Europe > United Kingdom > Wales > Llangollen
Llangollen sits in a steep-sided valley in north-east Wales where the River Dee cuts through the hills. It is a small town with a remarkable concentration of attractions: a UNESCO World Heritage Site aqueduct carrying canal boats 38 metres above the Dee valley, a ruined hilltop castle with views across three countries on a clear day, and a medieval abbey quietly crumbling in a riverside meadow.
The Pontcysyllte Aqueduct, four kilometres east of the town, is the great engineering achievement of Thomas Telford and William Jessop, built between 1795 and 1805. It carries the Llangollen Canal across the Dee valley in a cast-iron trough supported by 18 stone piers. Walking across it — or better yet, riding it in a narrowboat with nothing but a low railing between you and the 38-metre drop — is an unforgettable experience.
High on the hill above the town stands Castell Dinas Brân, a ruined 13th century Welsh castle. The climb takes about 20 minutes from the valley floor and rewards you with panoramic views over the Dee valley, the Berwyn Mountains, and on clear days across to the Cheshire plain. The castle itself is largely reduced to foundations, but the setting is everything.
Llangollen is also known for its International Musical Eisteddfod, held each July: choirs and folk dance groups from around the world compete in the Pavilion, and the town fills up with colour and music. It is one of the most genuinely international small-town festivals in Britain.