Llanarmon Dyffryn Ceiriog was recently voted one of the 6 must visit places in Wales you’ve probably never heard of by Rough Guides. For a small village in North Wales that sets the bar pretty high. If you are looking for accommodation in Llanarmon have a look at our self catering holiday cottage which we let out.
There’s not much to Llanarmon Dyffryn Ceiriog (or Llanarmon DC as it’s commonly known) – but that’s part of its charm. Sitting on the edge of the quiet Glyn Ceiriog Valley, this is a place to come to get away from it all. The blissfully quiet valley was long a vital route into both Snowdonia and the heart of the country, and today it still makes a great choice for a stop as part of a wider exploration of the country. For such a small place, there’s not one but two impressive inns here, which – combined with some lovely walks on the doorstep, through the valleys and onto the moors – make Llanarmon DC the ideal choice for a relaxing countryside break.
In a couple of sentences, they have summed up what we think makes Llanarmon such a perfect spot to chill out, relax or base yourself when visiting this beautiful corner of north Wales.
People often ask me what does your perfect day in Llanarmon look like? Well to be honest there is not one perfect day as there are so many nice things to do, so here are a few suggestions.
A lazy(ish) day around the village
If the sun is shining, we like to start with a coffee and some breakfast outside. The patio at the back of the cottage is a real sun trap and makes for some great al fresco dining. I would then head out for a walk either straight from the cottage (plenty of choice) or I would hop in the car and perhaps drive down to Chirk Castle or Pistyll Rhaeadr – both of which tick the boxes for a pleasant walk with a cafe for refuelling. If walking from the cottage there is a great walk that heads up the hill opposite, heads across the fields, along the river and back into the village. So in that one walk you have a bit of everything. Inevitably we would end up in one of the two fantastic inns (The Hand and the West Arms) in the village for a pint and perhaps a bite to eat.
Some gentle cycling or walking at Lake Vyrnwy
If we are not feeling too energetic but still fancy a bike ride or walk, I don’t think you can better Lake Vyrnwy. This truly is one of the undiscovered gems of Mid Wales. It is only about 40 minute drive away through some really lovely scenery. People rightly rave about how beautiful some of the lakes in the Lake District are, however I think Lake Vyrnwy is up there with the best of them. It is a gentle 11 mile circuit around the Lake with plenty of places to stop off for a picnic and relax in the sun. There are a couple of cafes and public toilets towards the south east end, so that is a good place to park the car and commence your ride or walk. A highly recommended spot to stop off is at the Rhiwargor Waterfalls – you can even bathe in the pools if you are feeling brave!
Some less gentle mountain biking
As mountain bikers we are blessed with having some fantastic trails through the Ceiriog Valley and around Llangollen right on our doorstep. We are also a short drive to some of the premier mountain biking centres and trails that North Wales has to offer. So if we are feeling energetic (and not too many pints were consumed in the Hand the evening before) we can often be found at Llandegla, Coed y Brenin or one of the other mountain biking spots within easy reach of the cottage. And of course, after a hard days riding, what better way to perk yourself up than a pint in the Hand!
A spot of lunch and a walk up a hill in Llangollen
Llangollen is just over the hill in the next valley from Llanarmon. It is a great place to stop for a wander around and a bite to eat. Its great selection of cafes, independent shops, delis and antique shops means it always seems pleasantly busy no matter what time of the year you are there. And of course when you throw the spectacular River Dee into the mix which flows right through the town – well that just makes it. A particularly nice spot to sit on a sunny day is the patio of the Cornmill which overlooks the river.
There are some nice walks up to Dinas Bran the ruined castle that looks over the town, along the canal to the Horseshoe Falls or stride off the other way along the canal towards Pontcysyllte. To be honest, there is lots to do around Llangollen so it is best to jump onto Google and see what takes your fancy.
