If you can get a riverside room, you'll enjoy a balcony overlooking the river with the heritage railway in view too. It's a pleasant 30-minute walk into town along the canal which is lovely on a sunny day.
4. Ride a steam train on Llangollen Heritage Railway
The Llangollen Heritage Railway is a scenic line that runs between Llangollen and the village of Corwen. The route originally ran all the way to Barmouth and would have been the main way of visiting the seaside during its day.
The railway closed down in 1965, however, it has since been refurbished and reopened as a tourist attraction. Four stations along the route have been recreated in their original Victorian design and are served by a diesel steam train with traditional carriages.
There are several ways you can experience the railway depending upon how long you have. The best way is by purchasing the Day Rover Fare so that you can hop on and hop off the service as you please throughout the day. Shorter return tickets are also available starting as low as £7 for adults. Find out more on their website here.
5. Go rafting down the River Dee
Llangollen is one of the top places for white water rafting in Wales where you can spend a half day white water rafting down the River Dee through an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty.
You’ll take to the water in an inflatable raft, with all the safety gear provided, and paddle your way through white water rapids in an activity that’s sure to raise your adrenaline.
You’ll need to join a guided adventure operating in the area. I recommend the tour from Bearded Men Adventures with a route including the legendary rapids through the Serpent’s Tail and Town Falls.
6. Walk (or kayak) across Pontcysyllte Aqueduct
I've already mentioned the famous Pontcysyllte Aqueduct in the small village of Trevor outside Llangollen. This is one of Britain’s most famous aqueducts because it’s the tallest and longest one in the country at 39m high and 300m long.
It took 10 years to build and more than 500 men. What makes it even more special is that the Llangollen canal runs right along the top of the aqueduct, carrying it over the River Dee which runs beneath.
If you head to the visitor centre next to the aqueduct, you can walk along the path that runs next to the canal. If that doesn't excite you enough, you can even kayak along the aqueduct with a tour from Bearded Men Adventures.
7. Hike up to Castell Dinas Bran
Sat on a hilltop overlooking the town, you’ll find the ruins of Castell Dinas Bran. This medieval castle was built in the 13th century by Gruffydd Maelor II who was the prince of Powys Fadog at the time, although wooden fortifications have likely been here many centuries earlier.
The castle was subject to destruction by both the Welsh and the English during Edward I’s conquest of Wales. By the end of the century, the castle was mostly in ruins so rather than repair it, a new one was built which is now known as Holt Castle.
You can spot the ruins from some parts of town (stand in front of the old town hall building near the bridge for a good view), but it's best when you hike up to see them in close range. It took me around 25-30 minutes to reach the top using the path near the canal Wharf. There are plenty of seats along the way if you need a rest.
8. Visit Chirk Castle
Just a 20-minute journey south of Wrexham, you’ll find Chirk Castle, a stunning medieval castle surrounded by beautiful gardens and parkland.
The National Trust-owned property dates back to the 13th century when it was originally built by Roger Mortimer de Chirk as part of Edward I’s conquest in North Wales. Later in the 16th century, it was sold to the Myddelton family as a family home and was held by descendants of that family until the 20th century.
Inside the castle, you can explore the staterooms, go up Adam Tower and make your way down to the dungeons! There is also a huge well-maintained garden with manicured lawns, clipped yews, and stunning views. The castle’s visitor centre, known as Home Farm, is where you’ll find a shop, bookshop and several play areas for children.
The castle also hosts events throughout the year, such as jousting tournaments and outdoor theatre performances. You can find out about upcoming events on their website.
If you don’t want to pay for entry (National Trust members get in free), then you can explore the estate surrounding the castle for free where you’ll find enormous oak trees, a deer park, and many walking trails. Find out more here.
9. Hit the mountain biking trails at Llandegla Forest
Coed Llandegla Forest has earned a name as one of the top mountain biking destinations in Wales. Head to the Oneplanet Adventure visitor centre where you can hire a bike or pick up information about the trails (you can also download a trail map on their website).
There are four routes to follow from the easy green route which runs around the lake and is suitable for beginners, up to the severe difficulty black route which is mostly downhill single-track experience with jumps and varying surface types so it’s only for experienced riders.
The visitor centre also has bike repair facilities so that you can ensure your bike is in tip-top condition before hitting the trails.
If you’re not into mountain biking, don’t worry, there are several walking trails that also begin at the visitor centre as well as a café and shop.
10. Visit Valle Crucis Abbey
Valle Crucis Abbey is a beautiful and historic place located in the small village of Llangollen in North Wales. Founded in 1201, the abbey was once home to a community of Cistercian monks and played an important role in the religious and cultural history of the region.
