Download - Wrexham County Borough Council

year of culture edition
the real wrexham 2011
the real buzz

We’re here to help
Our Tourist Information Centre provides a
wide range of services:
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Information on attractions, activities, local, regional and UK events
Nationwide bed booking service
Ticket sales – events, flower shows, theatre, concerts etc
National Express coach booking
Gifts – including gift wrapping service
Guidebooks, maps and souvenirs
Guided town trails
Wrexham Tourist Information Centre
Lambpit Street
Wrexham
LL11 1AY
Tel: 01978 292015
Fax: 01978 292467
Email: tic@wrexham.gov.uk
Wrexham
Library,
Rhosddu
Road,
Wrexham
LL11 1AU

contents
To make it easier for you to find your way around, we’ve divided this booklet into colour-coded
themed sections:
■ Introduction 4
■ Shopping 6
■ Heritage 12
■ Sport 24
■ Wrexham Year of Culture 2011 31
■ Nightlife 40
■ Countryside and villages 44
■ Business 56
■ Getting here 60
■ Staying here 62
■ Maps 64-68
credits
Written and designed by White Fox Tel 01352 840898 www.whitefox-design.co.uk
Photography by Orange Imaging, © Crown Copyright (2010) Visit Wales, Eye Imagery, National Eisteddfod of Wales,
Sharp Solar Centre.
Published by the Economic Development Department of Wrexham County Borough Council. This guide is available in alternative
formats and is also available in Welsh.
www.wrexham.gov.uk/tourism
Whilst every effort has been made to ensure accuracy in this publication, Wrexham County Borough Council can accept no liability whatsoever for any
errors, inaccuracies or omissions, or for any matter in any way connected with or arising out of the publication of the information.
Cover shot National Eisteddfod of Wales.
3

welcome
A Thomas Telford masterpiece
has put Wrexham on the world
map. So it’s a good time to
welcome one of the world’s
great festivals.
4

join the party
We do like a party in Wrexham. Maybe it’s
because we’ve had so much to celebrate in
the last few years.
Acquiring our very own university, for example.
The newest in Wales. Or increasing the retail
space in Wrexham town centre by 25% with
the award-winning Eagles Meadow shopping
centre. All 306,000 square feet of it.
But perhaps the biggest news was when
UNESCO made Pontcysyllte Aqueduct a
World Heritage Site. Which puts our very own
Thomas Telford masterpiece on a par with
world icons such as the Pyramids, Machu
Picchu or the Acropolis.
If that’s not worth a celebration, we don’t
know what is. So it’s perfect timing for
Wrexham to host one of the world’s greatest
cultural festivals – the 2011 National
Eisteddfod of Wales.
From 30 July-6 August up to 160,000 people
will pack the famous pink pavilion and the
surrounding Maes, or field. We’re so excited
this spectacular travelling festival is coming
back to Wrexham that we’ve planned a whole
year of events to go with it. We call it
Wrexham Year of Culture 2011. And there’s a
whole centre section of this booklet devoted
to it (see page 31).
We already attract about 1.4 million visitors
every year. But we’ve always got room for a
few more in our convenient corner of the
North Wales Borderlands. We’re easy to reach
by road, rail or air.
And because we’re both town and county ­
bustling hub and rural paradise - we like to
think we’ve got most tastes covered.
So join the party and discover the Real
Wrexham. It should give you a real buzz.
Whether you live, work or play here.
www.yearofculture.co.uk
5

shopping
This is one of our many markets. But
we also do quirky independent shops.
A big and bold new shopping centre.
And thousands of retail therapists.
6

Butchers’ market
see you again next week
Mike Evans is a fourth-generation butcher.
From the age of 10 he was making sausages
for the business established in Wrexham’s
magnificent indoor Butchers’ Market by his
great-grandmother Martha.
Over the years he’s learned a thing or two
about the importance of using the best local
produce he can lay his hands on. His home-cured
bacon is legendary. And his 60 different types
of cheese, mostly from Wales, draw aficionados
from far and wide.
unique way of bringing the very best local
produce to the customer.”
Just as well, then, that Wrexham is arguably
the market capital of North Wales. We have
so many markets we’ve virtually lost count.
Selling not just food but just about anything
you could imagine. Indoors and outdoors.
Daily, weekly and monthly.
According to Mike, once you’ve tried Welsh
brie, you won’t go back to the French stuff.
And once you’ve sampled the skills of a
traditional butcher, shrink-wrapped meat just
doesn’t cut the mustard.
“Mike sells things, like this lovely cooked ham
shank, that you just can’t get at the supermarket,”
says regular customer Betty Griffith. “I like his
prices and the friendly chat. I’ve been coming
here every week for 30-odd years.”
Celebrity chefs like Jamie Oliver and Hugh
Fearnley-Whittingstall have been banging the
drum about quality local food. Good news for
traditional butchers. And for the Butchers’
Market.
“People are thinking more and more about
food miles,” says Mike. “They want local
meats and old-fashioned cuts. A market is a
“People are thinking more
and more about food miles.”
Mike Evans, butcher
www.wrexham.gov.uk/tourism
7

shopping
markets
Do a little shopping in Wrexham and you’ll
notice something pretty quickly. We like to
chat. It comes with being a market town.
For hundred of years this has been the place
where England and Wales meet to exchange
goods and gossip. And we’re still doing it.
Although since the 19th century we’ve mostly
been doing it indoors.
Wrexham has three covered markets. With
more than 100 stalls selling everything from
sausages and steak to furniture and fashion.
And most of them just waiting for the excuse
to start a chinwag.
In Wrexham virtually every day is market day.
(We still like to have Sunday off to catch our
breath.) So the Butchers’ Market, General
Market and People’s Market are all open
Monday to Saturday - although the first two
do close early on a Wednesday.
We still like to get out into the fresh air, too.
Every Monday in Queens Square we hold one
of the largest outdoor markets in North
Wales.
And every once in a while we spread our
wings with a French and Continental Market.
Where the conversations are particularly
interesting.
To find out more about Wrexham’s markets,
call 01978 292015.
8

ig name brands
Eagles Meadow occupies eight acres of
Wrexham town centre. More than enough
room to pack in a few very big retail brands.
It brought Debenhams, H&M, Starbucks, Bank
and Jane Norman to the town for the first
time. And it provided a new home for M&S,
Next, River Island and many more big-hitters.
The Meadow, as it’s known, also has parking
for nearly 1,000 cars and a Shopmobility
service. No wonder it was shortlisted for
Retail Development of the Year.
If you think size matters, you’ll find other big
names in the town centre. And a fair few
more in the Border and Plas Coch out-oftown
retail parks.
www.eagles-meadow.co.uk
Eagles Meadow
independents
We do big and beautiful. But we also do small
and perfectly formed. Alongside our major
retail spaces we retain historic streets like
Town Hill, Bank Street and Temple Row. And
traditional arcades like the Overton and
Central arcades.
Here you’ll find the independent outlets that
help give Wrexham its heart and charm. True
one-offs. The sort of shops that the words
“quirky” and “offbeat” were invented for.
Boutiques and gentlemen’s outfitters.
Bookshops and brasseries. Hair salons,
jewellery designers, gift shops, photographer’s
studios.
Take the trouble to explore our streets and
seek them out. It could be the start of a beautiful
relationship. At the very least you’ll be spoilt
for choice about that present for Auntie Mabel.
9

shopping
christmas shopping
Christmas in Wrexham is very special. And very
traditional. And the focal point is a 40-foot
tall Sitka Spruce from Kielder Forest in
Northumberland.
Well, we like to have the best. So our
Christmas tree is grown to Soil Association
standards to be as straight and symmetrical
as possible. Along with 2,000 people it stands
watch as the Christmas lights are switched on
in Queens Square.
Beneath its branches there is carol singing,
chestnut munching and many happy visits to
Santa’s Grotto. And - for those whose little
ones have been good this year - rather a lot
of shopping.
out of town
Keep your eyes peeled. Wrexham’s countryside
offers retail therapy in surprising places. Like
The Plassey Craft and Retail Centre. Set in
247 acres of parkland near Bangor-on-Dee, it
has 25 outlets including an interior designer,
boutique and blacksmith. Not to mention a
garden centre. A golf course. And a brewery.
01978 780277 www.plassey.com
fairtrade
Wales is the first Fairtrade nation. And
Wrexham is the first Fairtrade county borough
in Wales. We blazed the trail because we want
you to be able to shop with a clear conscience.
Fairtrade guarantees a better deal for Third
World producers. Lots of our shops sell products
carrying the kitemark. And you can order
Fairtrade tea, coffee and wine in many of our
cafés and bars.
Find out more on 01978 262588.
recharge your batteries
Tiring business, shopping. All those carrier
bags and all that nervous excitement. If
you’re fit to drop, it’s time to recharge at one
of our spas, health clubs or beauty salons. Like
Glow in Wrexham. Voted Salon of the Year in
the British Beauty Awards. One of their aromatic
facials or a softening body massage will soon
have you ready for the fray again.
01978 357232 www.glow-beauty.com
10

