Llangollen
Llangollen is an ancient market town nestled in the beautiful Dee Valley in North East Wales. It is situated on the banks of the River Dee (pictured left), and it is rich with historical allusion, from the Iron Age through to the Dark Ages and King Arthur (not the legendary knight in shining armour but the Dark Age warrior who fought the Saxons to protect his homeland) to the more recent Victorian period. It is a popular tourist destination in North Wales, host to various annual international events, the most famous being the Llangollen International Musical Eisteddfod in July.
The streets of the small town, not to mention the car parks, were packed the sunny day we visited in early September. We began our visit with a stroll and quick lunch along the High Street, before buying tickets for the Llangollen Railway. Aboard the train we sat back and took in the eight-mile leisurely view of the Dee Valley, including the beautiful Horseshoe Pass, all the while pulled along by a vintage deisel engine, which Kassie had a chance to view thanks to the amiable train conductor. Upon our return we took a walk along the other side of the river to the wharf.
On the outskirts of Llangollen is the medieval Valle Crucis Abbey (at lower left). Surrounded by green fields beneath Llangollen's steep-sided mountains, it is easy to imagine why the Cistercian monks found the site hard to resist. Their abbey, founded in the 13th century, has weathered the ravages of time, history and neglect remarkably well. Many original features survive, including the chapter house with its rib-vaulted ceiling which you can climb up to and explore for yourself. Valle Crucis, literally the 'Valley of the Cross', is named after nearby Eliseg's Pillar, a 9th-century Christian memorial cross. Some experts contend that the spot on which Valle Crucis sits is the true site of Glastonbury, as the stories associating Arthur to Glastonbury in Somerset were linked to Somerset at a much later date than that of Arthur. Numerous other geographical references to the ancient hero abound in the vicinity of Llangollen.
Accompanied By: Vera Adler
Date of Our Last Visit: September 2004