Hidden away in the rolling hills of North Wales is a town that feels as though it has been plucked straight out of the Bavarian hills and The Sound of Music.
With an idyllic river running through the valley and its quaint historic buildings lining its streets, Llangollen has been internationally recognised for its heritage despite many in the UK having never even heard of it.
The market town lies in the Vale of Llangollen and sits on the edge of the Clwydian Range and Dee Valley, an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty and not far from Eryri (Snowdonia).
Alongside its independent boutique shops and heart-warming tea rooms, one of Britain’s engineering marvels looks over the town. Pontcysyllte Aqueduct and Canal is a lot more than just your average canal.
Forget a muddy footpath and some old locke, this canal rises more than 126 feet in the air, towering over the rolling valley below.
Perhaps not one for those with a fear of heights, the feat of civil engineering was designed by the legendary Thomas Telford with assistance from William Jessop and constructed in 1795 before being completed at the beginning of the 19th century.
Spanning more than 307 metres in length, the dramatic viaduct was created during the boom of the Industrial Revolution and was mainly used to transport coal and limestone from the mines and quarries of North Wales to the cities that used them to fuel the factories and build their homes.
In 2009, the jaw-dropping viaduct officially became a UNESCO World Heritage Site, describing it as: “A masterpiece of creative genius, and as a remarkable synthesis of expertise already acquired in Europe. It is also recognised as an innovative ensemble that inspired many projects all over the world.”
UNESCO also covered the nearby engineers’ houses and wharves to create a full picture of the feat achieved more than 200 years ago.
Today, this “stream in the sky” continues to inspire brave visitors, with the route still in operation for canal boats and its narrow tow path available for walkers to stroll across – maybe just don’t look down.
A short ten-minute drive back to the town and to complete the journey of vintage travel, the historic Llangollen Railway is still in operation, with restored steam locomotives and diesel traction trains taking visitors across the old to Corwen and back, weaving across the valley once again in one of the most picturesque routes in the UK.
Aside from all the history, a trip to Llangollen can be perfect for anyone, offering some peace and quiet, a breath of fresh air and a chance to forget the stresses of everyday life with some hikes around North Wales’ stunning rolling hills.