North Wales

Here's a brief introduction to some of the most popular attractions in the north of Wales.

Llangollen

Llangollen is a very popular tourist town with many local attractions, as well as hosting visitors and competitors from all over the world for the International Musical Eisteddfod every July.

Not far from Llangollen, at Pontcysyllte, is the aqueduct shown below, which is a canal crossing.

It was designed by Thomas Telford and it's construction began in the late 18th century.

It's possible to take canal boat rides, shown here, from Llangollen.

Valle Crucis, pictured here, is another of Llangollen's attractions.

It's a 13th century Cistercian monks' abbey, with many features still quite well-preserved.

Castles

England's King Edward I had many castles built all over Wales in medieval times to keep control over the Welsh land and its people.

Of course, they fly the Red Dragon these days and some of them are now World Heritage Sites.

Here are the two towers of Rhuddlan
Castle's gatehouse, viewed from the
bank of the River Clwyd, which gave
ships access to the castle.

Conwy Castle has great views from the top of its eight towers.

This photo shows that, though the roofs have long gone, the 700-year-old walls remain and make this a World Heritage Site.

(Note: Though it looks to be in hilly countryside, the castle is actually on the bank of the River Conwy, next to the sea.)

Historical houses and gardens

It's just too small to read the sign in this photo (right), which bears the name of this house near Capel Curig - Ty Hyll (Ugly House).

Ancient laws allowed a freehold to be claimed if a house was built overnight, between sunset and sunrise, and it is believed that this is such a house, built in the 15th century.

Beddgelert

"One of the most attractive villages in the whole of the United Kingdom." - UK Villages Online.

Beneath the tree pictured, you can see the grave (bedd) of a dog named Gelert, after which the village is named.

Legend has it that Prince Llywelyn left his dog Gelert to protect his baby as he went out hunting.

When he returned, Gelert was dripping with blood and the baby nowhere to be seen.

Llywelyn was obviously upset and killed the dog, only to later discover the baby alive and well close to the body of a dead wolf.

Marble Church

The Marble Church, Bodelwyddan, is
called such due to there being 13
kinds of marble used inside.

Aled Powell
August 2004
Photos: July 2004