Town to see red with its big Wuthering Heights day

Llangollen will be seeing red one day next June. Lots of it, in fact.

Because that's the colour at the heart of the town's first Most Wuthering Heights Day Ever, in which 250 Kate Bush fans come together in the grounds of the Plas Newydd historic house to dance to the singer's iconic 1978 hit of the same name.

For the past couple of years similar events have been held across Britain. But this will definitely be a first for Llangollen.

And it's all the more remarkable given that the local lady whose brainchild it is and who has spent months leading the dedicated team making her dream come true began her task soon after learning she was terminally ill.

Moira Gleed explained: "A few months back in 2025 someone sent me a video of one of the Most Wuthering Heights Days Ever and what a revelation it turned out to be.

"It arrived in my WhatsApp at a grim time in my life after having received a diagnosis that I was terminally ill with cancer and would start palliative care. 

"What motivated me to look further into the possibility of putting on an event like this ourselves here in Llangollen was the looks on the participants' faces of pure joy and glee I saw on that video.

"Frankly, it delighted me and bucked me up hugely to see such positive jubilation on a big scale. I thought, why can't we do that here in Llangollen and enable folk to have a similar experience?

"So, this June 20 we'll have our own event, with a capacity 250 participants dancing to that famous song by Kate Bush.

"All tickets were sold within 11 days with scores of enquiries for more but we cannot increase capacity due to health and safety. 

"But there will be an open invitation for any number of family and loved ones and bystanders to enjoy the experience too in what must rank as one of the country's most unique Gothic settings of Llangollen's own Plas Newydd - a real storybook backdrop for such an amazing piece of literature telling of the obsessive and destructive 'love' of Heathcliff and Cathy Earnshaw.

"Our professional choreographers Karen Lyon and Sarah Bright will lead the dance from the front on stage and they are currently preparing videos that will be sent out to ticket holders so they can in a bit of practice beforehand."

As they arrive dancers, wearing red dresses or items as requested, will be led to the lawned area with the stone circle where the dance will take place. 

At noon there will be picnics, with entertainment during lunch being provided by the day's MC Charlie Jones plus local musicians and some interviews with the red-clad dancers. 

The actual performance starts at 1.30pm - with options for encores if requested.

Professional photographer Jane Evans from Garth will be on hand to capture scenes from the memorable day.

Moira added: "People are coming from far and wide - London to Cumbria, the North West to Yorkshire and beyond and of course more locally.

"We still have a few details to work on but none of this could have been done without our amazing team who drive this thing ever forward. 

"Full credit goes to them for listening to the ramblings of yours truly and still being prepared to stick their necks out and do something so totally different to what's been tried before in Llangollen. What an amazing crew they are!

"All money raised will go to Welsh Women's Aid to help with the amazing work they do across our country.

"Thanks everyone for reading this and we hope to see you all on Saturday June 20 at Plas Newydd."

Temporary road closure in the Pengwern area

* A plan locating the section of roads to be closed and showing the recommended alternative routes.

There will be a temporary road closure at the end of this month to allow further work on the Active Travel scheme in the Pengwern area.

According to Denbighshire County Council, this affects the length of Pengwern extending southward from its junction with Maes Pengwern for a distance of approximately 130 metres, and that length of Trem yr Ysgol which extends southward from its junction with Pengwern for a distance of approximately 30 metres,

The period of closure is from March 30 into April and a recommended alternative route is Pengwern.

Pedestrian access through the closed section will be maintained throughout the period of the restriction, adds the council.

Railway serves up some tasty tweaks to afternoon teas

Llangollen and Corwen Railway has announced an enhancement to its popular Afternoon Tea on the Dee services following feedback from customers and careful planning by its catering and events team. 

From this season onwards all afternoon tea tables will now be private, regardless of party size. In addition, two afternoon tea services will operate on running dates: a 12.20pm departure returning at 2.30pm, and a 3.15pm departure returning at 5.04pm.

 

The changes come after listening closely to customer comments about table sharing and comfort. Previously, smaller parties could be seated together unless they chose to pay a supplement for a private table. The new format removes that option entirely, ensuring every booking enjoys its own dedicated table.

 

Jordan Edge, Catering Supervisor at the Llangollen and Corwen Railway, explained “We have spent time reviewing guest feedback and discussing how we can improve the overall experience. Sharing tables can sometimes feel awkward for guests who don’t know each other, and it also creates practical challenges when serving food, particularly where dietary requirements or allergens are involved.

 

“By moving to fully private tables and introducing a second sitting, we can deliver a more relaxed, comfortable and premium experience for everyone, while also increasing capacity in a sensible and manageable way. It’s a positive step for our customers and for the railway.”

 

Behind the scenes, detailed logistical planning has taken place to ensure smooth delivery. Numbered table plans will manage dietary requirements and allergens, food preparation will be streamlined, and teams will work to a structured turnaround between sittings to relay tables and reset the carriage efficiently.

 

Tickets are already selling well for the first services, which begin on Saturday April 25. The 12.20pm service is already sold out, with limited availability remaining on the 3.15pm departure.

 

Afternoon Tea on the Dee remains one of the railway’s most popular premium experiences, combining a full line return journey between Llangollen and Corwen with a traditional afternoon tea served at reserved tables aboard a heritage carriage. 

Guests enjoy freshly prepared sandwiches, fruit scones with jam and clotted cream, sweet treats and cakes, and tea or coffee, with the option to upgrade to include sparkling wine.

 

The improvements form part of a broader drive by the railway to enhance customer experience while maximising income from existing services, ensuring continued investment in infrastructure, rolling stock and visitor facilities.

 

* Tickets for upcoming Afternoon Tea on the Dee services are available now at: https://llangollen-railway.co.uk/afternoon-tea/

 

Local landmarks at centre of 200-year missing millions mystery, says story

A story in the Western Mail tells the fascinating tale of how the search for a missing multi-million-pound fortune has been going on in and around Llantysilio Hall and Valle Crucis Abbey for two centuries.

* To see more, go to PressReader.com | Search for ‘miss­ing will’ could unlock mil­lions and end unseemly 200-year saga

Healing Prayer session at Penllyn Chapel this Saturday

 

Work continues on improving walking routes along Brook Street/Penwern

 

* Up to today, March 4 new, widened pavements have been laid along Brook Street up to Min-y-Coed.

Work continues on a major project by Denbighshire County Council to improve walking routes in the Brook Street and Pengwern areas of Llangollen.

The works are funded by the Welsh Government as part of its Active Travel Fund and the aim is to increase the levels of active travel in the area through creating safer walking routes to key local amenities such as schools and the town centre.

The improvements, which taking place until later this month and are being carried out by contractors Pronin Ltd.

So far work has been carried out on Brook Street from the A5 junction and a series of new pavements have been laid and widened up to Min-y-Coed.

* If you have any queries regarding the scheme, contact Denbighshire County Council via walkingandcycling@denbighshire.gov.uk or 01824 706000.

Gas works taking place in Abbey Road

Wales and West Utilities have started work on the gas pipeline in Abbey Road, Llangollen.

Sections of the carriageway are closed off and temporary traffic lights have been installed near the entrance to the Pavilion car park.

The work is expected to be finished by March 20, according to a roadworks bulletin by Denbighshire County Council.