Overview
The Dee Valley was border country for centuries, and it shows: Denbigh's castle rebuilt by the conqueror, an abbey the monks left behind at Valle Crucis, and Castell Dinas Brân, the Crow's Fortress, ruined on its hill.
Between them you come over the Horseshoe Pass and drop into Llangollen, where the river runs fast enough that canoeists fight through it, and a horse still pulls the boats along the canal above.
The last stop is the one people remember: Telford's aqueduct, carrying that canal 38 metres over the Dee. You can look up at it from the riverbank, or walk across.
- Duration
- 1 day
- Group size
- Up to 7 guests
- Vehicle
- Mercedes V-Class
Includes
- Expert bilingual local guide
- Travel in a Mercedes V-Class
- Daily pick-ups & drop offs
- Fully customisable
Excludes
- Flights, transfers and accommodation
- Food and drink
- Entry fees to attractions
- Heritage & culture
- Mountains & lakes
Itinerary
Over the pass to the aqueduct
Start at Denbigh's triple-towered gatehouse above the Vale of Clwyd, and take the 1811 turnpike road over the Horseshoe Pass. Down the other side are the abbey ruins at Valle Crucis, begun in 1201, and Llangollen on its fast river, with Castell Dinas Brân on the hill above. You finish on the towpath of the aqueduct, high over the Dee.
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An Edwardian rebuild on a rock above the Vale of Clwyd
Denbigh began as a Welsh lordship stronghold and was rebuilt after Edward I's conquest, most strikingly as a triple-towered gatehouse unlike anything else in Wales. The town walls climb the hill alongside it. -
Bwlch yr Oernant, a mountain pass rising to 417 metres
Bwlch yr Oernant, the pass of the cold stream, climbs to 417 metres on the 1811 turnpike from Llandegla to Llangollen, swinging around the head of a valley in a horseshoe, which is where the English name comes from. Open moorland, long views, sheep on the road and the Ponderosa cafe at the top. Often closed by snow in winter. -
One of the best-preserved Cistercian abbeys in Wales
Begun in 1201 by Madog ap Gruffudd, and remarkably complete seven centuries later: the west front, the rib-vaulted chapter house, the cloister and the monks' fishpond, the only one in Wales still holding water. The choir monks and the lay brothers who worked the land worshipped separately, divided by a screen in the abbey church. -
Dee Valley town below the Berwyn Mountains and Castell Dinas Bran
A small town at a crossing of the Dee, in the narrowest part of the valley below the Berwyn Mountains. The river runs fast here and canoeists fight through it under the old bridge, while a horse pulls the passenger boats along the canal above the town. Each July the International Musical Eisteddfod fills the Royal Pavilion with singers and dancers from around the world, and a heritage railway runs ten miles up the valley to Corwen. On the hill above are the ruins of Castell Dinas Brân. -
A branch of the Shropshire Union, and a World Heritage waterway
The canal runs from Llangollen to Hurleston in Cheshire, crossing the Dee and the Ceiriog on Telford's aqueducts. Horse-drawn boats still work the stretch from Llangollen Wharf towards the Horseshoe Falls. -
Hilltop fortress ruin with spectacular views over the Dee Valley
Crow's Fortress, the Welsh princes of Powys' castle of the 1260s, ruined on a conical hill 300 metres above Llangollen, on the site of an Iron Age hill fort. It was abandoned within twenty years and never rebuilt, which is why so little stands, and legend has attached it to King Arthur and the Grail. The climb from the town is steep and the view along the Dee Valley is the reward. -
Telford's 1805 aqueduct, the highest navigable one in the world
Thomas Telford's aqueduct of 1805 carries the Llangollen Canal 307 metres across the Dee on 18 tapering stone piers, hollow at the top to save weight, 38 metres above the river: the highest navigable aqueduct in the world and a World Heritage Site. You can walk the towpath across, with a railing on one side and the drop on the other, or see it from the riverbank below.
What guests say
We had a fantastic day with John - from the moment he picked us up in London to our final destination in Wrexham, Wales. The drive across England flew by, thanks to John’s engaging and informative conversation. We even learned a little Welsh along the way! He perfectly curated our stop in Llangollen to have lunch, ride along the canal, and visit the amazing Pontcysylite Aqueduct before dropping us at our hotel in Wrexham. He also made sure we had the most brilliant guide for our walking tour of Wrexham the next day. Wales was a highlight of our trip and John was a big part of that. Can’t recommend him or his services highly enough
Absolutely brilliant day out with John - so friendly and knowledgable. I’ve been coming to north wales all my life and thought I’d seen it all - I hadn’t!! Defo recommend. Thanks so much John 🙏
Frequently asked questions
- Can we change the itinerary?
Yes. Every tour we run is customised, so treat this itinerary as a starting point. Tell us what interests you and we will build the days around it.
- Can this tour be combined with other tours, or made longer or shorter?
Yes. A day tour can be built into a multi-day tour, and a multi-day tour can be shortened, extended or joined to another. Tell us how many days you have and we will plan around them.
- Are admission fees included?
No. Entry to castles, gardens and other attractions is paid on the day, where a fee applies. Many of the castles are cared for by Cadw, and we can advise on the best-value tickets when you book.
- Is food included?
No. As we tour we will suggest eating places that our guests have enjoyed.
- What should we wear and bring?
Sensible footwear for some light walking, and a rain jacket, just in case.
- How much walking is involved?
Some, and none of it strenuous: the walk from the car to a castle gate or a viewpoint. If walking is a concern, tell us and we will plan the stops accordingly.
- Where should we stay?
Somewhere central, so that touring time is not spent driving to the start. Our accommodation advice lists places our guests have used, and we are happy to suggest a base for your tour.
