Llangollen man thanks air ambulance for 'fantastic' care in his emergency

A Llangollen man has thanked an air ambulance crew and paramedics for the "fantastic" care he received in a medical emergency.

* For the full story in the Leader, see: Llangollen man praises air ambulance crew after fall | The Leader

Tickets for many of railway's services now available online

Llangollen and Corwen Railway has announced that tickets for many of its 2026 services are now on sale online, giving visitors the opportunity to plan days out, family trips and special occasions well in advance. 

The railway, run largely by volunteers, has seen a huge expansion in services and events - making it the place to be in 2026.

Passengers can now buy tickets online to and from all stations along the line: Llangollen, Berwyn, Glyndyfrdwy, Carrog and Corwen, making it easier than ever to explore both the railway and the surrounding Dee Valley. 

Booking online also offers savings. For example, a full line return from Llangollen to Corwen costs £27.50 on the day, but only £25 when booked in advance.

The railway continues to offer excellent value for families, with children travelling the full line for just £6 return. Dogs are also welcome on most services for £3 and, in a unique addition, passengers can even bring a kayak on board for £3, allowing them to explore the River Dee in partnership with Bearded Men Adventures. Berwyn Station is an ideal place to stop off for kayaking and riverside walks.

Travelling by train is one of the best ways to experience the Dee Valley, an area renowned for its spectacular scenery, historic towns and dramatic riverside landscapes. The railway follows the River Dee for much of its length, offering views that are simply not accessible by road and making the journey itself part of the experience.

Separate tickets are also now on sale for a number of the railway’s most popular experiences, including the Berwyn Explorer, Branch Line Gala, Ales From Wales Real Ale Trains and Afternoon Tea on the Dee.

The Berwyn Explorer:

The Berwyn Explorer is designed as a taster for the railway, offering a relaxed and affordable way to experience the line and the Dee Valley. Day Rover tickets are just £10 for adults and £5 for children (under 16), making it an ideal short escape for families, walkers and first-time visitors.

Passengers can travel to Berwyn Station, explore riverside walks, local landmarks and nearby attractions at their own pace and return on a later train. Services begin this Saturday with the Valentine’s Specials, when visitors can also enjoy a cream tea in the superb Tea Room at the beautifully restored Berwyn Railway Station. The station is restored to represent how it would have looked in the mid-1920’s, with a period Great Western Railway interior and roaring coal fire, adding an extra touch of charm to the experience.

Branch Line Gala:

The railway’s Branch Line Gala, taking place 10 to 12 April, is one of the highlights of the year and a firm favourite with both enthusiasts and families. The three-day event will feature an intensive timetable of steam and diesel services, visiting locomotives, brake van rides and shed tours, recreating the atmosphere of a classic rural branch line.

This year’s gala will include an impressive line-up of motive power, featuring visiting locomotives Great Western Railway Small Prairie No. 4555, returning to the Dee Valley for the first time in more than sixty years, and the rare GWR pannier tank No. 1369, alongside home fleet favourites and the final running days of Class 14 D9525. With unlimited travel included in gala tickets and a wide range of attractions across the railway, it offers a unique opportunity to experience the line at its busiest and most atmospheric.

A Busier Steam Season in 2026:

The 2026 season will also see an increase in the number of steam-hauled running days, with close to 100 days of steam services planned, alongside heritage railcar operations and diesel-hauled trains across the year.

Because of the varied timetable and different traction in use, customers are advised to check the website carefully before booking to ensure they select the service and locomotive type they prefer. The 2026 timetable can be found on our website at: https://llangollen-railway.co.uk/timetable/

More Events Coming Soon:

Tickets for several major events will be released later this month, including:

• 80s Diesel Weekend (30 to 31 May)
•  
• Classic Transport Weekend (4 to 5 July)
•  
• 1960s Weekend (1-2 August)
•  
• Heritage Railcar Gala (17 to 18 October)

 

Tickets will also soon go on sale for the railway’s hugely popular Christmas Season, including Santa Specials, Sion Corn trains, and Mince Pie Specials, which attract tens of thousands of visitors each year.

