Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
NORTH WALES BORDERLANDS
The northeastern counties of Denbighshire, Wrexham and Flintshire are a baffling jumble
of the gritty and the gorgeous. From 1974 to 1996 they were all part of the county of Cl-
wyd, before being broken up and reverting to their far older names. Surprisingly, the best
bits are further from the coast, particularly in the wild hills and lush farmland of Denbigh-
shire's southern reaches. It's well worth pausing here as you make your way towards
Snowdonia.
TOP OF CHAPTER
Holywell (Treffynnon)
POP 8890
Billed as Wales' answer to Lourdes, the market town of Holywell ( www.holywell-
town.gov.uk ) in Flintshire has been a revered site of pilgrimage for over 1300 years. It's the
only such site to have survived the Reformation largely intact, and it's now once again ad-
ministered by the Catholic Church.
Named after a 7th-century Welsh woman venerated as a saint, St Winefride's Well (
01352-713054; www.saintwinefrideswell.com ; adult/child 80/20p; 9am-5pm Apr-Sep, 9am-4pm Oct-Mar; )
marks the site of her gruesome decapitation and the place where her head was miraculously
re-attached by her uncle, St Bueno. Curative bathing in the holy waters started in the 12th
century. Henry V made the pilgrimage in 1416 to take the waters after his victory at Agin-
court, and Princess Victoria visited in 1828. The vaulted stone shrine and star-shaped well
basin were built sometime before 1509.
Modern-day pilgrims still take the waters today, bathing in the holy well at designated
times before visiting the adjoining museum, attending one of the pilgrims' Masses and
stocking up on vials of holy water. The site is packed in June for the National Catholic Pil-
grimage.
There's accommodation just up the road, courtesy of the Bridgettine Sisters, at St Wine-
fride's Guesthouse ( 01352-714073; www.bridgettine.org ; 20 New Rd; s/d £29/50; ) , where the simple
but cosy rooms offer an evening of quiet contemplation after a home-cooked meal.
Getting There & Away
 
Search WWH ::




Custom Search