Best Walks from Llangollen
By Dave Roberts 
Posted as a walk in – Clwydian Range and Dee Valley, Europe, North Wales, Wales
Best Walks from Llangollen
The picturesque town of Llangollen can be found in the county of Denbighshire in North East Wales, and falls within the Clwydian and Dee Valley Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty.
Sitting alongside the River Dee, with the Eglwyseg mountain to the north and Berwyn Mountains to the south, the setting is as stunning as you can hope for.
Coupling the natural beauty of the rolling green hills, it’s history and abundance of attractions this is a favourite among visitors to Wales. Being an official Walkers are Welcome town, it comes as no surprise that there are plenty of great walks to explore in the area including the Offa’s Dyke National Trail and the Clwydian Way.
What’s In Llangollen?
The Llangollen International Music Eisteddfod is world famous and is held annually in the second week of July. Less well known is the Llangollen Fringe Festival which is an independent arts festival including music, comedy and dance. Among the other attractions are the Llangollen Railwa, Castell Dinas Bran, Pontcysyllte Aqueduct and the Llangollen Canal, Valle Crucis Abbey and the Ladies of Llangollen and their home – Plas Newydd – which is now a museum.
How Can I Get To Llangollen?
Thomas Telford’s A5 brings you in from the Midlands. There are regular buses from Wrexham and from Barmouth/Dolgellau/Y Bala. The Llangollen Railway can be uesed from Corwen, but there is no railway link to the national rail network with the nearest railway station being in Chirk.
What Pubs and eateries are there in Llangollen?
Llangollen is geared up to the walker, and there’s a wide range of pubs and eateries in the town. There are over 10 pubs in Llangollen, so plenty of choice – including the riverside Corn Mill, the Ponsonby Arms and the Sun Inn which is popular as a live music venue. There are also a number in the surrounding area such as the Chainbridge Hotel near the Horseshoe Falls, the Sun Inn in Rhewl, the Aqueduct Inn near the Pontcystyllte Aqueduct and the Britannia Inn at the base of the Horseshoe Pass. Not forgetting the Abbey Grange Hotel that are also home to the excellent Llangollen Brewery.
Horseshoe Falls Walk
Height Gained – 30 metres , Distance – 1.3 km, Time –under an hour
The Horseshoe Falls are a popular attraction, despite being a man made weir constructed by Thomas Telford to feed the Llangollen Canal rather than a natural wonder. This is an easy walk from the Llangollen Railway station at Berwyn, or you can also park nearby.
Moel Tan y Coed (Velvet Hill) and the Horseshoe Falls
Height Gained – 270 metres , Distance – 5 km, Time –2 hours
Moel Tan y Coed, also known as Velvet Hill – with neither name on the OS mapping – may only be 232 metres in height but is a viewpoint worth climbing to. Centrally placed, the views stretch across from Llantysilio Mountain across to the escarpment of Eglwyseg Mountain as well as across the Dee Valley.
Llangollen History Trail
Height Gained – 380 metres , Distance – 11 km, Time –4-5 hours
This walk is really a number of shorter walks that you can take from Llangollen. It takes in the Dee Valley Way and the Clwydian Way to the Horseshoe Falls, the Vale Crucis Abbey and the spectacularly located Castell Dinas Bran. While a fast walker would complete this walk in a few hours – we’ve allowed time in this for the walker to appreciate the locations visited.
Eglwyseg Mountain Walk from Trevor Rocks – Offa’s Dyke
Height Gained – 550 metres , Distance – 16 km, Time –5 hours
This walk follows the Llangollen Panorama Walk as well as Offa’s Dyke National Trail and the limestone escarpment of Eglwyswg Mountain. The walk follows the clifftops of Eglwyseg Mountain on the way out as far as World’s End before returning along Offa’s Dyke National Trail to the start.
Llangollen Canal Walk to Pontcysyllte Aqueduct
Height Gained – 460 metres , Distance – 16 km, Time –5 hours
One of the most notable landmarks near Llangollen is the Pontcysyllte Aqueduct and Canal. Designated a World Heritage Site, there’s plenty to see along the way. This walk takes in the Llangollen Panorama Walk as well as the Offa’s Dyke National Trail before returning along the Llangollen Canal.
Llantysilio Mountain Walk from Rhewl
Height Gained – 350metres , Distance – 5 km, Time –2 hours
A walk along the Clwydian Way from Rhewl near Llangollen to the col between Moel Morfydd and Moely Gamelin which you could easily add to the walk if you want to end on a summit.
The Llangollen Round
Height Gained – 2110 metres , Distance – 54 km, Time –13 hours plus – or a couple of days
The Llangollen Round is a challenge walk that takes in all the summits surrounding Llangollen. While it’s a challenge walk, undertaken annually to benefit Cancer Research, you can still complete the walk whenever you want over a number of days.
Walk along Offa’s Dyke
Height Gained – 9000 metres , Distance – 285 km, Time –couple of weeks
Llangollen is located just off the Offa’s Dyke National Trail which stretches from Sedbury Cliffs in Monmouthshire to Prestatyn in North Wales. Most of the individual walks mentioned have included a short section of the trail, including The Llangollen Canal Walk to Pontcyslle aqueduct – with the individual sections near Llangollen included on our Eglwyseg Mountain Walk and Pontctysyllte Aqueduct walks above.
North Berwyn Way
Height Gained – 790 metres , Distance – 25 km, Time –8 hours+
Despite the grandness of the name, this isn’t a long distance path, but rather a local trail that can be completed in one day. For a two day walk, combine it with the Dee Valley Way for a two day trip. The route takes in the foothills of the Berwyn mountains – from Vivod Mountain to Moel Fferna, which are included in the Clwydian Range and Dee Valley AONB – but the higher summits of the Berwyn to the south are not.
The Dee Valley Way
Height Gained – 680 metres , Distance – 21 km, Time –6-7 hours
Taking in the northern bank of the Afon Dyfrdwy (River Dee) from Corwen to Llangollen, this walk makes a perfect companion to the North Berwyn Way. It can be walked in a day by fit walkers, but could also be walked over two days by making use of public transport or the Llangollen Railway.
The Clwydian Way
Height Gained – a few 1000 metres , Distance – 189 km, Time –couple of weeks!
The Clwydian Way was devised by the North Wales Rambler’s Association to commemorate the Millennium. While it officially starts from Prestatyn, it is encouraged to start the walk from any point along the circuit, with Llangollen being one such point. Locally, it passes landmarks such as the Horseshoe Falls, Castell Dinas Bran, Valle Crucis Abbey and the Llangollen Canal.
Local Information and Recommended Maps and Guidebooks
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Dave Roberts
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Hello! I wonder about rhe llangollen round, is it dangerous? I have been walking a little around exmoor, and for (many) years parts of hadrians wall. But now i’m 56, amd coming alone.. i come in the begining of march.
Yrsa saranpää / finland