Joanne Bradshaw, speaking on behalf of the railway, said: “Putting many of our services on sale in advance allows people to plan their visits more easily, whether they are coming for a scenic journey, a family day out or one of our larger events. We know many of our visitors like to book ahead, and this makes it straightforward to choose dates and secure seats in advance.

"The railway offers something for everyone, from affordable family travel and short explorer journeys to gala weekends, dining experiences and seasonal events. Travelling through the Dee Valley by train is a special and memorable experience, and we are looking forward to welcoming both returning visitors and those discovering the railway for the first time during what promises to be a very busy and exciting year.”

* Tickets for all services currently on sale are available online at: https://llan.hops.org.uk/tickets

Visitors are encouraged to book early, particularly for weekends and special events, as many services are expected to sell-out quickly.

Latest Citizens Advice column

Q: I bought a doll for my child recently. I thought it was manufactured by a well-known brand, but I suspect it might be counterfeit. How can I be sure and what are my rights? 

A: You’re right to seek advice about this issue, because counterfeit goods aren’t only illegal, they can be dangerous. 

Fake children’s toys in particular, including dolls, often don’t meet safety standards and can pose choking hazards - poor manufacturing can mean small parts are easily detachable. 

Counterfeit goods are fake products designed to mimic the authentic ones sold by genuine brands. Sometimes it’s easy to spot a knock-off, other times it can be harder to tell. 

It’s not just toys and games - things like clothing, footwear, e-cigarettes, perfumes and media devices can also be counterfeit. 

Things to watch out for include strangely low prices from well-known brands and signs of poor quality - like missing security seals, bad or non-existent packaging, blurry logos and poor stitching. You may also spot some spelling mistakes in the advert or on the packaging. 

Looking at photos from official sellers can help when making comparisons, and it’s important to only buy products from reputable sellers. 

If you have purchased a counterfeit item, there are some steps you can take to try and get your money back. You’re legally entitled to a full refund on fake goods within 30 days of your purchase. 

If it’s been over 30 days since you paid, but less than six months, the seller can provide you with a real version of the item first. If they can't, then they’re legally required to give you a full refund. If you paid more than six months ago, you’re only entitled to a part-refund based on how much you’ve used the item and how long you’ve had it. 

Sometimes sellers might refuse to refund you, and argue the items were obviously fake because they were very cheap, but they’re breaking the law by selling them and your legal rights still apply. 

If this happens and you paid by debit card, contact your bank and ask to use the ‘chargeback scheme’. If you paid by credit card and the item cost less than £100, you can ask to use the same scheme. 

If you paid by credit card and the item cost between £100 and £30,000, tell your credit card company you want to make a ‘section 75’ claim to get your money back. To report counterfeit goods or get help getting your money back, contact the Citizens Advice Consumer Service. You can also report a seller to Trading Standards, which investigates criminal activity. 

Latest local roadworks alerts from Denbighshire County Council

Latest local roadworks alerts from Denbighshire County Council are:

OAK STREET, 22/02/2026 - 01/03/2026, Ailwynebu/ Resurfacing DCC HIGHWAYS, Ffordd ar Gau/Road Closure

ON JUNC WITH TRACK FROM BRYN DETHOL ROAD TO TY UCHA BRYN DETHOL ROAD FROM A5 TO MAESMAWR ROAD, 09/02/2026 - 11/02/2026, Gwaith Dwr / Water Works SEVERN TRENT WATER (DCC), Ffordd ar Gau/Road Closure

Carriageway, HORSESHOE PASS, 24/03/2026 - 02/04/2026, Ailwynebu/ Resurfacing DCC HIGHWAYS, Ffordd ar Gau/Road Closure

O/S LLANGOLLEN PAVILION CAR PARK ENTRANCE - ADJ NO. 9 ABBEY ROAD, 28/02/2026 - 20/03/2026, Gwaith Nwy / Gas Works WALES & WEST UTILITIES, Goleuadau Traffig Dros Dro/ Temp Traffic Lights

A542 ABBEY ROAD, 13/04/2026 - 30/04/2026, Ailwynebu/ Resurfacing DCC HIGHWAYS, Confoi 10 mya/10 mph Convoy

A542, 2 way lights outside properties Pendyffryn and Pont Felin Bache, BACHE MILL ROAD 16/02/2026 - 18/02/2026, Gwaith Teithio Llesol / Active Travel Works PRONIN LIMITED