Back in the day, you would have been surrounded by rolling green hills, but you might be surprised to find the abbey now sits in the middle of a caravan park. Nonetheless, it's still worth stopping by.
It takes just 5 minutes to reach from Llangollen. I was a little confused about parking since it's not immediately obvious, but it's just along the left side of the road as you enter, there's a sign saying it's visitor parking.
You can also check out Elisigs Pillar which is just a 5 minute walk from the abbey. This historical pillar was placed there more than 500 years earlier by King of Powys, Cyngen ap Cadell in dedication to his father, King Elisedd.
11. Learn about Llangollen's past at the town museum
Talking of Elisigs pillar, Llangollen Museum has a full-size replica of it which you can see in the image above. This is just one of many exhibits telling the story of the town.
I spent over an hour in the museum learning about some of the important characters in Llangollen's history. These include the ladies of Llangollen who I already mentioned, the Llangollen Barber, and Thomas Telford.
The museum is free to visit and located just a stone's throw from the main street so you have no excuse to miss it.
12. Walk the Llangollen History Trail
The Llangollen History Trail is a 6-mile circular walk which begins and ends right in the town centre. The trail is waymarked throughout and takes up to 6 hours to complete.
The first part of the journey is quite easy, running alongside the canal. However, it then heads into the countryside where you’ll have to navigate through with stiles, kissing gates and some steep stairs. This part of the route can be more challenging.
On the way, you’ll pass several iconic landmarks that surround Llangollen, including:
- Valle Crucis Abbey
- Eliseg’s Pillar.
- Castell Dinas Bran
- Horseshoe Falls
- Llantysilio Church
It’s also a great opportunity to spot some birds of prey who frequent the skies around Llangollen. Look out for buzzards, kestrels, and maybe even peregrine falcons. Find the full route with information about the stops here.
13. Go gorge walking
Another popular outdoor activity you can do in Llangollen is Gorge Walking where you’ll make your way through the gorges of North Wales by sliding, crawling, swimming, and jumping. The deep gorges that run through the area make it the perfect place to try for beginners.
Gorge walking is like an easier version of canyoning, just without the abseiling and extreme activities of canyoning (if you are interested in this, see my guide to the best canyoning spots in Wales).
To book a gorge walking trip, try Safe and Sound Outdoors who offer both a full or half-day adventure starting in Corwen, just outside of Llangollen. The minimum age for participants is 8 years old, and instructors will guide you down slabs of rock, into and out of the water, and generally help you have a great time exploring the area.
14. Drive along the Horseshoe Pass
If you enjoy driving like me, then you’ll be pleased to know that Llangollen is home to an incredible driving route, the Horseshoe Pass, which was voted the third-best route in Britain
The route offers breathtaking views across rural Wales as it runs between Llantysilio mountain and Cyrn-y-Brain mountain. It’s great for both cycling or driving, with plenty of laybys along the way so that you can stop to enjoy the view safely.
If you're going to see a scenic stretch of road, you may as well do it in style. With this tour from Routemaster4Hire, you'll enjoy the sweeping views from the top of your very own by vintage open-top London double-decker bus.
Related Questions
How Do You Prononuce Llangollen?
The easiest way for English speakers to pronounce Llangollen is by saying ‘clan-goth-len’. However, for the correct pronunciation of a ‘LL’ in Welsh, watch this video.
Why Do Tourists Visit Llangollen?
Llangollen is a tourist-friendly place to visit in North Wales thanks to several attractions in the town itself, alongside the River Dee, and in the surrounding hills. These include the canal, Plas Newydd, and several castles. There are also hotels, guest houses, B&Bs, and restaurants which appeal to tourists.
Does Llangollen Have A Beach?
No, Llangollen is not near the coastline so it doesn’t have a beach. There is a large rocky area alongside the river which gets full of tourists and locals hanging out on sunny days, but it is not a beach.
What Day Is Market Day In Llangollen?
Llangollen Country Market is on every Friday morning in the Memorial Hall on Market Street, except in January and February.
Can You Walk Over Llangollen Aqueduct?
Yes, there is a path to walk over the aqueduct which lies just outside of Llangollen (known as Pontcysyllte Aqueduct). Alternatively, you can take a canal boat across the top or even a kayak with a guided tour.
How Long Does It Take To Walk From Llangollen To The Aqueduct?
Pontcysyllte Aqueduct is located outside of Llangollen between the villages of Trevor and Froncysyllte. From Llangollen, it is at least 90 minutes walking time. It’s best to drive there and park the car at the Pontcysyllte Aqueduct & Trevor Basin Visitor Centre.
Published: 3 April 2023 · Last updated: 23 August 2023