mind your language
Travel around Wrexham for a while and the
chances are you will hear the Welsh language
spoken. And you can hardly fail to notice that
all our road signs are bilingual.
Our shops and markets – not to mention our
pubs – are great places to try out a bit of
Welsh for yourself.
The good news is that it’s a completely
phonetic language. Unlike English. The bad
news is that it may not look like it to the
untutored eye. As you may have noticed if
you passed through the village of
Rhosllanerchrugog recently.
We also have some sounds that don’t exist in
English. You pronounce “ch” as in the Scottish
“loch”, for instance. And for “ll”, you place
your tongue behind your front teeth and hiss.
Don’t worry, you’ll soon get the hang of it. We
love to hear visitors making an effort and we
don’t mind if it doesn’t sound quite right. It’s
the thought that counts.
You may very well find the following phrases
helpful. Whether you’re ordering a pint or
purchasing a kilo of Welsh Black beef.
Bore da (bor-er dah) – Good morning.
Prynhawn da (prin-hown dah)
Good afternoon.
–
Diolch yn fawr (dee-olck un vowr) –
Thanks very much.
Helo (hel-o) – Hello.
Hwyl (who-ill) – Cheerio.
Da iawn (dah-ee-aw-n) – Very good.
Iechyd da! (yeh-kid-dah) – Cheers!
Os gwelwch yn dda
(os-gwell-ook-un-thah) – Please.
Faint? (v’eye’nt) – How much?
But of course you will never need to say
“mae’n rhy ddrud”. It means “it’s too expensive”.
So no need to tell you how to pronounce it.
www.bbc.co.uk/wales/learnwelsh
11

heritage
Wrexham has an
astonishing range of
historical attractions.
Including an aqueduct
that is officially one of
the most remarkable
places on the planet.
12

don’t look down
Take a deep breath. This is Thomas Telford’s
Pontcysyllte Aqueduct at Trevor. They call it
“the stream in the sky”. And it’s been made a
World Heritage Site along with 11 miles of
the Llangollen Canal including Chirk
Aqueduct and the Horseshoe Falls.
It’s 126 feet tall and 1,007 feet long. But
surprisingly narrow. Especially when you’ve
got your hand on the tiller.
“But it was a real experience once I took the
bull by the horns. In the end it wasn’t quite as
terrifying as I imagined.”
See what you think. You can cross Pontcysyllte
Aqueduct by boat or on foot. And to keep
your mind off the drop, you can practise how
to pronounce it: pont-kersulty.
Peter Jones, aka Jones the Boats, has made
the crossing more than a thousand times. But
it’s still a nerve-tingler: “There are only a couple
of inches to spare on either side,” he says.
“You can’t believe this thin piece of metal is
going to hold. But it’s held for 200 years. You
realise you should have more confidence in
Mr Telford’s skills.”
Eighteen great stone pillars hold up a cast-iron
trough which transports the Llangollen Canal
dizzyingly over the River Dee. A trough made
watertight by Welsh flannel, lead and boiling
sugar. Or treacle toffee to you and me.
Small wonder Rita Salisbury of Somerset was
a tad nervous when Peter took her over in his
70-foot boat, the Eirlys. “Your tummy goes a
bit funny when you look over the side. It’s
quite a drop,” she says.
“Your tummy goes a bit
funny when you look over
the side.”
Rita Salisbury, Somerset
www.wrexham.gov.uk/aqueduct
13

heritage
Jeremy Cragg at Erddig
erddig
They call this the New Kitchen. Even though it
was built in the 1770s. It’s one of the grandest
rooms at Erddig, officially Britain’s secondfavourite
stately home.
Erddig is one of the few National Trust
properties that you enter through the back
door. Because it is the ultimate “upstairs
downstairs” country house. It has as much to
say about its servants as its owners.
fields and the woods,” he says. “For the vast
majority of visitors, it would have been people
like their own ancestors who did this work.
That is why people connect with Erddig.”
01978 355314
House manager Jeremy Cragg has worked
here for 18 years. Having painstakingly
completed the vast inventory of the house,
he knows as much about it as anyone living.
Or who has ever lived.
14
“So many people worked in this house, the
www.nationaltrust.org.uk

chirk castle
Next time you’re clipping your privet, spare a
thought for David Lock, head gardener of the
National Trust’s Chirk Castle.
The yew hedges at Chirk are so enormous it
takes a team of three men about eight weeks
to give them a short back and sides. Two on
the ground. And another high up in a cherry
picker.
All wielding electric trimmers. And generating
three tonnes of clippings. Imagine getting
that lot in your green wheelie bin.
It’s all worth it. The gardens at Chirk were
once voted the best in the National Trust.
Where you can walk a stunning avenue of
17th century lime trees. And command views
over nine counties.
You can even pick up a few gardening tips.
David Lock runs a regular question and answer
session for the less than green-fingered . And
gives a talk called “Chirk and Yew”. Great
gardener, terrible puns.
The castle itself is a Marcher fortress dating
from 1310. But this is no ruin. In fact, it’s been
lived in for the last 700 years. The grand 18th
century state apartments are crammed with
elaborate plasterwork, Adam-style furniture,
tapestries and portraits.
And the tea room does, we are reliably
assured, a terrific home-made bara brith. And
perhaps a bowl of something warming if
you’ve spent all day hedge trimming.
01691 777701
Chirk Castle
www.nationaltrust.org.uk
15

heritage
messing about in boats
llangollen canal
If it’s good enough for Harrison Ford and
Calista Flockhart. The famous couple took a
romantic break back in 2004 piloting a
narrowboat along Llangollen Canal.
They were in good company. About 15,000
vessels do the same thing every year. Making
it “one of the busiest and most beautiful
stretches of waterway in the UK,” according
to Julie Sharman of British Waterways.
The canal is 41 miles long and takes at least
three days to cruise – each way. If you don’t
have the time to spare, just take a stroll along
the towpath, which passes through isolated
sheep pastures, ancient peat mosses and
tree-lined lakes.
marinas
You can hire your own boats from the popular
marinas at Chirk and Trevor. Or you can book
a pleasure cruise. That way you don’t have to
worry about navigating locks or banging into
other boats. The seriously laid-back can even
take a horse-drawn canal boat trip from
Llangollen Wharf.
01691 690322 www.canaltrip.co.uk
16

telford’s other aqueduct
Just a few years before Pontcysyllte Aqueduct
came another Thomas Telford masterpiece.
Completed in 1801, his aqueduct at Chirk isn’t
quite as vertiginous.
But the 70-foot drop to the River Ceiriog is
impressive enough, thank you. And you do
have a remarkable view of the railway viaduct
next door to take your mind off it.
If you’re feeling especially adventurous, you
can walk across the 710-foot wide aqueduct
and through the Darkie Tunnel. It’s more than
quarter of a mile long. And its name is all too
appropriate. So please bring a torch and keep
your dog on a lead.
Chirk Aqueduct and Viaduct
Llangollen Canal
17

heritage
St Giles Church, Wrexham
exploring churches
st giles church
One hundred and thirty five feet high and one
of the Seven Wonders of Wales. The steeple
of St Giles Church in Wrexham is clearly visible
from many miles away.
But you have to get much closer to see all the
16th century church’s marvels. The rare
Doom painting on the wall above the chancel
arch. Gilded angels playing celestial music high
in the nave. Or the grave of Elihu Yale with its
inscription written by the man himself.
Born in Boston in 1649, Yale returned to the
land of his fathers at the age of three and settled
near Wrexham. He went back to America a
rich man and made a generous donation to
the Collegiate School of Connecticut.
They were so grateful they renamed the college
after him. And you can still see a replica of the
steeple of St Giles in the grounds of what
became Yale University. Better still you can
ascend the real thing for stunning views
across the whole of Wrexham and beyond. To
book a tower tour call 01978 355808.
18

