North East Wales staycation with an Electric car
Have you got an electric car? It’s easy to enjoy a weekend away in your EV, with charging points across the area and some fabulous places to visit.
We started our two-day stay at Rhyl. A couple of centuries ago Rhyl was a fishing village on the North Wales coast but by the mid-1800s, thanks to the coming of the railway, it was one of the most fashionable holiday resorts in Britain. It’s 700 year old harbour now has a very 21st century Pont Y Ddraig bridge as well as multi-million pound waterpark attracting 350,000 visitors a year. It also has the unique Marine Lake with historic miniature railway.
Once we had soaked up the bracing sea air, we drove via Rhuddlan with the amazing backdrop of its magnificent castle 
before heading for St Asaph possibly the smallest city in the UK. It’s main attraction being the eye catching cathedral with fine examples of stained glass windows. Originally built in the thirteenth century it is reputed to be the smallest ancient cathedral in Great Britain. It is the home of the William Morgan Bible and as such provides a vital link with Welsh culture and literature. Why not stop for some lunch across the road at Jacob’s Ladder which is a café with ‘Fantastic, lovely fresh homemade food, excellent service’ according to a recent review and we thoroughly agree.
Back in the ev, we headed towards Denbigh, then Ruthin. If your keen on some locally made artisan crafts, there are three lovely but very different venues within a few miles of each other. Firstly, there is Brookhouse Pottery and Malthouse Gallery and then further on is Anvil Pottery in Llanrhaeder opposite the beautiful St Dyfnog’s church and holy well.
For an altogether more modern retail experience, visit Ruthin Craft Centre with its 3 exhibitions spaces, artists in residence and artists studios. 
It also offers contemporary work for sale from some of the country’s leading makers. Browse and purchase from a broad selection of jewellery, ceramics, glass, metalwork, textiles, books and stationery.
We then stopped for a coffee break at Café R before heading for our overnight stay at Brenig Cottage Escapes a mere 8 miles away. It is a luxury cottage with an outdoor dining space and wood fired hot tub. It is also dog friendly with an enclosed private gardens and stunning countryside views.
The following morning, we headed for Llangollen and took a ride on the heritage steam train which currently runs 7.5 miles to Carrog . All the stations along the track are of a typical Victorian design and each station has been recreated in 1950’s Great Western colour scheme.
Once back in Llangollen we enjoyed a hearty club sandwich at the Riverbanc café. Mixing a friendly atmosphere, laid back tunes, house plants galore and reclaimed wooden tables and seating to provide a relaxing haven. There’s also a mini craft shop, selling and promoting local artists. Yummy coffee aromas with choices of single origin or blended coffee beans. Or perhaps you’re into loose leaf teas? They have over 10 to choose from, including seasonal fruity ones.
We then finished our two-day stay with a visit to the Pontcysyllte Aqueduct, part of the UNESCO world heritage site to take in Thomas Telford’s ground-breaking engineering. Considered one of the most astonishing feats of engineering from the Industrial Revolution. Pontcysyllte, meaning ‘the bridge that connects’, carries the canal majestically over the raging River Dee below. The aqueduct was completed in 1805, and is a result of some bold civil engineering solutions. A cast iron trough suspended 126 feet above the river, supported iron arched ribs, carried on 18 hollowed masonry pillars.
I think you’ll agree we packed a lot in and everything was within a few miles with plenty of charging points enroute.
Staying a while? More accommodation can be found here
