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BERWYN, LLANGOLLEN & THE MERES ~ 08April 7th & September 1st ~ 4 Nights
Pen-y-Dyffryn Country Hotel straddles the border of England & Wales. It is renowned for its relaxing but luxurious atmosphere and imaginative country cooking. Praised in countless articles from newspapers & guidebooks as a cosy and welcoming small treasure - the sort of place people return to time & time again whilst trying to preserve it as their secret find! The views from the hotel and the grounds are exceptional and display the pleasing contours, the steep hills and deep valleys that are so typical of this wonderful unknown part of Britain. Our itinerary for this new holiday is as you might expect still 'under construction' but, as the tour title suggests, will be along the following lines! On one day we will head out into the myriad of fabulous little lanes that constitute the only roads available through the Berwyn and surrounding area. We will visit Pistyll Rhaeadr Waterfall known as one of the 'Seven Wonders of Wales'. It is the highest waterfall in Wales or England, taller than Niagara Falls too! Better still it is to be found at the remote end of a quite beautiful valley. Our travels that day will also take us to beautiful Lake Vyrnwy, built in the late Victorian age to supply water to Liverpool, it is now a treasured beauty spot with an RSPB bird hide & local craft outlets. If the weather allows we might take a short stroll along a particularly lovely stretch of the River Vyrnwy near to Pont Llogel and pay a visit to the pretty village of Llanrhaeadr-ym-Mochnant on the Rhaeadr River. Another splendid 'one way' valley road will deliver us to the famed Pennant Melangell pilgrim church. A second day will be spent in around the small town of Llangollen perhaps most well known for its elevated canal and small railway. We may well visit Plas Newydd, the exceptional black & white 18th century home to 'The Ladies of Llangollen' known at the time as 'the most celebrated virgins in Europe'! Also the evocative ruins of Valle Crucis Cistercian Abbey which lie in green fields beneath steep sided mountains and to Rug Chapel & medieval Llangar Church. Scenic splendour & dramatic byways will not be forgotten either as we traverse Ruabon Mountain & the spectacular escarpment of limestone known as Eglwyseg Rocks. We will also see Elisegs Pillar recognized as the most important Dark Age artifact in the whole of the British Isles. Our third day will take us to gentler terrain as we head east to visit 'Shropshire's Lake District', the collection of glacial lakes near the pretty market town of Ellesmere with its medieval streets, georgian houses and half timbered buildings. We would hope to take a gentle wander around Colemere or perhaps a lake cruise on Ellesmere itself with a look in on the Meres Visitors Centre. Blakemere sees the Llangollen canal hug its shores and all the meres are havens for waders and waterfowl. The beautiful remains of 12th century moated Whittington Castle are also well worth a short stop on our travels along the lanes & byways. Based at Rhydycroesau on the Welsh border near Oswestry. Hotel : Pen-y-Dyffryn Country Hotel - a luxurious Georgian ex-rectory known for its relaxing atmosphere & imaginative cuisine. Train meeting from Shrewsbury. All prices are in GB pounds (GBP), per person, per holiday,
and are pretty much all-inclusive - see holiday
information page for full details.
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