open church network
Wrexham’s churches are not only places of
prayer and contemplation. They are also
architectural treasures. And they bring the
sometimes turbulent history of our towns and
villages vividly to life.
At St Chad’s Church in Holt you can see the
bullet holes left by a skirmish between
Roundheads and Cavaliers. In St Mary’s
Cathedral, Wrexham, is a chapel dedicated to
the martyr Richard Gwynne. Hanged, drawn
and quartered in 1584 – and sainted in 1972.
And at St Mary’s Church at Chirk, a power
struggle between local bigwigs the Trevors and
the Myddeltons is expressed through gloriously
flamboyant memorial statuary.
Fifteen of our churches have come together
to form the Open Church Network. All with
their own compelling stories to tell. And all
committed to welcoming visitors.
They’re linked by a Discovery Trail in six sections.
Each section makes an enjoyable day out by
car with detours for stately homes, aqueducts
and nature reserves. Most sites can also be
reached by bus, bike – or boots.
01978 292015
www.openchurchnetwork.co.uk
All Saints Church, Gresford
St Mary’s Church, Chirk
19

heritage
bersham ironworks
When Bersham Ironworks was at its peak in
the 18th century, its owner was known as
John “Iron Mad” Wilkinson. But it wasn’t just
hot metal that got his gander up.
Wilkinson’s short fuse saw him fall out with
his own brother William. And then with James
Watt, whose steam engines were powering
the Industrial Revolution – with the help of
cylinders from Bersham.
He may have been mad but he was a genius,
too. He developed a revolutionary process
which allowed him to bore cannon with great
accuracy out of solid cast metal.
Typically, he supplied weapons to both sides
Bersham Ironworks
in the American War of Independence. And
Bersham cannons were fired in many of
Britain’s campaigns in the Napoleonic and
Peninsular Wars.
Excavations in the 1990s brought many
remains to light. In the visitor centre in the old
mill you can experience a “son et lumière”
show about the life of a foundryman.
bersham heritage centre
The heritage centre is in a converted Victorian
school in the former East Works – another
part of John Wilkinson’s sprawling empire.
But it doesn’t just tell the story of Bersham
Ironworks. It holds all Wrexham’s collections
20

Clywedog Trail
of industrial heritage. And explains how iron,
coal and lead transformed a small market
town into an economic powerhouse of the
18th and 19th centuries.
It’s an ideal stopping-off point on the
Clywedog Trail. A nine-mile footpath that links
all the industrial heritage sites on a river that
once drove no fewer than 17 mills - but which
has long since returned to nature.
01978 261529
www.wrexham.gov.uk/heritage
wrexham country borough
museum
Wrexham’s oldest resident has enjoyed a little
home improvement. Early in 2011 an impressive
new glass extension will be unveiled at
Wrexham County Borough Museum in Regent
Street.
It will house a new café, reception and shop.
And later we plan to open new exhibition
galleries - including one devoted to the
collections of National Museum Wales and
the National Library of Wales.
All good news for the museum’s most famous
inhabitant, whose remains were unearthed in
1958 by workmen digging a trench in Brymbo.
For quite a while 3,500-year-old “Brymbo
Man” was nothing more than a celebrity
skeleton.
But then we asked Dr Caroline Wilkinson of
BBC’s “Meet the Ancestors” to reconstruct his
face. The results are amazing. And the Welsh
Football Collection is well worth a look, too.
Our history of the beautiful game doesn’t
quite stretch back to the Bronze Age. But the
Football Association of Wales was formed in
Wrexham. Wales’s first ever home international
was played at the Racecourse Ground. And
the great Welsh winger Billy Meredith, who
played with a toothpick in his mouth, was
born in nearby Chirk.
01978 317970
www.wrexham.gov.uk/heritage
Artist’s impression of Wrexham County Borough Museum.
21

heritage
town trails
If you want to know the way – ask a teacher.
Former schoolmaster Phil Phillips has
launched Wrexham’s first regular guided
heritage tour. A gentle 90-minute stroll
through centuries of history.
Susan Wilson saw a new side to her home
town: “Tracing the footsteps of how the town
has evolved was so interesting and hearing all
the stories was fantastic,” she said. “The tour
was a great idea just waiting to happen.”
Wrexham Town Trails start and finish outside
the Tourist Information Centre in Lambpit
Street.
open doors
Open Doors is the largest celebration of
architecture and heritage in Wales. You’d
expect historic Wrexham to join in – and you
wouldn’t be disappointed.
For one weekend in September we offer
access to properties that may normally be
closed to the public or charge admission. A
festival of guided tours, church visits, lectures
and heritage days. And all absolutely free.
www.civictrustwales.org
01978 290506
www.wrexhamtowntrails.co.uk
22

Looking for somewhere FREE
to visit for all the family?
Look no further...
Bersham Heritage Centre
Discover Wrexham’s great industrial heritage in the picturesque Clywedog Valley.
Follow brown signs marked Bersham & Clywedog from A483 and A525. Bersham,
Wrexham LL14 4HT. Tel: 01978 261 529
Oriel Wrecsam
Art Gallery displaying year-round exhibitions of contemporary visual arts and
crafts. Contact us for more information about arts activities in the holidays!
Rhosddu Road, Wrexham LL11 1AU. Tel: 01978 292 093
Oriel Wrecsam
Wrexham Library,
Rhosddu Road,
www.wrexham.gov.uk/heritage
Wrexham LL11 1AU
Tel:
01978

sport
More ways than you can imagine to
work up a sweat in the great outdoors.
Plus a host of international-class
sporting facilities.
24

hold on to your hats
Horse racing at Bangor-on-Dee started more
than 150 years ago when a couple of chaps
from the local hunt galloped across the
meadows for a £50 prize.
And they still haven’t got around to putting in
a grandstand. Bangor is the only racecourse
in Britain without one. Because the views are
so stunning from the grass banks of this natural
amphitheatre overlooking the River Dee and
the Welsh hills, there really isn’t any need.
around the betting ring and adrenalin rush of
the race itself,” she says.
“At Bangor-on-Dee, the social side is important
too. For many ladies, dressing up is part of the
experience and with 16 meetings in 2011 we
provide plenty of excuses to don a new hat or
dress.”
So even if you lose your shirt, you’ll still end
up with a new outfit.
The place is so special that it was thriller
writer and ex-jockey Dick Francis’s favourite
course. Mind, things have changed a bit since
he rode his first ever winner here back in
1947. Not least the posh nosh available in the
Paddock and Wynnstay Restaurants.
“Over the last 20 years the racecourse has
progressed from being all wooden buildings
to having superb facilities not only for race
days but also for private parties, weddings
and conferences,” explains general manager,
Jeannie Chantler.
The course is so popular that it stages
National Hunt meetings 10 months of the year.
So what’s the attraction? Pure entertainment,
according to Jeannie, whether you’re an
inveterate punter or a complete novice.
“You can’t beat the spectacle and colour of
seeing horses and jockeys close up, the bustle
“You can’t beat the
spectacle and colour.”
Jeannie Chantler,
Bangor-on-Dee Racecourse
www.bangorondeeraces.co.uk
25

sport
golf
You’re standing on the first tee. The sun is
shining, the ball’s sitting up nicely. One more
wiggle of the hips and you’re ready to go.
But how confident are you feeling?
For the slightly apprehensive, Chirk Golf
Club’s “Captain David’s Course” can play as
short as 5,525 yards. But if the force is with
you, the so-called “Tiger Tees” can extend
this to a whopping 7,045 yards.
This 200-acre course, bounded by the
Llangollen Canal and with superb views of
Chirk Castle, offers the typical Wrexham
golfing experience.
A true test. A friendly welcome. Competitive
green fees. And something just that little bit
different. Whether you’re after an 18-hole
championship challenge like Wrexham Golf
Club. Or a scenic nine-hole course such as
Darland Golf Centre at Rossett.
Darland is short but sweet with USGA-standard
tees and greens. And no soft touch. Don’t say
we didn’t warn you about the signature ninth
hole. A left-hand dog-leg to a green defended
by trees on one side and a lake on the other.
And if you’re not quite hitting it straight, a
fancy bit of kit at Clays Golf Centre in
Wrexham might help. Pros at the Mizuno
National Fitting Centre there use a £20,000
radar system to analyse your swing.
26

