Chirk Estate to Froncysyllte - Clwydian Range and Dee Valley National Landscape

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

The landscape between these locations lies on the edge of the uplands, but faces the lowlands.

The slopes above Froncysyllte, reflected by the slopes above Trevor, form a gateway to the Vale of Llangollen in Denbighshire.

Froncysyllte colloquially known as Fron, stands on the banks of the River Dee and the Llangollen Canal. It is situated on the main A5 road between Chirk and Llangollen. The name is derived from the Welsh ‘fron’, meaning a hillside or slope, along with the name Cysyllte, one of the old townships of the parish of Llangollen.

Froncysyllte is situated in the farming landscape of the Vale of Llangollen, but first developed as a settlement of cottages for quarry, limekiln, brick and tile workers during the nineteenth century. At the heart of the village is the iconic lift bridge while just along the canal two banks of limekilns stand as reminders of former industry.

Within the UNESCO Designated Pontcysyllte Aqueduct and Canal World Heritage Site, it is a short walk along the canal from the village to the infamous aqueduct itself. Alternatively, walk to the eighteenth century ‘Bont, meaning ‘bridge’ in Welsh, where the view of the Pontcysyllte Aqueduct is fantastic.

The village is probably best known these days for the world renowned Male Voice Choir which has won prizes in many eisteddfodau and festivals. You can read more about the village past and present on the community website.

To the south Chirk Castle stands guard over the steep wooded entrance to the Ceiriog Valley. The landscape reflecting the historical tensions between upland and lowland, Wales and England.

The Offa’s Dyke National Trail passes through the Chirk Estate. Offa’s Dyke is a medieval military feature on a former political boundary.

Chirk Castle, a magnificent medieval fortress of the Welsh marches, is a 13th century castle adapted as a gentry dwelling, managed by the National Trust.

Designated as a Site of Special Scientific Interest, Chirk wood-pasture and parkland and veteran trees are a national biodiversity priority habitat supporting a range of saproxylic (dead wood) invertebrates.