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About DolwyddelanDolwyddelan stands in the magnificent mountain valley of the Lledr River, on the A470 about 5 miles west of Betwys-y-Coed. The village is named after an Irish saint who was granted the meadows around it by a Welsh prince in about the 8th century. His church, in the centre of the village, dates from about 1500, but contains fittings from the 12th century. It also shelters a very old bell, which is believed to the original bell of the saint, who founded his first church on a hilltop nearby. Dolwyddelan is however most famous for its 13th century castle (see link below) about ten minutes walk from the village, and reputedly the birthplace of Llewellyn ap Iorwerth, the greatest of the mediaeval Welsh princes. Shopping and foodThe village has a ‘Spar’ grocery store, a pub (the ‘Gwydyr’ ) which serves pub meals, and the Elan Castle Hotel, which has a restaurant. More extensive shopping can be done at Llanrwst, about 20 minutes away. Llandudno on the coast, about an hour’s drive from the village, offers sophisticated shopping CommunicationsIts railway station connects to Llandudno: this line, passing through the spectacular Lledr gorge and the whole length of the beautiful Conwy River valley, is certainly one of the most beautiful rail journeys in Britain. The village is also on a local bus route. The following links may also be of interest: |