Excitingly, they can even work out your
“smash factor”. Then help you choose a set of
clubs that’s tailored to you and your game.
Alyn Waters Golf Centre (9 holes) 01978 855131
Chirk Golf Club 01691 774407
Clays Golf Club 01978 661406
Darland Golf Centre (9 holes) 01244 579282
Moss Valley Golf Club (9 holes) 01978 720518
Plassey Golf Complex (9 holes) 01978 780020
Wrexham Golf Club 01978 351476
mountain biking
You really earn your breakfast at Coed
Llandegla Forest in neighbouring Denbighshire.
Its colour-coded mountain bike trails are set
in 650 acres of sustainably managed woodland.
The green route is great for families and the
blue route perfect for beginners – and you
can hire bikes if you don’t have your own.
But Llandegla also attracts the aficionado. The
11-mile red route contains unsurfaced singletrack,
bermed switchbacks, whoops and water
crossings. As for the black route… well, let’s
just say you need strong legs and nerves of
steel.
When you’ve got your breath back at the
eco-friendly visitor centre run by One Planet
Adventure, you can tuck into one of their
famous bacon butties.
www.coedllandegla.com
01978 751656
horse riding
Wrexham is criss-crossed with bridleways and
equine trails - including the Ceiriog Trail and
its little brother the Upper Ceiriog Trail. Two
circular routes totalling 37 miles of ruggedly
beautiful terrain.
We have plenty of riding centres to give you
advice – and a horse if you need one. We also
do equine B&B should you wish to give your
own four-legged friends a holiday.
www.ceiriog.com
fishing
We can’t promise you fish. That’s in the lap of
the gods. But we can promise you they’re in
there somewhere.
Brown trout in the Ceiriog. Grayling, sea trout
and salmon in the Dee. Not to mention the
big barbel at Bangor-on-Dee.
Away from the riverbank there are fine game
fisheries including Chirk with its specimen
rainbows, browns, goldies and blues. (If you
draw a blank, nip into Chirk Trout Farm and
Smokery instead.)
And our coarse fisheries such as Sontley Pools
and Trench Farm at Penley are packed with
the ultimate quarry – big carp.
27

sport
outdoor adventure
Shame to waste all that fresh air. We offer a
wide range of white-knuckle activities to turn
our great outdoors into one big adventure
playground.
Motor Safari do the lot. Rally skid driving, offroading,
power boating, falconry, whitewater
rafting. As featured on “Top Gear”, “Blue
Peter” and “The Holiday Programme” among
many others.
The climbing wall at Plas Power Adventure
should also get your adrenalin going. It’s big ­
more than 6,000 square feet. And it’s very
popular with kids.
Who often outstrip their parents. Both here
and on the ropes course – which contains a
100-foot zip wire, an abseil platform and
something worryingly known as “the leap of faith”.
01978 754533
www.motor-safari.co.uk
01978 754747
www.plaspoweradventure.com
football and rugby
Our very own theatre of dreams. The
Racecourse is home to Wrexham Football
Club - giantkillers who have accounted for the
likes of Arsenal, Spurs and even FC Porto over
the years – and Super League rugby team
Crusaders.
It’s the world’s oldest current international
football stadium. And it hosts rugby league
28

North Wales Regional Tennis Centre (left) and The Racecourse
and rugby union internationals, too. In fact,
World Cup games in all three sports have been
played here.
Plas Kynaston Lane at Cefn Mawr may have a
comparatively modest capacity of 2,000. But
it’s home to the oldest football club in Wales,
Cefn Druids. Once conquerors of mighty
Bolton Wanderers in the FA Cup of 1882 and
now playing in the Welsh Premier League.
The Racecourse 01978 262129
Cefn Druids 01978 824279
tennis
We love our tennis. And not just during
Wimbledon fortnight. The six indoor and 10
outdoor courts at the North Wales Regional
Tennis Centre in Wrexham are international-class.
Our coaches will help you live up to them.
Any time you fancy a knockabout, you can
play at the courts at Acton Park and Bellevue
Park in Wrexham or Ponciau Park in Rhos.
Absolutely free.
North Wales Regional Tennis Centre
01978 265260
athletics
Top athletes come to Queensway Stadium.
Including Wales’s own Olympic stars Colin
Jackson, Jamie Baulch, Iwan Thomas and
Christian Malcolm.
But it also hosts school sports days and local
fun runs. And it’s the home of Wrexham
Athletics Club, who help budding stars from
eight years upwards to get in shape.
Queensway Stadium 01978 355826
leisure centres
Waterworld
Want to keep everything looking trim – including
your bank balance? Just flash the Pure card at
one of our leisure centres. It will save you 20%
on most activities including swimming, gym
sessions and fitness classes.
Waterworld, as you might have guessed, is an
aquatic centre. With a 25-metre competition
pool, a learner pool, a 65-metre flume and a
rapid-river ride. Which should liven you up nicely.
In the Tropical Lagoon at Plas Madoc, you can
walk the surf, ride the crocodile, slide down
the snake and play in the waves. And you can
let the kids have a go as well, if you must.
Chirk has a pool, too. The perfect place to
cool down after a stint in the sauna or steam
room. A game of squash. Or a little Tae Kwon Do.
Waterworld 01978 297300
Plas Madoc Leisure & Activity Centre
01978 821600
Chirk Leisure & Activity Centre
01691 778666
29

BFI Mediatheque at
Wrexham Library
■ Wrexham Library is home to the first British Film Institute
Mediatheque in Wales
■ The ‘digital jukebox’ of film holds more than 2,000 complete films
and tv programmes
■ More than 100 titles from Wales
■ Open 6 days a week
■ FREE
You can revisit classics of British film and TV and make new discoveries – over
85% of the titles are only available to watch in a BFI Mediatheque, and the
collection is always growing.
To use the BFI Mediatheque please bring your library card. If you’re not a
member, why not sign up? Please bring proof of address for access to all of the
great services including free wi-fi access, refreshed book collections, self-service
kiosks, dvd rental and much more.
Wrexham Library, Rhosddu Road, Wrexham LL11 1AU
Tel: 01978 292090
Email: library@wrexham.gov.uk
www.wrexham.gov.uk/libraries
Wrexham Library,
Rhosddu Road,
Wrexham LL11 1AU
Tel: 01978
292090
Open Monday to Friday 9.00am - 7.00pm, Saturday 9.00am - 4.00pm

it’s party time
They call it a cross between Glastonbury
and the Edinburgh Festival. So get ready for
the biggest party in Wrexham since 1977.
That was the last time one of the world’s
greatest cultural festivals came to town. And
this time will be even more special. Because
in 2011 the National Eisteddfod of Wales
marks 150 years in its current form.
Between 30 July and 6 August, about
160,000 people will be helping us to
celebrate. This travelling festival of Welsh
culture is bigger than you think. In fact, it’s
the BBC’s biggest outside broadcast after
Wimbledon.
But you don’t have to speak Welsh to enjoy
it. Everyone is welcome in the iconic pink
pavilion and right across the rest of the
Maes, or field, with its open-air performance
stages, theatre, art gallery, dance and
literary pavilions.
There are competitions during the day in
everything from brass bands to choir
singing, solo instrumentalists and
recitations. You can experience all the
pomp and circumstance of the Crowning
and Chairing of the Bard.
And in the evenings the pink pavilion is
transformed into a world-class concert hall.
Bryn Terfel, Katherine Jenkins, Only Men
Aloud, Connie Fisher and Rhydian Roberts
have all performed at the National
Eisteddfod in recent years.
32

Up on the same stage, rubbing shoulders with
greatness, will be the amateur Eisteddfod
Choir. More than 200 of us from all over North
Wales have been rehearsing for a year for
the chance to perform in front of a crowd
of 3,500. And we’re not a bit nervous, honest.
In all there are more than 600 different
activities for children and families. More
than 300 trade stalls. And a fantastic
atmosphere. Come and feel the buzz.
Or hwyl, as we call it round here.
www.eisteddfod.org.uk
33

what are you doing
Wrexham is very excited to welcome back
the National Eisteddfod of Wales for the first
time in more than three decades. But the
party only lasts for a single wonderful week.
parade through Wrexham town centre,
followed by a rousing performance from the
Fron Choir and a spectacular fireworks
display. Nothing like starting with a bang.
We thought it might be fun to make a year
of it. With more than 300 different events
to showcase the very best local culture –
plus a few big names from the rest of Wales.
Welcome to Wrexham Year of Culture 2011.
The programme includes drama, dance, music,
film, the visual arts, heritage and literature.
That should just about cover it. Do let us know
if you think we’ve missed anything. We can
always squeeze in another event somewhere.
It all begins on 21 January with a lantern
After that highlights include concerts from
the Welsh Chamber Orchestra, the BBC
National Orchestra of Wales and the chorus
of the Welsh National Opera.
Rhys Meirion, Aled Hall and Alun Rhys-
Jenkins, aka the Three Welsh Tenors, will be
belting it out at Theatr Stiwt.
And other big events are being added to
the list all the time. So do keep checking
our website. We wouldn’t want you to
miss anything.
34

