Castell Dinas Bran, Valle Crucis Abbey and the Llangollen Canal

Llangollen is on the main bus route between Wrexham and Barmouth. There is a frequent bus service from Wrexham and most buses call at Ruabon Station. This is on the direct line from Shrewsbury to the North Wales Coast.

By car, Llangollen is on the main A5 Holyhead to London Road. There is motorway access from the East at Shrewsbury via the M54 leading to the A5 from the South and East. From the North the M56 and M6 are linked via the A483 and A55 at Wrexham.

Long term and short term parking in Llangollen. Long term is £3.50 per day, hours are 08.00 to 17.00.

[1] Start at the Bridge in Llangollen and cross over the road near the station entrance to take the footpath to the Canal. Turn right alongside the canal past the cafe to the bridge. Cross over the Canal Bridge and take footpath opposite sign posted Castell Dinas Bran / Offas Dyke Path. Follow this well defined pathway which is steep in parts, across a minor road and then continue through several kissing gates (one with a metal raven on top) to the summit of the hill and the Castle.

(A) Castell Dinas Bran was originally a hill fort constructed about 600 BC. Around 1260 a Castle was built on the site by the Welsh Princes In 1276 war broke out between Edward I and the Welsh Princes which saw the castle captured and burnt. It was never restored.

[2] Cross over the Castle Remains to the east heading for a wall. Take the path heading still east and downhill, left, between the walls to pick up the path down the eastern side of the castle to the gate. 

[3] This gate is topped by a sculptured crow which comes from the name of the castle - Castle of the City  of the Crows. Go through this gate down a graded but steep path to another gate, But do not go through this gate.

[4] Turn left and westwards to walk along with the fence on your right hand side and follow this path as it eventually bends right and north east to a lane. Turn right along the lane. Continue ahead at the junction to emerge at the main road (A542 that eventually leads to The Horseshoe Pass).

[5] Turn right along the side the road to the gate and footpath ahead. Follow this past the farm buildings until the path arrives at the edge of a small ravine with Caravan and Camping Site on the other side of the stream. Take the footpath down the steps and over the Footbridge to the entrance to Valle Crucis Abbey.

(B) Valle Crucis Abbey was built in 1201 by Madog ap Gruffydd Maelor. It is Cistercian Abbey.

[6] From the Abbey head south west back towards the A road, go through the kissing gate and take the footpath across the field to the A road.  Cross over the road to the footpath opposite. Follow the path as it now climbs steadily up the side of the hill. It then levels out and goes down the B road.

[7] Cross over the road and turn left into the Chain Bridge Hotel Car Park. Walk to the far end and go over the Canal Bridge and onto the towpath. Follow the towpath east back to the café you passed at the start and then go right downhill back to the start on Llangollen Bridge.

(C) The Canal that you are walking alongside was built by Tomas Telford. The purpose of the Canal being to link up Shropshire and Mid Wales with Chester and the River Mersey at Ellesmere Port. To do this a source of water had to be found that would enable this link. Telford’s solution was ingenius. He found his source at the same level as much of the land that the canal was to traverse through Shropshire. The problem was that he had to get it across the Dee Valley which was much lower, The solution was to bring it alongside the northern bank of the river then taken it over an agueduct over the river. The agueduct is now the World Heritage Site of Poncysyllte. This solution also facilitated access to the canal from the Wrexham area.

Across the River Dee is the A5. This was also constructed as a Turnpike by Thomas Telford.

Llangollen railway a steam hauled Heritage Line starting at Llangollen Station, located beside the Dee River Bridge, in Llangollen Town, the journey continues for 7 ½ miles upstream, following the River Dee to the village of Carrog. The Dee is classed as a Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI) for its entire length.

The line, located within an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB), remains close to the waters of the river for most of its length, on the north bank at Llangollen Station, the river is crossed on to the south bank via the Dee Bridge, approximately one mile upstream from Llangollen.