We love Llangollen

Monday 16^th September

Today’s pedometer reading is 5.07 k’s

This morning at the recommendation of our host we drove the Horseshoe Pass. The views are spectacular as it climbs from Llangollen around a wide valley to form the shape of its name.

There were lots of sheep grazing along the roadside 

and some of them even wander across the road!

The sheep here have tails…no problems with becoming fly blown and I think their tails would help keep their little bottoms warm during the very cold winters!

It’s another windy day but at least it hasn’t been a rainy one. Yesterday as we drove through the mountains we felt that we could almost reach out and touch the clouds but today we have beautiful blue sky.

 Valle Crucis Abbey stands in the valley at the foot of the Horseshoe Pass. The shell of the church has triple pointed windows with a lovely circular wheel above. It was one of the first to be closed by Henry VIII in 1536...as was Fountains Abbey, near York, that we visited a few weeks ago.

Next stop was Llangollen Wharf where for generations, horse drawn canal boats have been starting their journey.

This is Hercules, he’s a Welsh Cob, a small horse, usually of a stout build, with strong bones, large joints, and a steady disposition.

The 45 minute return trip was very relaxing, we enjoyed the peace and tranquility of the Llangollen Canal. It was interesting to hear that originally the barges would be laden with slate from the nearby quarries to be taken to market and return with a variety of goods needed in the village. The canal joins up with the huge network of canals all through the UK.

As we walked over the bridge into the village we saw the Railway Station which closed in 1968 and has now been restored and runs a 7 mile route several times daily for tourists.

We had lunch in the Village Bakery and tried a traditional Welsh Oggie containing Welsh beef, leeks, potato, onions and gravy.

A bit like a Cornish pasty, the traditional crust of the Oggie was designed for miners to hold whist eating it. The crust would take all the coal, dust, grime and arsenic sometimes found on the fingers of the miners ensuring the remainder of the Oggie was edible. Folklore states that this dirty crust was discarded over the shoulder into the depths of the mine to the cry of “OGGIE” in an attempt to placate evil spirits.

This afternoon we drove 8 miles to visit Erddig Hall, a National Trust property in Wales. It was built in 1684–1687, then sold and passed down through the Yorke family until March 1973, when it was given to the National Trust.

The tour of the house started "below stairs" and we learnt how the Yorke family had an unusually high regard for their servants through a collection of portraits, photographs and verses (a family tradition).It provides a record of the people who lived and worked on the estate.

In the staterooms "above stairs" there is a wonderful collection of 18th century furniture and other treasures. It’s a fascinating record of the way of life of a bustling household community during the early years of the last century.

Is that the local squire?

Our impression of Wales is that it’s a very neat and tidy place, with well maintained houses, most of them built of stone with a slate roof. We’ve been told that the slate from Wales is the bees knees!

Here are a couple of things that have surprised us in recent days…

All through the UK you need to buy a TV license. Inspectors may arrive at your door at any time and if you have a TV but no license there is a very hefty fine!

Looking at our map when planning our route for tomorrow we were surprised to find that we’re only 5 miles from the English border...it will only be a 140 k drive to The Cotswolds!

We enjoyed our meal last night and breakfast this morning so much that we’ve decided to eat here at the B&B again tonight. Our hosts Mark and Julie are great hosts…she’s the chef and he’s the waiter and general front of house person. Julie is a big fan of Downton Abbey and she told me the exciting news that the new series starts here THIS SUNDAY NIGHT…Andrew moaned when he heard that but I’m very pleased!

'Nos da' everyone…that’s the way a ‘Taffy’ (Welsh person) would say goodnight.