North-east Wales itinerary: the riches of the north-east of Wales In north east Wales a collection of major mighty monuments are waiting to be explored, and all just a short distance from each other. Along the north coastline near Rhyl you’ll find the ingenious Rhuddlan Castle which was one of the strongest of Edward I’s castles. Just a 20 minute drive inland from here Denbigh Castle and Town Walls crown the summit of a prominent outcrop overlooking the Vale of Clwyd. Continue south and you’ll soon come across the glorious Rug Chapel and Llangar Old Parish Church, and travel a bit further east to reach the stunning Valle Crucis Abbey. Denbigh Castle and Town Walls Crowning the summit of a prominent outcrop overlooking the Vale of Clwyd, the principal feature of the spectacular Denbigh Castle and Town Walls is the triple-towered great gatehouse dating back to the thirteenth-century. Along with over half a mile of town walls, Denbigh Castle is a classic fortress of Edwardian proportions. Henry de Lacy, one of the king’s loyal commanders, was given control of the area and had the task of building the new castle. He couldn’t go far wrong with the king’s master mason, James of St George, at his side. It wasn’t all plain sailing however. A Welsh rebellion, led by Madog ap Llywelyn, captured the partly-built castle in 1294, but Edward’s dominance and the castle-building programme were soon restored. You can see for yourself the two phases of building work. The post- rebellion work is marked by different colour stone, thicker curtain walls and a hint of Caernarfon-style angular towers. Also, don’t miss Leicester’s Church, Denbigh Friary and the Burgess Gate. Rhuddlan Castle Guarding the ancient ford of the river Clwyd, Rhuddlan Castle was the strongest of Edward I’s castles in north-east Wales. Linked to the sea by an astonishing deep water channel nearly three miles long, it still proclaims the innovative genius of its architect. For centuries, Rhuddlan had been a fiercely contested strategic location leading Rug Chapel Llangar Old Parish Church to much bloodshed. Edward’s power triumphed long enough to build a muscle-bound symmetrical castle, showcasing the latest in Prettily set in a wooded landscape, Rug Chapel’s exterior gives little ‘walls-within-walls’ technology. The castle also played a seminal role in hint of the highly decorative and colourful wonders within. Never Welsh history: it was here that a new system of English government judge a chapel by its exterior! Step inside this seventeenth-century was established over much of Wales by the Statute of Rhuddlan building and prepare to be wowed by its decorative flourishes. (1284) – a settlement that lasted until the Act of Union in 1536. Llangar Old Parish Church, a mile or so away, is a few centuries After the Civil War the castle was rendered untenable – hence its older and retains its charming early Georgian furnishings and an present condition. important series of wall paintings. 