* Go Below Underground Adventures near Betws y Coed.
A major drive has been launched to promote a “hidden gem” of Welsh
tourism close to Llangollen that includes the world’s deepest hotel, beautiful ospreys and husky
and go-kart racing.
The aim of the campaign to raise the profile of the Hiraethog area of
North Wales is to boost the local economy by attracting more UK and
international visitors whilst at the same time relieving pressure on the
tourism hotspots in Eryri (Snowdonia).
The push is being mounted by North Wales Tourism, which represents the
region’s tourism and hospitality industry, thanks to funding from the Clocaenog
Wind Farm Fund.
The area encompasses more than 230 square miles, running from Betws y
Coed in the west, including Denbigh, Ruthin and Corwen, and reaching within a
mile or two of Llangollen in the east, with Mynydd Hiraethog (Hiraethog
Mountain) or the Denbigh Moors at its heart.
* Llyn Brenig where you can enjoy a host of water sports.
According to North Wales Tourism Commercial Director Eirlys Jones, the
majority of tourists currently by-pass Hiraethog and head for the traditional
honeypots like Wales and England’s highest mountain, Yr Wyddfa (Snowdon),
leading to queues of 45 minutes at the top at peak periods with visitors
wanting selfies to show they’ve reached the summit.
It’s hoped the bilingual campaign will persuade many of them to
stop off and explore Hiraethog instead – whether they’re coming into North
Wales via the A5 or the A55.
As well as being featured on the www.gonorthwales.co.uk
website, Hiraethog is being flagged up as a must-visit destination with blogs,
newsletters and leaflets.
North Wales Tourism have also drawn up a range of itineraries –
everything from a day visit to three days - pointing visitors in the right
direction to find out what they’ve been missing.
Meanwhile, the attractions are being highlighted in a podcast, www.gonorthwales.co.uk/explore/regions/hiraethog produced in conjunction with Heart FM and
fronted by presenter Megan Llŷn who
investigates what the area has to offer.
Among the newest attractions is the world’s deepest overnight glamping accommodation at Go
Below Underground Adventures near Betws y Coed, where guests can bed down in
heated log cabin or sleep in a
“romantic grotto”.
* Husky sled dog rides at Mynydd Sleddog Adventures near Llansannan.
Back at ground level, those with a need for speed can have a go at
go-karting at the UK’s second longest track, at GYG Karting in Cerrigydrudion
which has some of the fastest go karts in Wales.
Slightly slower, but just as exciting, is the opportunity to try husky
sled dog rides at Mynydd Sleddog Adventures near Llansannan.
Just a few miles away is the Llyn Brenig where you can enjoy a host of
water sports, do some fishing, walk or cycle around the lake and then refuel at
the shoreside café before going to see the area’s latest inhabitants, a
breeding pair of Ospreys, who arrived there from Scotland in 2021.
Nearby is the highest pub in Wales, the Bryntrillyn, also known as the
Sportsman’s Arms, which is overlooked by the ruins of a once-magnificent wooden
hunting lodge, Gwylfa Hiraethog, frequented in its heyday by luminaries likes
of the legendary “Welsh wizard” himself, Prime Minister David Lloyd George.
Visitors en route to their break in North Wales or on the return journey
home, can enjoy a pitstop at the farm shop and restaurant of the award-winning
Rhug Estate alongside the A5 on the outskirts of Corwen.
Eirlys Jones said: “Unfortunately, most visitors to North Wales just
aren’t aware of the delights Hiraethog has to offer and we’re on a mission to
change that.
“It’s a really beautiful area with such a rich and diverse range of
things to see and do and our strap line is ‘open sky, open space, open mind’ as
the place to come for transformational experiences.
“It’s got something for everybody, including opportunities for an
adrenaline rush with go-karting and dog sledding, some beautiful walks and
wildlife and a fantastic range of accommodation with hotels, B&Bs and
various caravan, camping and glamping sites, most of which are above ground but
with one where you can literally enjoy a deep sleep.
“As part of the campaign, we’re also encouraging businesses to come
together and collaborate, bringing communities together so we can create a
sense of place and pride in the area.
“It’s about fostering a strong sense of local identity, celebrating the
culture and heritage of Hiraethog.
“It is truly a gem that’s hidden in plain sight and our aim is to ensure
that visitors discover the joys the area has to offer by stopping and staying
and spending their money locally, helping to create employment and prosperity.
“Rather than have the visitors just heading for the well-known and often
busy hotspots, we want to spread the love around and there’s plenty to love in
Hiraethog.”
* To find out more about Hiraethog go to the www.gonorthwales.co.uk
website and to listen to the podcast go to www.gonorthwales.co.uk/explore/regions/hiraethog
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