Powys Country House (Plas y Dyfrdwy) is well situated on the A5 offering easy access to the many activities and tourist hot-spots of North Wales, but in a calm and tranquil setting.

We are on the edge of Snowdonia National Park, and only a short drive to the many attractions of North Wales and surrounding area. Llangollen, Bala, Betws-y-coed, the Roman city of Chester, are just a few of the great places to visit.

We have, lakes, mountains, castles, national trust properties, The World Heritage Site of Thomas Telford's Aqueduct, canal boats, and steam trains, on our doorstep. If you are looking for a relaxing time, taking in all the sights, or an activity-filled break, then this is the place for you.

1. Llangollen

Llangollen is only 8.5 miles from Powys Country House and is a real tourist town with lots going on, and lots to see. Heres just a sample of what's on offer:

International Musical Eisteddfod

The Llangollen International Musical Eisteddfod is a music festival which takes place every year during the second week of July in Llangollen, North Wales. Singers and dancers from around the world are invited to take part in over 20 high quality competitions followed each evening by concerts where the best and most colourful competitors share the stage with professional artists. Over five thousand singers, dancers and instrumentalists from around 50 countries perform to audiences of more than 50,000 over the 6 days of the event.

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Plas Newydd

Plas Newydd, Hill Street, Llangollen, Denbighshire, LL20 8AW. General enquiries: 01978 862834. Group bookings: 01824 708274. Special occasions: 01824 708274 You might have thought the story of two women who ran away together and set up home in Wales would have caused a scandal at the turn of the eighteenth century. Far from it....

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Llangollen Steam Railway

Llangollen Railway is a mainly Steam hauled Heritage Railway Line starting at Llangollen Station located beside the Dee River Bridge in Llangollen Town, and continuing for 7 ½ miles upstream, following the River Dee to the village of Carrog. The Railway remains close to the waters of the river for most of it’s length, On the north bank at Llangollen Station, the river is crossed on to the south bank via the Dee Bridge, approximately one mile upstream from Llangollen.

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Llangollen Canal and Pontcysyllte Aqueduct (World Heritage Site)

Situated in north-eastern Wales, the 18 kilometre long Pontcysyllte Aqueduct and Canal is a feat of civil engineering of the Industrial Revolution, completed in the early years of the 19th century. Covering a difficult geographical setting, the building of the canal required substantial, bold civil engineering solutions, especially as it was built without using locks. The aqueduct is a pioneering masterpiece of engineering and monumental metal architecture, conceived by the celebrated civil engineer Thomas Telford. The use of both cast and wrought iron in the aqueduct enabled the construction of arches that were light and d strong, producing an overall effect that is both monumental and elegant. The property is inscribed as a masterpiece of creative genius, and as a remarkable synthesis of expertise already acquired in Europe. It is also recognized as an innovative ensemble that inspired many projects all over the world.

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Dinas Bran Castle

Towering high above the Dee Valley and the bustling town of Llangollen, home of the International Eisteddfod, Castell Dinas Bran occupies one of Britain's most spectacular sites. A rugged, foreboding pinnacle, the hillock was the ideal spot to erect a castle. It seemed completely impenetrable, commanded views for miles around, and offered quick recognition of an approaching visitor, whether friend or foe. Yet, the native Welsh princes of Powys occupied the hilltop for only a few decades.

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Outdoor Activities

With mountains, rock faces and the river Llangollen is a great place to carryout outdoor activities, Safe and Sound outdoors can offer you a wide range of activities in and around the area including: Gorge walking, mountain biking, kayaking, canoeing, rock climbing, paintballing, white water rafting, bushcraft, and much more..

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2. Chirk Castle (National Trust Property)

Completed in 1310, Chirk is the last Welsh castle from the reign of Edward I still lived in today. Features from its 700 years include the medieval tower and dungeon, 17th-century Long Gallery, grand 18th-century state apartments, servants' hall and historic laundry. The award-winning gardens contain clipped yews, herbaceous borders, shrub and rock gardens. A terrace with stunning views looks out over the Cheshire and Salop plains. The parkland provides a habitat for rare invertebrates, wild flowers and contains many mature trees and also some splendid wrought-iron gates, made in 1719 by the Davies brothers.

