Walking Holiday Breaks

Castle to Castle: The Dee Valley Walk

This excellent walking holiday break follows the course of the River Dee, a beautiful salmon river snaking through pastoral riverside and hillside landscape, in Wales’s quiet rural Borderlands.

Few walking breaks will give you quite so many interesting features in such a compact area.

The walk is not just a riverside stroll ; you follow river paths, quiet country lanes, climb old celtic trails dipping and rising over heather covered hillsides, through fields and woods.

Large areas of the hillsides and riverbanks of the Dee Valley, are protected SSSI’s. You may see curlews, golden plover, peregrine, merlin, and the elusive black grouse, suddenly startling you as it flutters loudly out of the heather. Kingfishers are seen along the riverside and in the sparkling waters of the River Dee you catch glimpses of salmon and brown trout ; you may even catch sight of the usually nocturnal otters attracted to the healthy populations of fish.

Along your walk ascend to Caer Drewyn, one of the best Iron Age hill forts in Wales, visit early medieval churches and secluded hamlets where you can enjoy a pint in a 14C Drovers Inn. Complete your walk on a high note ascending Castell Dinas Bran the remains of an Arthurian and later medieval Welsh castle perched at a 1000 ft overlooking the River Dee with stunning views over the Dee Valley, Wales and England. "Relics of kings, wreck of forgotten wars, To the winds abandoned and the prying stars."  (Wordsworth)

You are based in the old border market town of Llangollen, through which the Dee flows under it’s 13C bridge. Llangollen is famous for its International musical Eisteddfod. If you wish to extend your stay you can visit Plas Newydd, the fascinating little Welsh Manor House of the Ladies of Llangollen, or visit Chirk Castle continually lived in since 13C, with its lovely gardens.

Or re-visit the River Dee at Chester and complete your break exploring the old city with its Roman walls and medieval ‘rows’, the earliest 'shopping arcades' dating back to 14C.

Dee Valley Walk Length of Walk: 15/21 miles / 24/34 km Start: Llangollen Finish: Llangollen Grade: Easy with moderate sections, fields, hillside, woods and river side tracks and quiet country lanes.

Prices

Accommodation:
4 Star High Standard Bed and Breakfast.

Cost includes:
your accommodation on bed & breakfast basis, packed lunches, detailed maps and route descriptions, transfers on the walk where required. Dinner can be booked at either your accommodation or nearby Inns.

Getting there:
Getting there couldn’t be easier. There are direct rail services to Ruabon from London, or with 1 change at Shrewsbury, depending on time of arrival. From the north change at Chester for Ruabon.

If coming by car secure parking is available at your accommodation.

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Celtic Trails - that little bit more

This break can be booked as a private walking trip.

Tel. 0800 970 7585
to book