1 North-east Wales itinerary: the riches of the north-east of Wales Set in a beautiful valley location, a visit to the fascinating Valle Crucis Abbey evokes the lives of the Cistercian monks. The best–preserved medieval monastery in north Wales, enhanced by the only surviving monastic fish pond in Wales, the remote yet magical location must have raised a smile or two amongst the serious-minded monks. The history of this fascinating site is brought to life at the summer house interpretation centre, which includes an animated tour of the abbey as it was in the 1400s. Visit cadw.wales.gov.uk to discover the stories and people behind our 128 historic sites. ‘Like’ Cadw on Facebook and follow @Cadwwales on Twitter or A59 A565 download our smartphone app to stay up to date. 3 26 Valle Crucis Abbey M58 A570 7 M6 A58 6 A580 23 5 LIVERPOOL Amlwch M57 Birkenhead A5025 2 Capel 1 M62 1 Caer y Twrˆ r Hillfort Lligwy 5 7 2 6 A57 Lligwy 2 Holyhead Mountain Hut Group Tregwehelydd Standing Stone Burial Chamber Great Ormes A551 3 1 Din Lligwy Head 3 Caer Gybi Roman Fortlet Penmon Priory Prestatyn 3 2 Hut Group Llandudno Maen Achwyfan M Holyhead Benllech and St Seiriol’s Well A558 Rhyl Cross 4 e A56 4 Penrhos Feilw Standing Stones Presaddfed r Puffin Island Colwyn s e 11 5 Burial Chamber Beaumaris y 4 Bay Basingwerk M53 5 Tyˆ Mawr Standing Stone B5109 Penmon Cross Abergele A5151 A548 12 Castle Abbey 5 6 B5109 and Dovecote Rhuddlan 6 Trefignath Burial Chamber Holy Island A5 Llangefni A55 1 Castle A540 M56 Plas Conwy Castle Flint 9 A55 Bryn Celli Ddu Ty Newyddˆ Burial Chamber A545 Mawr and Town Walls Castle 14 A56 Burial Chamber Bangor St Winifred’s Chapel Llanfairfechan St Asaph A55 and Holy Well 11 Barclodiad y Gawres 7 A541 A550 Burial Chamber 10 Denbigh Friary, A55 A54 Lord Leicester’s Church Clwyd 7 Din Dryfol A4080 8 A470 and St Hilary’s Chapel Ewloe Castle 12 Burial Chamber Bethesda B5106 A544 A525 A51 9 Segontium Chester A49 8 Bodowyr A548 A549 Chester Burial Chamber Roman Fort Denbigh Castle Roman Amphitheatre 2 Mold A5118 Chester Gwydir Uchaf and Town Walls A55 9 Castell Bryn Gwyn Llanrwst Castle Llanberis A5 Chapel A51 Caernarfon Castle A494 10 Caer Lêb Dolbadarn Capel Curig A543 A541 A41 and Town Walls Alyn A4086Castle Ruthin Dee Beeston Betws-y-Coed Castle C a e r n a r f o n Capel Garmon A534 A4085 Derwen Burial Chamber Conwy Churchyard Cross Dolwyddelan A525 B a y Wrexham A498 Castle A49 A499 A5014 A483 Beddgelert Blaenau Alwen Ffestiniog St Cybi’s Rug Eliseg’s 3 Corwen Pillar Well Chapel Valle Crucis A525 A5 5 Nefyn A4212 Abbey A525 Llangollen Dee Whitchurch Llangar Old Penarth Fawr A497 4 Chirk Dee Parish Church B4417Medieval House Porthmadog A41 Criccieth Llyn Bala Castle Trawsfynydd A495 Pwllheli A494 A528 Harlech Bala Lake Old Oswestry A470 Castle Hill Fort A499 Oswestry Abersoch Dyffryn Ardudwy Burial Chamber Moreton Corbet Aberdaron A5 Castle Tanat A496 Lake Vyrnwy Bardsey Cymer Abbey A49 A53 Island Haughmond Abbey Dolgellau A470 Severn Barmouth Pont A495 Minllyn Vyrnwy A458 Shrewsbury Castell y Bere A458 A5 Banwy A483 Welshpool Wroxeter Cantlop Roman City A493 Llanfair Caereinion Bridge B4405 Dyfi A458 A488 Acton Burnell A490 Castle Tywyn A489 A470 Machynlleth Montgomery Castle Mitchell’s Fold Langley Stone Circle Chapel Dolforwyn Castle A49 Aberdyfi Dyfi Furnace B4386 A489 B4518 Church Newtown Stretton A487 Bryntail B4385 Lead Mine Borth The journey time from Rhuddlan – Denbigh is approx. 20 minutes, Denbigh - Rug and Llangar is approx. 