Clwyd

Introduction and Geographical Location

Clwyd is one of the eight Preserved Counties in Wales and is relatively new, having been established in 1974 by combining the older and smaller counties of Flintshire, Denbighshire and Merionethshire. The newly formed county had six districts, Alyn and Deeside, Colwyn, Delyn, Glyndwr, Rhuddlan and Wrexham Maelor. The structure of the county was reorganised in 1996, when it was split into the unitary authorities of Flintshire, Denbighshire, Wrexham, Conwy and Powys. Clwyd is bordered by Gwynedd to the west, Powys to the south, Shropshire to the southeast, Cheshire to the east and Merseyside to the north. The coast has towns including Rhyl and Prestatyn in Denbighshire, moving west to Abergele, Colwyn Bay and Llandudno. Central Clwyd includes famous mountain ranges such as the Clwydian range and Berwyn range, while The Snowdonia National Park lies in the eastern areas of Conwy. The Vale of Clwyd, just to the north of the county’s centre is a major agricultural area.

Important Towns and Major Attractions in Clwyd

Flintshire, located on the northeast coast of Wales is a historic region of Clwyd. It is a beautiful county surrounded by Irish Sea to the north, the Dee Estuary to the northeast, Cheshire in the east and Denbighshire to the south. The coastline along the Dee estuary is a major industrial area, while the north coast is a popular and well-developed tourist area. The Clwydian Mountains, located in the west of Clwyd are another major attraction, along with the scenic coastline. The other major towns in Flintshire are Buckley, Connah’s Quay, Flint, Hawarden, Holywell, Mold, Queensferry and Shotton. There are some historical castles in Flint, including Hawarden, Rhuddlan and Ewloe. Wepre County Park is another tourist attraction in this part of Clwyd.

The town of Wrexham is the administrative centre for Wrexham County and the largest town in North Wales. It is located between the Welsh mountains and the lower Dee valley, close to the border with the English county of Cheshire. Wrexham town is best known as educational and industrial centre in North Wales. The major industries include coalmining, steelmaking, brewing and tanning. As a tourist, you have plenty of options in the town or within a short distance. The major attractions in and around Wrexham include Bangor-on-Dee racecourse, Clywedog Valley, Erddig Hall, historic town centre buildings and St. Giles Church, which is the burial place of Elihu Yale, the founder of Yale University. The Wrexham County Museum, Bellevue Park, Acton Park open parkland at Erddig, etc. are some of the places to visit while in Wrexham.

Denbighshire is the oldest county in Clwyd. Most of the area is hilly moorland and the average temperature is 2 °C in winter and about 19 °C in the summer months. The county is surrounded by Clwydian Range to the east, Hiraethog Moors to the west and the Berwyn range to the south. The largest towns are located on the coast, at Rhyl and Prestatyn, while smaller towns, such as Denbigh, Ruthin and Llangollen are situated in the upland area and in the Vale of Clwyd. Agriculture and tourism are the main sources of employment for the inhabitants of the county.

Powys is surrounded by Gwynedd, Denbighshire and Wrexham to the north, Ceredigion and Carmarthenshire to the west, England in the east and Gwent, Caerphilly, Rhondda Cynon Taff and Neath Port Talbot to the south. Newtown is the largest town and the major part of the county is quite hilly. The most popular attractions are the castles, which include Dolforwyn Castle, Montgomery Castle, Powis Castle, Castell Du and Aberedw Castle. As a tourist you can enjoy the walks along the Offa’s Dyke path, Glyndwr’s Way, Severn Way and the Wye Valley Walk.

Clwyd Theatre Cymru is the regional art centre for Wales. It offers a variety of programmes for people of all age groups. This theatre is located a few miles from the town of Mold and hosts a variety of touring dramas, dance, music and many other public performances. You can also find other theatres, such as the Anthony Hopkins Theatre, Emlyn Williams Theatre, Studio-2 in Clwyd county region.

Reasons for Visiting Clwyd County, North Wales

Clwyd is definitely a good tourist area for people of all ages. As a visitor, you have plenty of options to spend few days along with your family or friends. The scenic coastline, historic castles, museums, parks, craft centres, art galleries and mountains allow you to experience a memorable vacation. The hotels, seaside resorts, restaurants, bars, pubs, etc. are affordable and offer good quality service to their customers. The healthy environment and beautiful locations in Clwyd, North Wales, will help you unwind and de-stress.