Discover Denbighshire

The county of Denbighshire in North Wales is a beautiful one, filled with a wide variety of natural wonders, as well as plenty of man-made attractions to boot. Denbighshire sits right at the top of Wales, bordering the Irish Sea, and is so easterly as to come as close as twenty miles to the English border.

Out of all of Wales, Denbighshire has been inhabited the longest, with a Palaeolithic burial site in Pontnewydd containing Neanderthal remains dating back more than 200,000 years. It may come as no surprise, then, to learn that the county is steeped in history and culture.

If you like castles, then you are in for a treat – North Wales is known for being rich in the formidable defensive structures, and Denbighshire is particularly well populated, with no fewer than five impressive examples.

These are as follows: Denbigh Castle, Bodelwyddan Castle, Ruthin Castle, Rhuddlan Castle, and the Castell Dinas Bran. All of these were constructed in the 13th century apart from one – Bodelwyddan Castle was built as a manor house in 1460 by the Humphreys family. The Bodelwyddan that stands today was largely reconstructed in the early 19th century, meaning that what you can see is rather more modern than the other examples. That does not mean, however, that it is any less impressive; the Grade II listed property is regal and beautiful, and in excellent condition.

One of the smallest cities in the United Kingdom is found in Denbighshire: St Asaph has a population of just over 3000. Only St David’s in Pembrokeshire is smaller. St Asaph is itself home to the smallest Anglican cathedral in Great Britain. The building dates from the 1200s and is a beautiful work of architecture.

The lovely seaside resort towns of Prestatyn and Rhyl are here – perfect for a relaxing getaway to the beach! Between the two towns you will find six miles of pure, golden sands that are ideal for building sand castles and playing a bit of football. All the traditional fun is here, allowing you to enjoy a donkey ride or the swing boats before treating yourself to some freshly caught fish and chips. Make sure to visit the Rhyl SeaQuarium to get your fill of piranhas, terrapins and lobsters, or simply take a ride on the miniature railway; fun for all the family!

Denbighshire has a wide range of attractions, with a little something available to cater to every kind of taste, no matter how niche it may be. For example, in the town of Denbigh is The Fifties Museum, with exhibitions dedicated to everything from the golden decade. With displays ranging from ‘50s cars and boxing paraphernalia to the lorry used in The Great Train Robbery and even mock room displays, the museum is full of fascinating curiosities.

There is also Nantclwyd y Dre, in Ruthin, Wales’ oldest timbered town house. That might not seem much in itself, but each room of the house is furnished as it would have been in different eras, with the displays recreating periods of time between 1435 and 1942. It shows visitors how the owners would have lived during these times, offering a truly insightful glimpse into Welsh personal history.

Click here to find out about our self-catered cottages in Denbighshire, and you can soon be uncovering all of its interesting secrets for yourself.