Lower Brook Street, Llangollen by the church, 16/02/2026 - 18/02/2026, Gwaith Teithio Llesol / Active Travel Works PRONIN LIMITED

Pengwern / Trem Yr Ysgol, Llangollen, 30/03/2026 - 30/04/2026, Gwaith Teithio Llesol / Active Travel Works PRONIN LIMITED

AT JUNCTION OF BROOK STREET, PENGWERN 24/02/2026 - 30/04/2026, Gwaith Teithio Llesol / Active Travel Works PRONIN LIMITED

Road from Dinbren Lodge to Dinbren Ucha closed for Openreach repairs

County Councillor Karen Edwards reports that the road known as Dinbren Lodge to Dinbren Ucha, Dinbren, Llangollen has been closed to facilitate urgent works to restore telecommunications services by Openreach.

Operatic picks up 11 nominations for amateur stage 'Oscars'

* The cast of Into the Woods.

Llangollen Operatic Society and its junior section have received a total of 11 nominations in this year's amateur stage "Oscars".  

The multiple nods for the 2026 North Wales and Ireland NODA Awards include five for individuals and six for productions from their two 2025 shows.

In the Outstanding Youth Performer category individual nominations have gone to Freya Mortimer for her role as Brit and Ethan Roberts as Jack in the Operatic Young 'Uns' production of We Will Rock You.

* The We Will Rock You cast.

In the Outstanding Adult category Stephanie Williams is nominated for playing The Witch in Into the Woods and in Outstanding Choreography, Rob Stevens for his work on Into the Woods.

Robin Crowley is nominated for Outstanding Support Role as a result of his portrayal of The Baker in Into the Woods.

We Will Rock You gets the nod for Outstanding Production as does Into the Woods.

Both Llangollen productions are nominated in the Outstanding Technical category and it's the same story for them both in Outstanding Musicality. 

A spokesperson for the Operatic said: "We are so excited and very proud to share the NODA nominees for both our adult and Llangollen Operatic Young 'Uns shows from our amazing 2025 productions.

"Congratulations to both cast and crew for both groups.

"We can't wait to hear who the winners are at the gala awards dinner on April 18."

Llangollen plays its part in Wales Dark Sky Week 2026

The Clwydian Range and Dee Valley National Landscape has published the programme of events for Wales Dark Sky Week 2026, which will run from February 13 to 22.

The week-long programme includes guided stargazing, bilingual storytelling, night-time paddleboarding and Welsh language events at locations across the Clwydian Range, Moel Famau and the Llangollen Canal.

Among the events planned are stand up paddleboarding sessions under the stars at Llangollen Canal, storytelling events in woodland settings, and a Welsh language “Cawl a Chytser” evening on Moel Famau, combining stargazing with food and hot drinks.

Local astronomer Rob Jones and Menter Iaith will lead the Welsh language event, while Adverse Camber Productions will host a series of workshops exploring stars through Welsh myths, legends and modern interpretations. SUPLass Adventures will deliver the night-time paddleboarding sessions.

The Clwydian Range and Dee Valley National Landscape is also working with Dani Robertson, Dark Sky Officer for Eryri National Park Authority, to present on the work of the NOS Gogledd Partnership and efforts to protect dark skies across North Wales.

The Clwydian Range and Dee Valley is leading a national, all-Wales Dark Skies project on behalf of the country’s eight designated landscapes.

The project is funded through the Welsh Government’s Sustainable Landscapes Sustainable Places programme and focuses on reducing light pollution through lighting upgrades and retrofitting schemes.

Andrew Bissell, partner at Ridge and Partners LLP, said: “We are excited to be working on the pan Wales Dark Skies project covering all eight designated landscapes of Wales, the ambition of the project is inspirational, and we look forward to seeing the positive impact of the changes.”

Dani Robertson, Prosiect NOS Dark Sky Officer, said: “Together, the Designated Landscapes of Wales are all working hard to raise awareness of light pollution and how this impacts not just our view to the stars, but also our wildlife and health. We would love for you to join us on our journey around Wales’s protected landscapes to learn more about the work that is going on there to protect our Dark Skies and what you could do to help.”