this year?
what’s on
Early dates for your diary include:
21 January
Wrexham Year of Culture Launch
21 January, 5 March
Fron Choir
22 January
Three Welsh Tenors Opening Concert
4-5 February
Histories Festival
1 March
St David’s Day Celebration Parade
11 March
Welsh Chamber Orchestra
19 March
BBC National Orchestra of Wales
June
Welsh National Opera Chorus
New events for Wrexham Year of Culture 2011 are being added all the
time. For the latest information, visit our website or Facebook page.
Or call our Tourist Information Centre on 01978 292015.
www.yearofculture.co.uk
www.facebook.com/yearofculture
35

welsh choirs
We don’t just sing when the National
Eisteddfod is in town. Wrexham’s choirs are
some of the best in Wales. Which means
they’re about as good as it gets.
One way to experience the majesty of a top
male voice choir like those of Brymbo, Y
Rhos, Rhos Orpheus or Dyffryn Ceiriog is to
nip along to a rehearsal.
They may not be all dressed up. But the
sound will be spectacular. And it won’t cost
you a penny.
Every Monday and Thursday you can even
hear “the oldest boy band in the world”. The
Fron Choir have been singing since 1947 but
they’ve only been pop stars since their
“Voices of the Valley” CD shot to the top of
the charts.
Now they perform in places like the
Millennium Stadium and the Royal Albert
Hall. But you can still catch them in a school
hall in Acrefair.
Call for choir rehearsal details on 01978
292015 or email tic@wrexham.gov.uk
www.fronchoir.com
theatre
Rhosllanerchgrugog just outside Wrexham
is remarkable for many reasons. It’s said to
be the largest village in Wales. It has several
magnificent choirs. And it is home to
the Stiwt.
Otherwise known as the Miners Institute,
Theatr Stiwt hosts a wide range of dramatic
and musical performances. Its state-of-the
art auditorium is so well equipped it even has
a hydraulic orchestra lift. And it remains as
much of a centre for Welsh culture as it was
when it opened in 1926.
The intimate 150-seat Studio Theatre at Yale
College in Wrexham has regular visits from
touring companies such as Hijinx and Spike
Theatre. As well as productions by students
and local community groups.
The Riverside Studio Theatre is more bijou
still – it seats 120. But this home of amateur
Wrexham Musical Theatre Society packs a
big punch with plays, musicals and charity
fundraisers.
Other stalwarts of the amateur scene are
Grove Park Theatre. Productions in the first
half of 2011 include “The Day After the Fair”,
based on a short story by Thomas Hardy, and
a one-act play called “The Extraordinary
Revelations of Orca the Goldfish”.
01978 841300 www.stiwt.co.uk
Wrexham Studio Theatre 01978 311794
Riverside Studio Theatre 01978 261148
01978 351091 www.groveparktheatre.co.uk
36

art
Here in Wrexham we don’t just look at art,
satisfying though that is. We like to get our
hands dirty.
Oriel Wrecsam is the town’s arts centre. As
you would expect, it’s a great place to see
exhibitions of the very best contemporary
art and craft.
But if you come for the Saturday Art Club,
the Painting for Pleasure sessions or the life
drawing class, you’d better be prepared to
roll up your sleeves. We reckon art should be
interactive.
Oriel Sycharth Gallery at Glyndŵ r University
also strikes a balance between established
reputation and emerging talent. It features
work by internationally famous artists. And
by those who might well be famous one day
– its own students.
The ever-changing exhibitions at Yale
College’s Memorial Gallery are a source of
inspiration for its art, media and design
students. For two hours every weekday
afternoon, the general public can soak it all
up, too.
Oriel Wrecsam 01978 292093
Oriel Sycharth Gallery www.glyndwr.ac.uk
classical music
Hearing a world-class orchestra is a
very special experience. And in the 890-seat
William Aston Hall at Glyndŵr University,
Wrexham has a venue capable of showcasing
the best there is.
The BBC National Orchestra of Wales, the
Hallé, the Royal Liverpool Philharmonic and
the Welsh National Opera have all played
there. Not to mention the Vienna Festival
Ballet.
It’s not all quite so highbrow on campus, mind.
The hall also hosted cricket commentator
Henry Blofeld, an Abba tribute act and a
Christmas show called “Bink and the Hairy
Fairy”. There are gigs and comedy nights in
the Guild Bar. And drama and music in the
new £3 million Catrin Finch Centre.
01978 293306 www.glyndwr.ac.uk
37

Sharp Solar Centre
science discovery
Science is fun. Honest. At least when you
have more than 60 exciting interactive
games and exhibits. Including a spinning orb
with flowing crystals and a spooky “shadow
wall” that takes on a life of its own.
Billed as North Wales’s most challenging day
out, Techniquest Glyndŵ r aims to explore
the mysteries of science - through the
medium of big bangs and slippery slime.
For more than 50 years Sharp has been
harnessing the power of the sun. Now this
world leader in photovoltaic technology – or
solar panels to you and me – has opened its
own Solar Centre at Llay.
By exploring five separate zones you can
discover how solar energy could protect the
planet for future generations. You can test
your knowledge with interactive quizzes and
games.
And you can build your own solar toy. After
all, every little helps. If just one per cent of
the earth’s surface was covered with solar
cells, we’d have all the energy we need.
Techniquest 01978 293400
www.tqg.org
Sharp 01978 857688
www.sharpmanufacturing.co.uk
Techniquest Glyndŵr
38

Fall in love with your
new museum
Wrexham County Borough Museum and Archives
reopens its doors on 14th February 2011
Discover the gateway to the history of Wrexham and the real heritage
of Wales…
■ A family-friendly gallery focused on the history of the Wrexham area
■ Brand new gallery hosting touring national and local exhibitions
■ Eye-catching glazed extension with a welcoming coffee shop and gift shop
■ A wide programme of events and activities for all of the family
■ FREE ADMISSION
For the latest news and events on Wrexham County Borough Museum
please visit: www.wrexham.gov.uk
Wrexham County Borough
Museum and Archives,
County Buildings,
Regent St,
Wrexham LL11 1RB
Tel: 01978 297460

nightlife
Real Wrexham. Real buzz. Grab a
movie, hear a band, make a strike.
And unwind later in one of our pubs,
bars or restaurants.
40

lights, music, action
There’s something dangerously addictive
about tenpin bowling. The light show, the
music, the clatter of the pins. Not to mention
the whoops of delight.
Welcome to all the razzmatazz of Tenpin at
Eagles Meadow. A state-of-the-art 24-lane
centre that’s bringing a little bit of America to
the heart of Wrexham town centre.
catch a movie. There’s an eight-screen Odeon
right next door. Along with restaurants such
as Nando’s, Pizza Express and Frankie and
Benny’s for a post-strike celebration.
All right there at Eagles Meadow with its
970-space car park. So you can reserve all
your energy for bowling.
“Bowling is one of the few activities that
everyone can enjoy,” says manager Vince
Brown. “It’s for all ages, regardless of ability.”
So kids as young as three or four are rubbing
shoulders with so-called “silver strikers”. And
entire families are getting competitive.
Adrienne Still and Russell Parker, for instance.
They’ve just promised five-year-old Jacob
another game. And it won’t be long before
toddler Sophie is joining in.
“It’s really exciting to have something like this
in Wrexham and it’s so easy to get to,” says
Adrienne. “It’s great for the kids. Jacob loves it.”
Don’t worry if you don’t know a split from a
turkey. Or even how to hold a bowling ball
(put your middle two fingers in the holes and
steer with the outer fingers, since you ask).
Tenpin staff will soon have you up to speed.
And with the rest of your evening, you could
“It’s great for the kids.
Jacob loves it!”
Adrienne Still, Wrexham
www.eagles-meadow.co.uk
41

nightlife
nightclubs
We wouldn’t say Wrexham never sleeps. But
it stays up late enough to satisfy even the
most serious party animal. As a nocturnal stroll
past the bright lights of Brook Street will reveal.
There you’ll find Liquid and Envy – two
nightclubs under one roof. Plus a state-of-the
art light rig, dancer podiums, a 360-degree
projector wall and LED colour washes.
live music
The Magic Numbers, The Charlatans, Goldie
Lookin’ Chain, The Kooks, Kasabian,
Grandmaster Flash, Wonderstuff, John Cale
and Robert Plant.
When you host acts of that calibre no wonder
both Kerrang magazine and The Independent
vote you the leading live music venue in Wales.
Central Station and its downstairs venue Yales
Café Bar offer a heady mix of gigs, club nights
and comedy. And if you’ve got the courage,
Monday is open mic night.
Check out a raft of other live music venues
such as the Commercial and Seven Stars pubs
and the Student Guild at Glyndŵ r University.
They’re helping to make Wrexham a hotbed
of talent in the rock, indie and alternative genres.
http://centralstationvenue.com
www.wrexhammusic.co.uk
42

