Restoring the Dell at Plas Newydd

The Our Picturesque Landscape Project has just finished its second year, and what a strange year it has been! Unfortunately, a lot of the events we had planned had to be put on hold, but the project has continued to carry out works to conserve and improve access to the landscape of the Dee Valley and Pontcysyllte Aqueduct and Canal World Heritage Site.

This has included the installation of new railings at the Horseshoe Falls, which has opened up a new viewpoint for visitors. Work to build a car park has also begun at the site of the old Wenffrwd landfill, with the intention to transform the site into a ‘pocket park’ over the next few years.

The biggest changes however have been to the Dell at Plas Newydd, which the project is restoring back into the picturesque valley famously enjoyed by the Ladies of Llangollen. At the start of the year volunteers helped to create over 50 metres of stone walling, and in August stepping stones were installed in the river to create an attractive, enjoyable feature as well as to help combat erosion of the river bank.

Most recently, the railings on some of the footpaths and the fencing on the steps up to the summer house have been restored to look more like the rustic wooden features that would have been present during the time of the Ladies’ residency at Plas Newydd.  

These attractive new features, along with the accessible paths created by the Our Picturesque Landscape project in year one, means the Dell is the perfect place for a relaxing Winter stroll. The café at Plas Newydd is also open Wednesday-Sunday each week, 10am-4pm, to finish off your walk with a warming drink or bite to eat.