Railway launches its Steam into summer holidays event

* Leading the summer line-up will be GWR Pannier Tank No. 7754. 

Llangollen and Corwen Railway is set to kickstart the school holidays in spectacular style with a special “Steam into Summer” event featuring two home fleet steam locomotives in action across the Dee Valley. 

Taking place on Saturday July 18, the event will see five return services operating between Llangollen and Corwen, calling at all stations along the railway’s picturesque 10-mile route through the Dee Valley. 

Visitors will be able to enjoy unlimited travel throughout the day with a special Day Ranger Ticket priced online at £30, allowing passengers to hop on and off trains and experience steam travel at its very best. 

Passengers visiting what many regard as one of the UK’s best heritage railways can also purchase an Open Return ticket for just £25 online, whilst accompanied children can travel for only £6.

 

Leading the line-up will be two very different but equally impressive members of the railway’s home fleet. The first is GWR Pannier Tank No. 7754, an enduring workhorse from the Welsh coalfields, now beautifully restored to full working order and gleaming in traditional Great Western livery. 

Joining it will be the mighty GWR Heavy Freight No. 3802, a striking 2-8-0 locomotive originally built for hauling serious tonnage and now bringing its unmistakable power and presence to the Dee Valley.

 

The event also forms part of a huge Summer programme at the railway, which includes the highly anticipated 1960s Weekend between 1–2 August 2026. The nostalgic event will recreate the golden age of British Railways with heritage traction, vintage atmosphere, music and period displays across the line.

 

Visitors will also be able to enjoy breakfasts and refreshments at the café at Llangollen Railway Station, where the railway’s brand-new Summer Menu will be launched as part of the event.

 

Matthew Carty, Head of the Railway’s Footplate Team, said: “Steam into Summer has been designed to give people a real celebration of traditional steam railway operation at the very start of the school holidays. We wanted to create an event where families, enthusiasts and visitors to the Dee Valley can enjoy two very different home fleet locomotives working hard across the line all day long.

 

“7754 and 3802 are both hugely popular engines with our passengers and seeing them operating together will create a fantastic atmosphere throughout the railway. One is a classic pannier tank engine with deep connections to the industrial history of Wales, whilst the other is a powerful heavy freight locomotive built to haul enormous loads across Britain’s rail network.

 

“The £30 Online Ranger Ticket offers exceptional value because passengers can travel as much as they want throughout the day, hop on and off at our stations, enjoy the scenery, visit our café and simply spend a Summer day surrounded by steam engines in one of the most beautiful parts of Wales.

 

“We are expecting this to be one of the standout events of our Summer season and a brilliant way for families to begin the holidays together.”

 

The event forms part of a busy summer programme at the railway, which has recently seen record passenger numbers travelling between Llangollen and Corwen.

 

* Tickets are now available online:

https://llan.hops.org.uk/tickets/travel?date=2026-07-18

Police advise on tighter security for this year's Eisteddfod parade

* Last year's parade makes its way through the town centre and past parked cars. 

For the first time ever this year no parking at all will be allowed along the route of the Eisteddfod's famous Parade of Nations or the side-streets joining on to it and police cars will travel at the front and rear of the procession.

These tough new security measures, suggested by North Wales Police, aim to safeguard against any possible terrorist threat to the traditional colourful gathering of international competitors and festival volunteers which always draws massive crowds of spectators.

Details of the tightened safety steps were revealed by Eisteddfod chair John Gambles at a public meeting held at the Pavilion yesterday evening (Tuesday) to brief local residents and businesses on arrangements such as traffic and parking for this year's two sets of evening concerts to be held there from later this month.

These include the eight of Live at Llangollen hosted by promoters Cuffe & Taylor, running from June 24 through to July 5 and featuring the likes of Billy Ocean and Super Furry Animals, and the Eisteddfod's own six from July 7-12 starring Emeli Sande and Michael Ball.

Making the surprise announcement about the extra security, John Gambles said that against a background of heightened international tension festival organisers had been given special advice by officers of the North Wales Police anti-terrorism group on how to keep people safe this year.

He explained that there would now be extra security on the parade, which takes place at 4.30pm on the Friday of Eisteddfod week, as usual starting out from the Pavilion to process slowly around the town centre before returning there.

"There is to be no parking on the parade route because parked cars could well be the host for an explosive device. We're seeing more and more cases of cars being used as weapons," he said.

* On the panel for the public meeting are, from left, the Eisteddfod's Keith Potts, Sarah Rhodes of Rhodes Media, Rebecca Woodhead of Cuffe & Taylor, Eisteddfod chair John Gambles and traffic management representative Ben Perkins.

"There will be no affect on businesses but there will be on vehicles which have permits for on-street parking. We have got to have the highest level of security possible."

He added that while in the past only major roads along the route had been closed for the parade, this time every road leading onto it would now also have closures. These would take place on a rolling basis from earlier in the afternoon and not all be shut down exactly at 4.30pm.

Also for the first time police cars would travel at the front and back of the parade. 

He stressed: "I'd hate to hear on the world news that something's happened in our town."

Earlier Rebecca Woodhead, event manager for Cuffe & Taylor, said that with 33,000 people expected for their own concerts and a further 10,000 during Eisteddfod week there would always be some local disruption but that they were looking to minimise this wherever possible.

Outlining the schedule for work teams to prepare the area, she said building the site layout would begin on Monday June 22 and take two days to complete, with things being returned to normal by July 15.

