Early April 2010 saw us heading for our spring shake down trip (prior to our forthcoming Scandinavian adventure in early summer).After a few pleasant days staying in the grounds of our eldest son’s place near Malvern we headed over the Welsh border to a lovely working farm camp-site at Llangollen.
Only about half a mile from the well equipped village and nestling in a hollow beneath a castle topped hill and numerous walks,including the 177 mile long Offa’s Dyke Path, all within striking distance ,it really was an ideal small site.
Down in the village with its charming museum and helpful Tourist Office there is an indoor climbing wall, a Thomas Telford 18th century canal achievement complete with horse-drawn canal boat cruises.
Also the local Steam Railway group run a regular service along the valley.
One of our lower walks took us alongside the canal path then out to the River Dee to view the impressive (though not very high) Horseshoe Falls.
Near which is the peaceful small 15 th. century Llanlysitio church, whose door is always open. Then we headed north-east and visited the ruins of the Valle Crucis Abbey.
Another walk from our site was up the higher ground of Dinas Bran hill on the zig zag path to the remains of the Castell Dinas Bran. Descending down the other side we strolled on the Offa’s Dyke Path and the higher Panorama Path and enjoyed some wonderful views of the surrounding countryside and of Llangollen itself with the steam train verbally and visually below.
On our last full day and with a good forecast of warm sunshine we decided to catch a local bus to the next village of Froncysllte to see and walk along the Pontcyslite aqua-duct. Made of cast iron it stands 126ft above the river flowing below and is just over 1,000 ft long.
After light refreshment at the canal side pub, aptly named the Telford Inn we walked backed to base along our now familiar Offa’s Dyke path.
Our short spring break blew away the winter cobwebs and saw us pawing the ground for future adventures.