eating out
The cafés, bars and restaurants of Wrexham
town centre have most tastes pretty well
covered. We do the exotic – Indian, Thai,
Chinese, Italian. We do American in the form
of the Chicago Rock Café and Arnold’s. And at
L’etage on Abbot Street we have our first
French-style café bar, billed as “the place to
meet, drink, eat and be seen”.
We also do food from a little closer to home.
Think of it as modern British with a specifically
Welsh flavour.
Expect to see plenty of local meats, cheeses
and seasonal vegetables on the menu. Plus
fresh seafood from just up the road - such as
mussels from Conwy or the Menai Strait.
Many of our country pubs are big on local
produce. They think it tastes better. And it’s
the perfect partner for a glass of beer from a
local microbrewery.
Among many others, we recommend Plassey
Bitter. Voted Champion Beer of Wales three
years running. But you’d better make sure
somebody else is driving.
Road plays three sessions of bingo every
afternoon and evening.
Never played before? Buy a bingo book and
mark your numbers with a Mecca Dabber.
Otherwise known as a pen. And if you win,
shout “here” or “house” or “bingo”.
Or anything you jolly well please if it’s one of
the national games played for high stakes. Just
so long as it’s loud enough.
bingo
01978 312717
www.meccabingo.com
You never know. This could be your lucky day.
Highly popular Mecca Bingo at Smithfield
43

countryside
We have some pretty
heavenly countryside
here in Wrexham. The
country villages to go
with it. And an awful
lot of fresh air.
44

the secret valley
The B4500 is a very special road. Not that
you’d guess it from the map. It begins just off
the A5 at the town of Chirk and disappears
only about 18 miles later into a network of
narrow country roads.
It’s special because it runs the length of the
Ceiriog Valley. Through a remarkable variety
of landscapes – gentle pasture, woodland,
sheer rock faces and glimpses of high mountain
ridges and brooding moorland.
“My job is stressful and I work long hours so
this holiday was perfect,” says Patricia. “The
biggest decision I had to make was which
beautiful place I wanted to visit that day. I
was surprised how lovely it was – I couldn’t
think how I’d missed the valley before. It has
been a real discovery.”
The valley is so beautiful, in fact, that Lloyd
George called it “a little piece of heaven on
earth”. And so miraculously unspoilt that
travelling the B4500 alongside the trout-filled
River Ceiriog feels like a journey into the
distant past.
“Here we have a true Welsh valley,” says Bryn
Hughes of Ceiriog Country Holidays. “The
Welsh language is still spoken, you will still
hear singing and see farmers working their
sheepdogs.
“People can’t believe it. You’re coming back in
time, leaving your cares and troubles behind
and adjusting to a slower pace of life.”
It certainly had the desired effect on Patricia
Somerset of South London. Once Bryn had
organised some walking, pony trekking and
heritage sightseeing, she was nicely relaxed.
“You’re coming back in time,
leaving your cares behind.”
Bryn Hughes, Ceiriog Country
Holidays
www.ceiriog.com
45

countryside
walking
Don’t let it all fly past in a green blur from your
car. There’s a much better way to get up close
and personal with Wrexham’s countryside.
Shanks’s pony.
There are many miles of footpaths in every
corner of Wrexham. In every conceivable
landscape from woodland and river valley to
windswept moorland and heathery mountain.
Just get out there and explore.
Wrexham’s Tourist Information Centre can
tell you how on 01978 292015 or email
tic@wrexham.gov.uk
ceiriog valley
The Ceiriog Valley Walk begins at Chirk railway
station and finishes at the foot of the Berwyn
mountains in the village of Llanarmon Dyffryn
Ceiriog. You can start at either end – or from
any number of bus stops en route. You don’t
have to walk the whole thing, either. It’s broken
into seven themed sections taking anything
from 30 to 90 minutes apiece.
And you don’t have to stop there. There are
five walks out of Pontfadog. Five from Glyn
Ceiriog. And six out of Llanarmon. You can
walk from Glyn Ceiriog to Pandy, taking in the
disused Glyn Valley Tramway.
46

Ceiriog Valley
And if you’re really keen, not to mention fit,
you can tackle two big circular routes. The
Ceiriog Trail at 23 miles and the Upper Ceiriog
Trail at 14 miles. Designed for horse riders. But
regularly conquered by serious walkers.
Ceiriog Country Holidays 01691 718398
www.ceiriog.com
maelor way
The Maelor Way passes through three counties
on its 24-mile journey from Grindley Brook to
Bronygarth in the shadow of Chirk Castle.
It uses a beguiling mix of footpaths, bridleways,
quiet lanes and canal towpaths. You’ll see
views of the Berwyn mountains and the
Cheshire Plain. And pass through or near
villages such as Bronington, Hanmer, Penley
and Overton – which could provide a welcome
pit stop. Not to mention a pint.
Rather special in its own right, it also links no
fewer than six long-distance paths. The
Sandstone Trail, South Cheshire Way,
Marches Way and Shropshire Way in the east.
And Offa’s Dyke National Trail and the Ceiriog
Valley Walk to the west. Who knows where
you could end up?
offa’s dyke path
One of just 12 National Trails, this path runs a
whopping 177 miles from Sedbury Cliffs near
Chepstow to the coastal resort of Prestatyn.
That’s the entire length of Wales.
It’s named after and often follows the
spectacular earthwork which King Offa of
Mercia ordered to be built in the eighth
century. It crosses the border between
England and Wales more than 20 times. And it
passes through three Areas of Outstanding
Natural Beauty - including the Clwydian Range
on Wrexham’s doorstep.
We might be biased but we think our section
contains the most impressive structure on the
entire route. Thomas Telford’s Pontcysyllte
Aqueduct, the longest and highest in Britain.
www.nationaltrail.co.uk/offasdyke
wat’s dyke way
Wat’s Dyke is shorter and, we must confess, a
lot less famous than Offa’s Dyke. But it’s
altogether more mysterious.
For a start, no one knows who Wat was. Some
think he was a Mercian king. Others say he
never existed and that Wat meant simply
“wet” or “rough”.
And for a long time, no one knew when the
dyke was built. But carbon dating now
indicates some time between the fifth and
sixth centuries.
What we do know for sure is that the 61-mile
trail which follows the earthwork was 10 years
in the planning. It enters Wrexham at
Overton, crosses the River Dee at Erbistock,
skirts the National Trust’s Erddig and takes in
the grave of Elihu Yale in Wrexham town centre.
Finally, via a deep valley, it emerges in Alyn
Waters Country Park before passing into
Flintshire. And at no point is it more than
three miles from the famous dyke of Offa.
Who, it seems, was a bit of a copycat.
www.watsdykeway.org
www.wrexham.gov.uk/countryside
47

countryside
country parks
There’s no shortage of open space in
Wrexham. In fact, 90% of the county is rural.
But that hasn’t stopped us creating a wide
range of parks for people to enjoy all year round.
Some have seasonal museums, visitor centres
and cafés. Some fly the Green Flag Award for
excellence as public green spaces. And some
have sprung up from the remnants of our
industrial heritage.
Each is unique. With its own programme of
events for the entire family. Including kite making,
pond dipping and fungal forays (or mushroom
hunting to you and me). Download a guide at
www.wrexham.gov.uk/countryside
alyn waters, gwersyllt
Feel the burn in Wrexham’s biggest country
park. Alyn Waters has six calorie-counted
walks of different gradients and distances.
Plus a “trim trail” to test your strength, stamina,
balance and co-ordination. Or you could just
look at the sculptures. 01978 763140.
bonc yr hafod, johnstown
Once a spoil heap. Now the largest community
woodland in north-east Wales. A Site of
Special Scientific Interest. And a refuge for
endangered great crested newts and skylarks.
01978 822780.
48

