Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
Getting There & Away
Bus X50 heads to/from Denbigh (20 minutes) and Wrexham (50 minutes).
DON'T MISS
ERDDIG MANOR HOUSE
It might be a little out of the way, but the stately home of
Erddig
(NT; 01978-355314;
www.nationaltrust.org.uk
; adult/child £11/5.15, grounds only £6.60/3.30; house 12.30-4.30pm Mar-Oct,
11am-3.30pm Nov-Feb, last admission 1hr before closing; ) is absolutely worth seeking out. This splendid
National Trust (NT) property, sitting in the middle of a 485-hectare country park, offers an illuminating glimpse
into 18th-century upper-class life. It was the Yorke family's ancestral home for over two centuries (until 1973).
Original artwork and furniture is displayed in the fine rooms, while a formal, walled garden has been restored in
Victorian style.
The house, the earliest parts of which date from 1680, has hardly been altered since the early 20th century;
there's no electricity and it still has extensive outbuildings. It provides a unique insight into the 'upstairs-down-
stairs' relationship that existed between masters and their servants, with the best archive of servant material of
any house in Britain. There are even oil paintings and poems in honour of some of the favourites.
There's plenty to keep both kids and adults busy, with history trails, shire horses and a full program of family-
friendly events.
Erddig lies 10 miles northeast of Llangollen, signposted from the A483 on the way to Wrexham.
TOP OF CHAPTER
Llangollen
POP 3700
Huddled around the banks of the tumbling River Dee (Afon Dyfrdwy) and with the mys-
terious hilltop ruins of Castell Dinas Brân as a constant backdrop, the picturesque little
town of Llangollen has long been recognised as a scenic gem. The riverside walk, heading
west from the bridge, has been a popular promenading spot since Victorian times.
In summer Llangollen (khlan-
goth
-len) is the hub of a burgeoning walking and white-
water rafting scene, while in winter, under a thick blanket of snow, it just sits there and
looks pretty. Two major arts festivals boost tourist numbers, as does the area's industrial
legacy, which attracts railway and engineering enthusiasts.
The town takes its name from St Collen, a 7th-century monk who founded a religious
community
(llan)
here. Centuries later it became an important stop on the London to
Holyhead stagecoach route, linking the British capital to Ireland.
