Explore the Dee Valley and Berwyn mountains from our idyllic riverside base at Llangollen. The ruins of Dinas Bran Castle atop an isolated hill above the town, and with great views, is said to be the possible burial site of the Holy Grail of the Arthurian legends and we'll include this together with the atmospheric Valle Crucis Abbey on one of our days. The Berwyn Mountains themselves rise at their highest point to Cadair Berwyn at 2700ft.
We can escape from civilisation, walk on heathered moors and through woodland, encounter Offa's Dyke - the ancient barrier between Wales and England - and take in the spectacular eroded limestone edges of Llangollen: Trevor Rocks and The Panorama. The views from these escarpments are remarkable and can extend to Shropshire and the plains of Cheshire. We can take a trip on the Llangollen steam railway en-route to one of our walks.
You could also take a trip from Llangollen Wharf on a horse drawn canal boat through the Vale of Llangollen and across the world's biggest aqueduct and a new World Heritage Site, Pontcysyllte, at Trevor. This masterpiece of engineering by Thomas Telford towers 126ft above the river. The evocative ruins of the Cistercian Valle Crucis abbey are nearby and can be visited during one of our walks.
Meals: Half board with breakfasts and dinners taken at the hotel. Picnic lunches are included on each walking day. Accommodation: Chainbridge Hotel, Llangollen, Wales
Dating from 1814, the family-run Chainbridge Hotel occupies a beautiful location in splendid isolation overlooking the River Dee with a waterfall opposite and with the historic Llangollen steam railway on the other bank of the river. Just two miles from the unspoilt picturesque town of Llangollen, the hotel prides itself on it good food prepared from fresh organic produce. After a day out in the country you can repair to the Riverside Bar before dinner and enjoy spectacular views over the water. (Number of rooms: 36) Travel: Transportation to and from the trailheads, if necessary, is included.
Nearest bus and railway stations: Llangollen. | 