Alyn Waters
Ty Mawr
Minera Lead Mines
brynkinalt, chirk
nant mill, coedpoeth
Magnificent views over Chirk towards the Berwyn
mountains and Shropshire are a feature of
this community woodland reclaimed from a
colliery. Look out for the old coal wagon and
drilling machinery. 01978 822780.
minera lead mines
Right at the head of the Clywedog Valley, this
53-acre park is the perfect place to begin an
exploration of one of the busiest rivers of the
Industrial Revolution. You can still see the
remains of the lead mines – the restored
beam engine house, winding engine and boiler
houses. 01978 763140.
moss valley
Coal miners once used the railway lines and
tramways that criss-cross this V-shaped valley.
Now, as you stroll along the lakes or through
the oak and beech woodland, you’ll
encounter cyclists, anglers and birdwatchers.
01978 763140.
Troubled by mole hills in your carefully
manicured lawn? A trip to Nant Mill might
make you more understanding. Its giant mole
tunnel lets you see things from their point of
view. You can watch more wildlife from the
bird hide. And you can even hire ducks –
rubber ones, mind – for a duck race. 01978
752772.
ty mawr, cefn mawr
Some places have a guard dog. Ty Mawr has
guard llamas. Their names are Carlos and Pedro
and they protect the sheep in the wildflower
meadows from foxes. The donkeys and pigs
can look after themselves - and the rabbits,
chickens and ducks just have to be careful.
Feed the animals and walk alongside the River
Dee with dramatic views of the Cefn viaduct.
01978 822780.
www.wrexham.gov.uk/countryside
49

countryside
Acton Park
Snowdrops at Chirk Castle
urban parks
acton, wrexham
An 18th century lake is the centre point of
landscaped parkland that was once part of
the Acton Hall estate. It holds big carp and
double-figure pike and there are platforms for
disabled anglers. But it’s closed for fishing
during the wildfowl nesting season. Mustn’t
disturb those ducks. 01978 763140.
bellevue, wrexham
Restored Edwardian park with lime avenues
radiating from the bandstand. In the evening
the paths are lit by period lamps. An elegant
oasis just a quarter of a mile from the town
centre. 01978 264150.
ponciau banks, rhos
Half a million pounds of Lottery cash has
restored Ponciau Banks to its Fifities splendour.
Tennis courts, bowling green and bandstand
have all been refurbished. And the exhilaratingly
bumpy BMX track is still packing in novices
and experts alike. 01978 844028.
stryt las, johnstown
There’s a large lake and three ponds at Stryt
Las. But there isn’t a single fish in them. Bad
news for anglers but good news for the great
crested newts. These wetlands are home to
one of Europe’s largest colonies – and we
want to keep it that way. 01978 822780.
nature reserve
Fenn’s, Whixall and Bettisfield Mosses
National Nature Reserve is part of Britain’s
third-biggest raised bog. So huge, in fact, that
it’s visible from space.
Now the idea of a very big bog might not be
immediately appealing. Which may be why
few of the boaters sailing past on the
Llangollen Canal stop to walk the Mosses
Trails.
50

St Giles Church (left) and Overton yew trees
They’re missing out. Since the bog was saved
from the ravages of peat cutting it’s become
famous for its snakes, lizards and newts. Not
to mention dragonflies, water voles, curlews
and skylarks. And if your eyesight is particularly
keen, you may even spot a raft spider.
www.ccw.gov.uk
www.naturalengland.org.uk
Gertrude Jekyll-inspired colour circle and a
sculpture garden. And the sculptures are for
sale, if you ask nicely.
www.nationaltrust.org.uk
www.simonwingett.com
wonders of wales
gardens
Not content with the natural beauty of their
surroundings, Wrexham’s gardeners strive to
improve on paradise – often with spectacular
results.
Erddig, for example, has one of the most
important 18th century gardens in Britain
with its canal, formal allées, pleached limes
and trained fruit trees. And it contains the
national collections of ivy and narcissi.
Chirk Castle is a captivating mix of formal and
informal planting. The yew topiary, rose garden
and sweeping landscaped parkland are
softened by a rock garden and thatched
“Hawk House”. And the gardens are so lovely
in early spring that the National Trust runs special
snowdrop walks.
The Garden House at Erbistock may be on a
rather smaller scale but it packs a lot into its
five acres. Home to the national collection of
hydrangeas, it contains a lily pond in the
Monet style (complete with bridge), a
Pistyll Rhaeadr and Wrexham steeple,
Snowdon’s mountain without its people,
Overton yew trees, St Winefride’s Well,
Llangollen Bridge and Gresford bells.
According to the 18th century rhyme, there
are seven wonders of Wales. And Wrexham
has three of them. The steeple of St Giles, the
bells of All Saints in Gresford and the yew
trees in the churchyard of St Mary’s at
Overton.
They make for a fascinating day out. And
while you’re at it, you could take in one or two
of the others. Pistyll Rhaeadr, the tallest waterfall
in Wales, is only a few miles from the end of
the Ceiriog Valley.
Llangollen Bridge is just up the road in
Denbighshire and the shrine of St Winefride’s
Well is in neighbouring Flintshire. And on a
clear day, you should be able to catch a
glimpse of Snowdon, too.
www.wrexham.gov.uk/countryside
51

countryside
Bangor-on-Dee
towns and villages
The great outdoors are all very well. But just
occasionally you need to rest your legs, catch
your breath and spend a quiet couple of
hours shopping, lunching or exploring a
medieval church.
Fortunately, none of our countryside is too
remote from a welcome glimpse of habitation.
In fact it’s liberally sprinkled with towns and
villages that seem especially designed to
distract you from your walking (see the map
on page 64). Never mind - the mountains will
still be there tomorrow.
bangor-on-dee
Stunningly set on the River Dee, Bangor is
reached by a hump-backed medieval stone
bridge. There’s fishing on the river, golf nearby
and horse racing just a few hundred yards
from the village centre.
chirk
Thanks to its strategic location on the border
between England and Wales, Chirk has an
embarrassment of riches for a small town. An
aqueduct by Thomas Telford. A viaduct by Henry
Robertson. A great castle built by Edward I.
Oh, and a championship golf course. It’s not
merely a gateway to England. It offers easy
access to Offa’s Dyke National Trail and to one
of the most beautiful valleys in Wales – the
Ceiriog Valley.
52

The Lake (left) and miners’ memorial, Gresford
erbistock
gresford
The narrow, wooded lane that winds from
Overton Bridge past the Garden House leads
nowhere – except to one of the loveliest villages
in Wrexham. Erbistock’s setting on the banks of
the Dee has inspired painters and photographers
for centuries. Take in the unexpectedly grand
neo-Gothic church. The old pulling mechanism
which is all that remains of the hand-operated
ferry. Then, since this is where the road ends, turn
around and come back again. It will be worth it.
In 15th century All Saints, Gresford has one of
the loveliest churches in Wales. It has 18th
century almshouses and a redbrick heart
beside a pond so large locals call it The Lake.
And it has a memorial to perhaps the saddest
day in Wrexham’s history. September 22nd
1934, when 226 men lost their lives in a colliery
disaster. Appropriately enough, you’ll find the
memorial with its huge pithead wheel in the
grounds of the Working Men’s Club.
Upper Mill, Rossett
www.wrexham.gov.uk/countryside
53

countryside
Holt Bridge
Overton Bridge
Dispensary Row, Overton
hanmer
Owain Glyndŵ r, perhaps the greatest Welshman
of all time, got married in the church at
Hanmer in 1383. That one burnt down but
don’t be disappointed. Its replacement is the
most strikingly situated in the whole of
Wrexham. You approach from a mere, or glacial
lake, teeming with crested grebe, swans and
Canada geese. You enter a set of ornate iron
gates, pass through a large graveyard which
sweeps uphill to the church. And you prepare
to be amazed.
holt
Well, it’s not exactly Checkpoint Charlie. But
stroll from Holt across the Old Dee Bridge and
you’ll be in another country – England. Other
remarkable ancient structures include the
ruins of Holt castle and St Chad’s church, one
of the few surviving examples of medieval
design gone seriously wrong. Its sandstone is
dotted with impurities, its windows are too
big and one of its buttresses is misplaced. It
still looks lovely, though, and there’s a great
view of it from the beer garden of the Peal O’
Bells pub.
overton
Overton is so stuffed with historic buildings
that it’s been designated a conservation area.
Look out for Dispensary Row, a set of neo-Gothic
terraced cottages with arched doorways and
windows. And its extra-wide High Street,
redesigned in grand style after Edward I granted
the village borough status.
rossett
Art lovers may recognise Upper Mill on the
river Alyn at Rossett. It was sketched by JMW
Turner in 1795. He was a little too early to call
in for refreshment at the Victorian half-timbered
Cocoa Rooms, now a bank. They were built to
tempt young men away from the village pubs.
Which, you may be glad to know, are still
standing and still doing a roaring trade.
54

usiness
A central location. Great
transport links. Well-equipped
venues. No wonder Wrexham
is doing the business as a
conference destination.
56