35 minutes and Rug - Valle Crucis AbbeyBishop’s is C a r d i g a n Castle 20 minutes. Severn Clun 2 Llanidloes A488 B a y Castle Aberystwyth A44 A483 Craven Arms Ponterwyd Wye Rheidol Llangurig Stokesay B4340 Castle A4120 A4117 Ithon Teme Ludlow Ystwyth Knighton A4113 B4343 A485 Rhayader Wigmore A488 Castle A456 Pontrhydfendigaid B4356 A44 A487 A470 Presteigne A49 A4112 Aberaeron Strata Florida Mortimer’s Cross B4362 Water Mill New Quay Abbey Tregaron Llandrindod Wells Leominster A44 Aeron A44 A4110 Wye A482 A481 A485 B4343 A4111 A4112 A417 Aberporth B4337 B4567 Teifi Builth A480 A487 A486 B4459 Wells B4546 A438 Cardigan B4570 Lampeter Irfon St Dogmaels A465 A483 Llanwrtyd Wells Abbey A484 A475 A49 Carreg Coetan Arthur B4350 Arthur’s A4103 Burial Chamber Stone Hay-on-Wye Wye Strumble Cilgerran Hereford A438 Tywi Rotherwas Head Castle Newcastle A482 Fishguard Chapel Newport Emlyn A485 Llandovery Pentre Ifan Brecon Gaer Burial Chamber Bronllys A484 Roman Fort Longtown Cothi A40 A470 Castle A487 Llynfi B4313 Llanwrda Honddu Castle Wye W A479 St Davids A478 Talley Sennybridge Usk e s t u A465 e a Abbey A49 Bishop’s Palace r dd n le Llangadog Llanthony Grosmont C C l n ed r A40 Brecon Priory Castle d te Dinefwr A4069 au B4329 s a A4215 A40 Skenfrith A487 E Dryslwyn Castle Monnow Tretower Court Castle Castle Llandeilo B4347 and Castle A40 Ramsey St Non’s Llawhaden Tywi Island Chapel Castle Carmarthen White Goodrich A466 Castle Wiston Castle A4067 Castle B4521 A48 Crickhowell Hen Gwrt S t B r i d e s St Clears A40 Carreg Cennen Haverfordwest A40 Moated Site A40 B4312 Castle B4233 B a y Broad Llansteffan Brynamman Trothy Narberth A4068 Brynmawr Haven B4341 Haverfordwest Castle Abergavenny A4115 A470 Blaenavon Monmouth Skomer Priory A4221 A4059 A465 A4136 Laugharne A483 Ammanford Ironworks Castle Island A4076 A478 B4248 Raglan Castle Wye A477 Castle Ystalyfera Ebbw A476 A40 A4075 A4066 Vale Milford A477 Carew Rhymney St Briavel’s 49 A474 Glyn-neath A467 Haven Pendine Loughor Cross A4048 Raglan Castle Merthyr Usk A4046 A484 Tawe Kidwelly A466 Saundersfoot Cynon Tydfil A469 Castle Burry Pontardawe A4109 A465 Skokholm A4043 48 Neath Aberdare Tintern Port A4061 Island A4059 A472 Usk Offa’s M4 A4042 Abbey Pembroke Tenby C a r m a r t h e n A4054 A449 Dyke Carswell 47 45 Pontypool Lamphey Llanelli 46 Medieval House Chepstow Castle Bishop’s Palace B a y Loughor 44 Neath Abbey A4233 and Port Wall Castle 43 Afan Treorchy A472 Chepstow Caldey Island Neath Ebbw Cwmbran Runston B4295 42 Llanmelin Wood Bulwarks A4107 Blaengarw Rhymney Caerleon Chapel Weobley A483 A469 Hillfort Camp B4271 Roman Fortress Castle A4064 A4058 A48 SWANSEA Maesteg Taff 2 Swansea Port 41 M48 Parc le Breos Burial Chamber 26 Castle Talbot 40 A4061 A470 24 A4118 Margam Stones Pontypridd A468 A467 Caerwent 1 Worms Head Museum A4093 23 Roman Town A4063 Caerphilly The Mumbles 28 NEWPORT M4 21 Oxwich 38 Castle Newport 22 Port-Eynon Castle Coity 29 M4 Newcastle Castell Coch M4 30 S w a n s e a 36 Castle A48 Castle (Bridgend) Llantrisant 29a M49 32 17 B a y 37 35 Avonmouth 34 33 18a A4106 A48 St Quentin’s Castle y Portishead r (Llanblethian) a Porthcawl CARDIFF u 19 Ogmore Ewenny Tinkinswood t s Burial Chamber Castle Priory E Cowbridge M5 Penarth n Clevedon BRISTOL 20 A4055 r Old Beaupre Castle e v St Lythans Burial Chamber e A370 S B4265 Barry Stanton Drew Yatton A38 Circles & Cove 21 Weston-super-Mare.