Ceiriog Valley

Little Switzerland

Lloyd George, the prime minister of England. described the Ceiriog Valley as being A little bit of heaven on Earth. Located at the border of England and Wales, it is often elicits gasps of wonder from visitors, who are glad that it remains as one of the best kept secrets in the british isles as this beautiful valley has remained relatively undiscovered, and has remarkably retained its unspoilt countryside.... Surprisingly, as it is only a few miles from the English border and the A5, one of the main tourist routes into North Wales.

The Ceiriog Valley lies immediately south of and parallel to the picturesque Vale of Llangollen. Yet it is the Ceiriog Valley that has been called 'little Switzerland' and given rise to three notable poets,including John Ceiriog Hughes, undoubtedly inspired by their love for their homeland. It is all the more surprising, therefore, that had Lloyd George not spoken so passionately in its defence, we may never have known of its beauty.

Threatened in 1923

What lead to such a defence? In London in 1923, Parliament was asked to grant statutory powers to impound the upper waters of the River Ceiriog and to evict the local population living within an area of 13,600 acres. This was to form a reservior by flooding the valley to provide water to the growing nearby cities of Liverpool and Manchester. Thankfully, commonsense prevailed and the proposal was defeated. The reservoir was built further north in what is now Lake Vyrnwy.

Villages/hamlets in the Valley

   * Pontfadog
   * Dolywern
   * Glyn Ceiriog
   * Nantyr
   * Pandy
   * Tregeriog
   * Llanarmon