Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
the castle built by Edward I between 1282 and 1311. The remains of the walled town and
castle sit above the current town centre.
A steep walk up from the High St leads to the
Burgess Gate
, where there are displays on
the town's history. Inside the remnants of the old walls, the road continues past
St Hillary's
Tower
, which is all that remains of a 14th-century chapel, and on to
Denbigh Castle
(Cadw;
www.cadw.wales.gov.uk
;
adult/child £3.50/2.65; 10am-5pm Apr-Oct)
. During the Civil War, it was a
Royalist stronghold (Charles I once stayed here) and owes its ruined state to the Parlia-
mentarians who destroyed it in 1660. There's not a lot to see, but a section of wall offers
great views over the countryside.
Getting There & Away
Buses head here from Ruthin (X50; 20 minutes), Mold (14; 45 minutes), Rhyl (51; 45
minutes) and Wrexham (X50; 1¼ hours).
TOP OF CHAPTER
Ruthin (Rhuthun)
POP 5500
Tucked away in the quiet Clwyd valley, well off any tourist route, Ruthin (rith-in) is an at-
tractive lost-in-time hilltop town and the administrative hub of Denbighshire. In the
Middle Ages it was an important market town and textile producer. There are still live-
stock markets held three times a week, as well as a produce market on Friday mornings,
and a general market on Thursdays.
The heart of Ruthin is St Peter's Sq, lined with an impressive collection of heritage
buildings, including a 1401 half-timbered courthouse (now a bank) and St Peter's Collegi-
ate Church, the oldest parts of which date from 1310.
Sights
Nantclwyd y Dre
(
www.denbighshire.gov.uk/heritage
;
Castle St; adult/child £3.90/2.50; 10.30am-5pm Fri-Sun Apr-Jun & Sep, Fri-
Tue Jul & Aug)
Dating from 1435, half-timbered Nantclwyd y Dre is thought to be the oldest
town house in Wales. It originally belonged to a family of weavers and despite being ex-
HISTORIC BUILDING