Catrin Finch Centre
feel the buzz
Liverpool Heart and Chest Hospital is said to
be the best cardiology hospital in the UK.
Which makes it one of the best in the world.
Not surprisingly they demand very high standards
from the people they work with. So when
they want to organise an event to tell their
members about pioneering treatments, they
don’t just book any old conference space.
one of the most advanced videoconferencing
networks in the world.
“The university has a freshness and vibrancy
about it,” says conference co-ordinator
Haydn Hughes. “We are attracting more and
more delegates who didn’t realise how lovely
this part of North Wales is and are really
enjoying their experience here.”
They go to the Catrin Finch Centre at
Glyndŵr University in Wrexham. A new £3
million conference and performance centre
with ultra-modern facilities.
“Before we book any conference, we check
the quality of the audio-visual equipment,
the ease of access, parking, the road and rail
links,” says the hospital’s Louise Nee.
“Glyndŵ r University scores highly on all these
points.
“From the moment we walked in and were
welcomed, it has been fantastic. And the
facilities are just brilliant.”
There’s a buzz about Wales’s newest university
that’s hard to miss. And organisations of all
sizes are tapping into that energy and expertise.
Arranging seminars, exhibitions, meetings
and product launches. Booking classrooms,
conference spaces and halls that can take
anything from two people to 890. And enjoying
access to the latest technology – including
“It has been fantastic. The
facilities are just brilliant.”
Louise Nee, Liverpool Heart
and Chest Hospital
www.glyndwr.ac.uk
57

usiness
the big event
Here in Wrexham we understand the needs
of business. Because we’re business people
ourselves.
Wrexham is the powerhouse of the North
Wales economy and an advanced, diverse
manufacturing centre. Wrexham Industrial
Estate is the largest in Wales and third-largest
in the whole of the UK. And Wrexham
Technology Park is dedicated to businesses who
are pushing back the frontiers in computing,
medicine and pharmaceuticals.
We’re home to world-class companies such
as Kellogg’s, JCB, Tetrapak, Cadbury, Ball
Packaging Europe, Sharp, Hoya and Brother
Industries.
They all recognise that Wrexham is the right
place in which to flourish and expand. With
the right attitude, the right infrastructure, the
right location and the right facilities.
All of which creates something indefinable.
You might call it an atmosphere. We prefer to
think of it as a buzz. Whatever you call it,
Wrexham has it in spades.
Which is why we’re developing quite a reputation
as the perfect place to hold a conference,
trade exhibition or seminar. Or even a businesslike
chat over a cup of coffee.
venues
Take your pick. We have luxury hotels with
purpose-built conference suites. Elegant rural
retreats. A modern university complex. Oh,
and a castle.
58

Our sports venues have also seen a few deals in
their time. Not to mention lots of team-building
and corporate hospitality.
One day at the races at Bangor-on-Dee, 90
minutes’ football at the Racecourse or a single
round at one of our golf courses can achieve
more than months of negotiation.
After all, you can learn a lot about a person
when they’re standing over a two-foot putt to
win the match.
transport links
Wrexham attracts national events and
conferences because of its central location
and superb transport links. We’re within two
hours’ drive of one-third of the UK’s population.
And half its manufacturing industries.
If your delegates prefer plane or train,
Manchester and Liverpool airports are less
than an hour away. And our railway stations
(yes, we have two of them) link us to Cardiff,
London and all stops beyond.
down time
It’s never just the presentations that people
remember. It’s what they did at the end of the
day – the restaurants they discovered, the
country pubs they unwound in, the galleries
and the theatres.
And, in our experience, they remember what
they did at the weekend when the conference
was finished but they couldn’t quite tear
themselves away.
Have a flick through the rest of this booklet.
Find out a little more about The Real
Wrexham. Then understand why a conference
here is an event in every sense of the word.
59

getting here
It’s easy to get here.
But you may not want
to leave. Day trips
have a habit of turning
into short breaks in
Wrexham.
60

see you soon
Who said nothing good ever comes easily?
Wrexham is a doddle to get to from every
point of the compass.
We’re handily placed for the A55 expressway
to the west, the M62 travelling east, the M53
and M56 going north and the A5 and M54
heading south. Liverpool and Manchester are
an hour away, Birmingham less than two and
even London and Glasgow are within four
hours.
We have two railway stations. Central Station
which is, as you might imagine, bang in the
middle of town. And General Station, a threeminute
walk out of town. Two stations with
two direct links to London. Choose between
Euston and Marylebone.
The train can also take the strain to Cardiff,
Chester and Shrewsbury with connections to
Liverpool. And bus links to the beautiful
Ceiriog Valley.
In fact, you can see a lot of Wrexham by bus.
It’s cheap, convenient and environmentally
friendly. Hop on at the bus station in King
Street.
bus times
Traveline Cymru 0871 200 2233
www.traveline-cymru.org.uk
Denbighshire Bus Line 01824 706968
Flintshire Bus Line 01352 704035
Wrexham Bus Line 01978 266166
www.wrexham.gov.uk
Arriva Buses www.arriva.co.uk
train times
Arriva Trains 08456 061660
www.arrivatrainswales.co.uk
Chester – Wrexham – Shrewsbury with bus
links to Llangollen, Ceiriog Valley and
Oswestry
Borderlands Line www.borderlandsline.com
Wrexham – Bidston with connections to
Merseyrail/Wirral Line
Virgin Trains www.virgintrains.co.uk
Direct from Wrexham to London Euston
Wrexham and Shropshire Railway
www.wrexhamandshropshire.co.uk
Direct from Wrexham to London Marylebone
www.wrexham.gov.uk
61

staying here
A day just isn’t long
enough to do Wrexham
justice. Our staff can
book you a bed - and
tell you all you need to
know into the bargain.
62

Wrexham Tourist Information Centre Chester Wrexham Shopmobility
what do you want to know?
We like to think our Tourist Information
Centre in Lambpit Street is the fount of all
knowledge.
And we must admit that Snowdonia, Chester
and the North Wales coast are all well worth a
look - after you’ve visited Wrexham, of course.
Want to know where to find the hottest
nightclubs? What night the Fron Choir are
rehearsing? Or perhaps just the location of
the nearest public toilet? Go ahead – just ask.
Our staff are used to it. And they’re incredibly
friendly, too.
So friendly that they want you to enjoy your
visit as much as possible. And since there’s far
too much to see to pack into a day, that may
well involve finding the best place to stay the
night. Or the week, come to that.
Whether you fancy a self-catering cottage, a
swish hotel or a night under canvas, they’ll
book you a berth. Along with theatre or concert
tickets, if you like.
Let them know if you want to keep in touch
with events, special deals and other visitor
information throughout the year - they’ll add
you to our email list.
And should you, heaven forbid, feel like
venturing outside Wrexham, they can book
you a bed ahead anywhere in the UK. We get
on pretty well with our next-door neighbours.
Wrexham Tourist Information Centre
01978 292015 tic@wrexham.gov.uk
visitors with limited mobility
Wrexham’s town centre is pedestrianised so
it’s safe and easy to get around. We have two
Shopmobility centres providing scooters and
wheelchairs.
Most of our attractions have access for people
with disabilities. Some also provide adapted
buses, stairclimbers and Braille pads.
And many of our country parks include specially
adapted walks or gardens with sensory areas.
Alyn Waters Country Park is home to the Pedal
Power project where you take three-wheel
bikes on a traffic-free circuit of the park.
Wrexham Shopmobility:
King Street Bus Station 01978 292065
Eagles Meadow 01978 292028
Pedal Power 01978 763140
www.wrexham.gov.uk/tourism
63

64
maps

wrexham the big picture
65

to feel the buzz turn the page

wrexham the big town
Key
Toilets
Parking
Train Stations
1 Wrexham General Rail
2 Wrexham Central Rail
★ Attractions
1 Library/Arts Centre
2 Waterworld
3 County Museum
4 St Mary’s Cathedral
5 St Giles Church
6 Grove Park Theatre
7 Mecca Bingo
8 Bellevue Park
★ Indoor Markets/Arcades
9 People’s Market
10 Central Arcade
11 Butchers’ Market
12 Overton Arcade
13 General Market
★ Shopmobility
14 Shopmobility (Bus Station)
15 Shopmobility (Eagles Meadow)
★ Other
16 Guildhall
17 Crown Buildings
18 Lambpit Street Council Buildings
19 Police Station
20 Law Courts
21 Registry Office
22 Tourist Information Centre
23 Queens Square
24 Yale College
25 Bus Station
26 Contact Wrexham
67 68

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emailing tourism@wrexham.gov.uk
www.wrexham.gov.uk/tourism