Holiday accommodation in Denbighshire: Castles, coastal paths and moorland landscapes

Denbighshire combines stone castles, centuries-old religious buildings, coastal paths and vast moorland landscapes. Examples include Prestatyn and Rhyl, Denbigh Castle and Rhuddlan Castle, paths around Llyn Brenig, and nature trails where rare animals can be found.

Culture and history

Denbigh Castle is a large stone fortress with extensive town walls, built on the site of the fortress of Dafydd ap Gruffudd. Denbigh Castle offers visitors a car park, gift shop and toilets. The complex also includes an imposing gatehouse and a secured sally port, a secret entrance for defenders.

Rhuddlan Castle was begun in 1277 and was the first concentric castle with a system of rings of walls designed by James of St George. In addition to one of the largest dry moats in Cadw's possession, the site has lower and upper viewing levels. Rhuddlan Castle can be reached by bus routes 35, 36 and 51, as well as by train via Rhyl.

Valle Crucis Abbey was founded in 1201 by Prince Madog ap Gruffydd and Cistercian monks. In Ruthin, Ruthin Gaol tells a different side of the story: it is the only purpose-built Pentonville-style prison that is publicly accessible as a heritage attraction. Visitors can see the punishment cell, the dark cell and the cell reserved for those sentenced to death.

Nantclwyd y Dre was built in 1435 as a weaver's hall house, later became a solicitor's town house and subsequently a Victorian school for young girls. Today, Nantclwyd y Dre offers interactive activities such as historical clothing, parlour activities, lawn games and exploring the gardens. The Bat Cam allows younger visitors to observe a nursery roost of lesser horseshoe bats, long-eared bats and pipistrelle bats.

St Asaph Cathedral has been a place of pilgrimage and worship for more than 1,400 years. The present building dates from the 15th century and houses William Morgan's first Welsh Bible translation. The official walking brochures for the towns and St Asaph in Denbighshire contain information about buildings, attractions and local legends.

Plas Newydd also preserves an unusual piece of local history. The house retains the Gothic Revival design created by Lady Eleanor Butler and Miss Sarah Ponsonby at their cottage in Llangollen. An exhibition displays some personal belongings of the two women. Walks lead through the gardens and along the riverbank; the Plas Newydd tearooms serve locally sourced and homemade food seasonally from April to October.

Nature and trails

The Wales Coast Path between Prestatyn and Rhyl follows a predominantly flat route of boardwalks and promenades. There are opportunities for wildlife watching along the way, while views of the coast open up. The Prestatyn and Gronant circular route is 7.4 miles, or 11.8 kilometres, long and starts at Prestatyn railway station. Rare natterjack toads live in the marsh pools along the Wales Coast Path near Gronant.

Around Llyn Brenig there is a 15.2-kilometre circular route, as well as shorter linear paths from the visitor centre and car parks. The Two Lakes Trail around Llyn Brenig and Alwen Reservoir is shared by walkers and cyclists. It passes through Hafod Elwy Moor National Nature Reserve, a landscape of heath, moorland and wetland where red grouse and black grouse can be found.

The Loggerheads Riverside Trail is a 1-kilometre circular route for people with different mobility needs and crosses the River Alyn in Loggerheads Country Park. Coed Moel Famau has signposted walking trails of various lengths and a blue-grade mountain bike trail. A footpath from the Coed Moel Famau car park leads to the summit of Moel Famau and the ruins of Jubilee Tower. The Offa’s Dyke Path National Trail crosses the summit of Moel Famau.

Other places in Denbighshire

Other places in Denbighshire include Prestatyn, St. Asaph, Ruthin, Rhyl, Llangollen, Llandegla, Denbigh, Corwen, Rhuddlan, Llandrillo, Tremeirchion, Brynsaithmarchog, Dyserth, Cynwyd, Mold, Llandyrnog, Llanrhaeadr, Henllan, Nantglyn, Clocaenog and Carrog.

For the higher-level travel overview: Wales.