The Local Area
The charming market town of Ruthin (20 mins) is our local centre for shopping and other services. There are supermarkets, local shops, good restaurants, pubs, cafes, fifteen hairdressers (including Tommy’s, national competition winner) and everything you would expect and a few you wouldn’t!
Llangollen (30 mins) is a fine town worth visiting and has some great places to eat and drink. The town is home to the annual International Musical Eisteddfod, Plas Newydd, Valle Crucis Abbey and a great after lunch walk to Dinas Bran, the ruined castle spectacularly situated on the hilltop above the town.
The nearest country pubs are about 4 miles at Clawdd Newydd, Maerdy and Llanfihangel-Glyn-Myfyr. The cottages are only 4 miles from the A5 so access to Chester, Llangollen, Betws-y-Coed (Snowdonia) and beyond is quick and easy. The north and west coast beaches are about an hour away, as is Anglesey and the Lleyn peninsula.
Hotels:
Do you need , or would you like, to stay an extra day or two in the area and we can't accomodate? Click on this link to view a selection of Denbighshire Hotels.
Activities:
Walking
There are published walks that can be started from here, including an ancient pilgrim’s way, and many more within a short drive. The spectacular Clwydian Hills section of Offa’s Dyke path is 20 minutes away. Nearby Clocaenog forest has hundreds of miles of tracks (sheep free), ideal for dog walking and easy cycling. The Alwen and Brenig reservoirs (15 mins) have fine walking and family cycling trails. Books and maps are in the properties for your convenience.
Water activities
Llangollen is a regional centre for outdoor pursuits of all types and has spectacular white water activities. The National White Water Centre is near Bala (30 mins) and the lake there (Llyn Tegid) has Open Water (anybody can turn up with a boat).
Only serious cyclists normally take to the roads around here due to the many steep hills but for them it is heaven, with mile after mile of A and B roads in good condition with great scenery and light traffic. Various places provide cycle hire and it is advisable to book well in advance to avoid disappointment.
Mountain biking.
One of the area's major activity attractions. Robin is a keen rider and has local routes from the door he is happy to impart. See Ride Hiraethog for some genuine family rides as well as 42km wilderness adventures that can be ridden from the cottages. Further afield are Coed Llandegla Forest (40 mins, built trails, bike hire), the Marin Trail in Gwydyr Forest (Betws-y-Coed) and the spectacular Penmachno trail (30 mins). Also on the doorstep are the downhill courses of Foel Gasnach (scary). Not to mention hundreds of miles of forest tracks.
There are major events held locally such as the Merida Marathon Series at Ruthin and the Cyffylliog Marathon.With lockable storage and a jet-wash on site, Bryn Halen Mawr is perfect for a mtb holiday, and it is easy to link up with other activities such as walking.
Yoga and Health
The Vale Health Club at Ruthin offers a state of the art gym and a full range of hair and beauty therapies, and courses including yoga tel: 01824 705029.
Golf
There are a number of golf clubs in the area. The two nearest are: Ruthin-Pwllglas golf club, tel: 01824 702296, which has a 9 hole course and Bryn Morfydd Hotel Golf Club, Llanrhaedr, tel: 01745 890280, which is about 25 mins away and has an 18 hole course and a 9 hole, par 3 course. Further afield is North Wales Golf Course & Driving Range - a 9 hole course and driving range in the Vale of Clwyd - and Mold Golf Club which has an 18 hole upland course with far reaching views.
Riding
For horse riding, contact Diana, tel: 01824 750 470, for riding lessons and hacking trips for experienced riders in the Clwydian hills.
Fishing
There is coarse fishing at Llyn y Gro, Sarnau near Bala, tel: 01678 530415, and two trout lakes just up the road at Llyn Derwen Fishery.
