Plas yn Iâl lies within the Clwydian Range AONB- Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty, close to Llangollen, Bala and Wrexham. It is conveniently placed for exploring nearby Llangollen (15 minutes), Ruthin (15 mins), Snowdonia, Bala (30 mins), Betws y Coed (40 mins) & Historic Chester is only 30 mins away.

 

If it is an outdoor holiday that you are after, Plas yn ial is well-placed for walking the Clwydian range, Llantysilio Mountains and Horseshoe Pass. Offa's Dyke path runs through the nearby village of Llandegla (2 miles). The Llangollen Railway is close by, and the Llangollen Canal offers boating opportunities.

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Places to Visit

Llangollen ( 20 minutes by car )

Llangollen nestles within the beautiful Dee Valley in the North East of Wales. It is a town of varied parts, with plenty to interest for the most discerning of visitors. It is also host to many different international events each year, the most famous being the Llangollen International Musical Eisteddfod. Llangollen is where the world comes to Wales and Wales welcomes the world.
More: www.llangollen.org.uk

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Bala - Snowdonia ( 30 minutes by car )

Bala is a popular stop-off for travelers on their way from north-west England to the Cambrian coast. The town's great attraction is Bala Lake (“Llyn Tegid” in the name of the lake in Welsh). This is the largest natural body of water in Wales, much used by water sports enthusiasts who benefit from the winds sweeping through the mountain valley in which it is set. The steam trains of the narrow-gauge Bala Lake Railway run for several kilometers along its southern shore. In a nearby valley is another lake, Llyn Celyn, which is a man made reservoir, canoeing competitions are held on the white water downstream from its dam.
More: www.visitbala.org

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The Llangollen Railway ( 20 minutes by car )

The Llangollen Railway runs on a section of the former Ruabon to Barmouth route in North Wales that was closed in the 1960s. Heritage trains now operate at weekends between the towns of Llangollen and Corwen for most of the year, and all week from April to October. During the summer, most trains are steam-hauled
More: www.llangollen-railway.co.uk

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Llandegla Forest  Mountain Bike Centre ( 2 miles )

Llandegla Forest is one of the largest privately-owned recreation facilities in North Wales.
The forest has mountain biking trails suitable for beginners and family groups: more challenging routes for experienced bikers and a choice of picturesque walking trails.
All tracks are completely enclosed within the forest, with no main roads to cross. Within the Visitor Centre there is a café and a variety of facilities for bikers, all just 2 miles from here at Plas yn Iâl .
More: www.oneplanetadventure.com

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Erddig - National Trust ( 25 minutes by car )

Erddig is one of the most fascinating houses in Britain, not least because of the unusually close relationship that existed between the family of the house and their servants. The beautiful and extensive range of outbuildings includes kitchen, laundry, bakehouse, stables, sawmill, smithy and joiner’s shop, while the stunning family rooms display most of their original 18th- and 19th-century furniture and furnishings. The large walled garden has been restored to its 18th-century formal design and has a Victorian parterre and yew walk. There is an extensive park with woodland walks.
More: www.nationaltrust.org.uk/erddig

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Chirk Castle (National Trust) Magnificent 14th-century fortress of the Welsh Marches. (25 minutes by car) 
Completed in 1310, Chirk’s rather austere exterior belies the comfortable and elegant state rooms inside, with elaborate plasterwork, superb Adam-style furniture, tapestries and portraits. Features from different eras include the medieval tower and dungeon and 18th-century Servants’ Hall. In the formal garden are clipped yews, roses and climbers on the castle wall.  A terrace with stunning views leads to a classical pavilion and 17th-century lime tree avenue. The 18th-century parkland contains many mature trees and elaborate gates, made in 1719 by the Davies brothers. 
More: www.nationaltrust.org.uk/chirk

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Chester - World Heritage City ( 35 minutes by car to the park & ride)

The city of Chester has many claims to fame. For an ideal introduction to the most complete walled city in Britain try a gentle stroll along its City Walls. From here you will see the Eastgate (the most photographed clock in the world after Big Ben), the largest Roman Amphitheatre and the fourth most visited Cathedral in Britain which towers above the city skyline. It was in Chester Cathedral that Handel first rehearsed "The Messiah".  Many people's most lasting memory of Chester is its striking black and white architecture and during your walk around the city you will see many fine examples. None more so than the unique Rows - two-tier shopping galleries dating from the Middle Ages.
More: www.visitchester.co.uk

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Ruthin, Vale of Clwyd (15 minutes by car) 
Ruthin lies at the end of the Vale of Clwyd in Denbighshire, North Wales. Ruthin is an attractive market town with a population of about five thousand. It has good examples of Elizabethan, Georgian and Queen Anne styles of architecture, typical of North Wales. There are also Celtic and Roman remains to be found.
During 2002 the Gaol was renovated and opened as a new tourist attraction.
More: www.visitruthin.wales/

 

Places to dine:

1. 'On the Hill', Ruthin. Click here for their website

2. The Corn Mill, Llangollen. Click Here for their website