Heading up through northern Wales, we spent a little time in the town of Llangollen on the River Dee. This picturesque place is rumored to be the area where the name Jones first originated! Overlooking the Dee River Valley are the ruins of the medieval Castell Dinas Bran. Beyond the castle is an impressive limestone escarpment called the Eglwyseg Rocks. The outcrop continues further north, ending at a monumental cliff called World’s End, near the town of Wrexham.
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Can’t have a rainbow without a little rain … and we had a LOT of rain
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River Dee running through Llangollan
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The old train station on the riverbank
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These narrow boats moored along the local canals are used for tourist rides. They are pulled by horses during the day.
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Remnants of Castell Dinas Bran, which were built by Gruffydd II ap Madog in the 1260’s
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Dinas Bran means ‘crow’s fortress’ and the trail markers were designated with crow sculptures
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View of the castell ruins with interested local inhabitant
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Castell Dinas Bran overlooking Dee River Valley
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Expansive view from the Eglwyseg Rocks cliffside
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Searching for a climbing route with the help of a local
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Climbing at an area of the Eglwyseg Rocks called Trevor Quarry
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The limestone cliffs were quarried in the past for building stone. Lime kilns were also used to convert limestone to lime, which had uses as lime mortar as well as to improve soil
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Approaching The Turf Hotel and Bar outside Wrexham FC’s stadium
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The Cae Ras, or Race Course (in English), the world’s oldest international football stadium still in use
Another great stop……All I have to say is YSIOP bla, bla, bla GOLLEN & too bad you weren’t able to stash one of those crows in your luggage.
We did like the bird sculptures! And, I was able to figure out the long name on the shop sign. I think it says, ‘a small card shop at the bridge over the River Dee in Llangollen’, or something similar.
Gorgeous! And yes the one lane, 2-way roads adds to excitement of driving in the United Kingdom.
With regard to your comment about the rain; I’m not sure it would be the England we know without the rain, but then again, we, meaning you, are absolutely spoiled coming from Marin. If you could possibly come up with some type of business plan to get said water back to sunny but dry California. Just a spoonful of magic.
Photo 12/20; Wales version of a Leprechaun, curious sheep, defaid chwilfrydig.
Yn wir!
Love It! Especially, the depth shot of the old castle’s archways. Feel like I should see the old kings profile in the open space 😃
It was kind of spooky there when the weather was foggy, but when the sun came out we could see the whole valley below and it became really beautiful!