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3. Errdig (National Trust Property)

Widely acclaimed as one of Britain¿s finest historic houses, Erddig is a fascinating yet unpretentious early 18th-century country house reflecting the upstairs downstairs life of a gentry family over 250 years. The extensive downstairs area contains Erddig's unique collection of servants' portraits, while the upstairs rooms are an amazing treasure trove of fine furniture, textiles and wallpapers. Outside, an impressive range of outbuildings includes stables, smithy, joiners' shop and sawmill. The setting is a superb 18th-century formal garden and romantic landscape park – which are the starting points for walks, bicycle and carriage rides through the estate

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4. Bala

Bala is just over 11 miles from Powys Country house and has lots to offer. Some of its attractions are listed below:

Bala Lake

This is the largest natural body of water in Wales, much used by watersports enthusiasts who benefit from the winds sweeping through the mountain valley in which it is set. The steam trains of the narrow-gauge Bala Lake Railway run for several kilometres along its southern shore. In a nearby valley is another lake, Llyn Celyn, which is entirely artificial; canoeing competitions are held on the white water downstream from its dam.

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White Water rafting

The National White Water Centre - Based near Bala, North Wales, they developed the first commercial whitewater rafting operation in the UK in 1986, and since then they have grown to become the largest and most well-respected whitewater rafting organisation in the UK.

The Tryweryn is a dam released river so water is often flowing when other British rivers are dry, thus producing a unique year round whitewater venue.

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Outdoor Activities

Get Wet provide a wide range of Outdoor Activities to suit everyone and we're always ready to offer you a warm welcome! Situated between Bala and Corwen in North Wales, we offer activities to suit everyone, so whether you are an individual or part of a group we can easily tailor activities to suit your needs.

Get Wet The Adventure Company is open Wednesdays through to Sunday from 10am till 4pm for anyone that wants to stop by. Why not come down and try getting round the Highest Continuous Ropes Course in the UK!

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5. Mountain Zoo

Set in North Wales, high above Colwyn Bay with panoramic views and breathtaking scenery, beautiful gardens are home to our caring conservation zoo. Roam the wooded pathways, relax on the grassy slopes and spend a lovely day learning about many rare and endangered species from Britain and around the world including Snow Leopards, Chimpanzees, Red Pandas and Sumatran Tigers!

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6. Go Karts

Glan y Gors Park boasts a 1100 metre challenging Kart Circuit which aims to test the best of driver skills. An MSA approved Kart Circuit which holds club and British Championship events. 1600 metre outdoor track -Junior karts for children aged 9 upwards - Pro karts for seniors - Computerized timing system - Ample parking - Snack bar - Toilets. Full-face helmets, balaclavas, race-suits and gloves are all provided. Corporate/Group booking, Super Grand Prix, Grand Prix, Endurance, Arrive and Drive, and testing for owner-drivers all catered for.

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7. Snowdonia National Park

Situated on the west coast of Britain covering 823 square miles of diverse landscapes, Snowdonia National Park is a living working area, home to over 26,000 people. As well as being the largest National Park in Wales, Snowdonia boasts the highest mountain in Wales, and the largest natural lake in Wales, as well as a wealth of picturesque villages like Betws y Coed and Beddgelert. Snowdonia is an area steeped in culture, and local history, where more than half its population speak Welsh.

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8. Portmerion

Portmeirion is a popular tourist village in Gwynedd, North Wales. It was designed and built by Sir Clough Williams-Ellis between 1925 and 1975 in the style of an Italian village and is now owned by a charitable trust.

Portmeirion has served as the location for numerous films and television shows, most famously serving as The Village in The Prisoner starring Patrick McGoohan as Number Six.

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9. Pwlhelli

Pwllheli is the unofficial capital of The Llyn Peninsula, in Northwest Wales. Much of The Llyn Peninsula is an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty, and Pwllheli is an ideal base to explore this area, as well as nearby Snowdonia, Anglesey and the western coast of Wales. The impressive new marina is now one of the best in Wales, with 24 hour access and all the services boaters need. The marina berths over 400 boats and there is space for visitors to moor up overnight. The marina has brought many more boaters to Pwllheli and helped other aspects of tourism in the area.

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