Traffic management, as in previous years with Cuffe & Taylor, would include a one-way traffic system around the edge of the site from the Abbey Road end via Tower Road, Dinbren Road and Wharf Hill back onto Mill Street. This will be in place from the day before the first of their concerts.

In questions from the floor of the meeting, which was attended by around 20 people, a number of issues were raised including congestion for vehicles gaining access to the campsite at Wern Road last year. Ms Woodhead agreed to look at clearer signing and the possibility at providing a person to give directions from the main arrival time of 1pm until later in the afternoon.

Another problem from last year mentioned was cars being parked in front of homes rather than in the large official car park near Dinbren Road. Here, Ms Woodhead suggested more car park signs.

An idea for residents' parking passes came from the floor and Ms Woodhead agreed to look into this, explaining that Cuffe & Taylor did issue them at some of their other venues.

There was some discussion about noise from equipment being moved after the Live at Llangollen concerts, a person suggesting this had gone on until 3am in one case.

Ms Woodhead said there was no record of this at the time but that every effort would be made to have things moved out as quickly and noiselessly as possible.

An information leaflet being distributed around the area includes a direct phone number and an email address people can use if they have any problems with activities in and around the venue.  But when some people in the audience claimed these hadn't been reachable last year, Ms Woodhead agreed to investigate.

* A map of the traffic system around the Eisteddfod site. 

Llangollen 'one of ten best places to retire', says article

Llangollen is one of the ten best places to retire in Wales, according to an article in online travel magazine World Atlas.

Under the heading "The Ten Can't Miss Towns in Wales", it ranks Llangollen alongside Tenby, Conwy, Hay-on-Wye, Caernarfon, Aberystwyth, Beaumaris, Llandudno, Dolgellau and Harlech as the paces to head to "with home prices that can make the move more achievable than you think".

* For the full story, go to: https://www.worldatlas.com/cities/the-10-can-t-miss-towns-in-wales.html 

County council answers concerns about Riverside Park toilets

The public toilets in Llangollen's Riverside Park are currently closed due to technical problems but the aim is to have them open at weekends and bank holidays with a full facelift in the pipeline.

That is the word from Denbighshire County Council, which operates the loos in the popular park.

People have been complaining that despite the growing number of attractions at Riverside - the outdoor gym being the latest - the toilets have not been available to use for some time.

They are saying this can present problems as the town's only other public conveniences are some distance away in Market Street.

Asked by llanblogger about the situation a spokesperson for the county council said: "Riverside Park toilet facility has been closed due to technical issues at the facility. Going forward the toilet will be open at weekends and during the summer holidays.

"Denbighshire County Council plan a full refurbishment of the Riverside Park toilet facility during the Autumn."

Mayor sends open letter to the town about anti-social behaviour

Llangollen's new Town Mayor, Councillor Damon Richards-Gwilliam, sends out an open letter explaining the Town Council is responding to the recent bout of anti-social behaviour which struck the area last bank holiday.

Dear residents and businesses, 

I am writing to update you on actions being taken by Llangollen Town Council in response to the recent incidents of anti-social behaviour and other related concerns witnessed across our town. 

Whilst matters such as anti-social behaviour, crime and parking enforcement fall within the responsibilities of the Police and other statutory agencies rather than the Town Council, we have listened carefully to the concerns raised by residents and businesses. In light of the significant impact these incidents are having on our community, we have decided to take a leading role in supporting a coordinated response.

Accordingly, the Town Council has engaged directly with the relevant agencies, including the Police, and is convening partners to address the issues being experienced locally with a view to identifying practical solutions. We are also keen to explore ways for our local businesses to have a stronger voice in future discussions. As part of this, the Council will consider the potential re-establishment of a Chamber of Trade and gauge local interest in such an initiative going forward.

We would also encourage everyone to continue reporting incidents through the appropriate Police channels, whether online or by telephone, and to ensure that an incident or crime reference number is obtained where possible. We are regularly advised that modern policing is increasingly data-led, with resources and operational priorities informed by reported incidents and trends. For that reason, it is important that concerns are logged through official channels so that the picture held by the Police force accurately reflects the experiences of residents and businesses in our town.

Our town is a welcoming and vibrant place, welcoming thousands of visitors each year who contribute significantly to the local economy and character of our community. The overwhelming majority of those who visit our town do so responsibly and respectfully. However the behaviour of a small minority can have a disproportionate impact on residents, businesses and visitors alike. We are committed to working with partners to ensure that our town remains a safe, welcoming and enjoyable place for everyone.

Thank you for your continued support. If you have any concerns or information you would like to share please do not hesitate to contact us.

Yours sincerely,

Cllr Damon Richards-Gwilliam,

Maer y Dref - Town Mayor

Citizens Advice sessions for Llangollen and Corwen

 

Map shows traffic system for Pavilion concerts and Eisteddfod

Denbighshire County Council has released a map showing the one-way system and clearways which will be temporarily in operation on various roads in Llangollen from June 24 until July 12 to facilitate the Live at Llangollen evening concerts at the Pavilion and the Eisteddfod itself.

The one-system is shown in blue and clearways in grey. 

Access will be available for pedestrians while the closure is in place. 

Residents and businesses in Llangollen are being invited to a public meeting this evening (Tuesday) ahead of the 2026 summer season at the Pavilion and Eisteddfod.

2026 marks the third year that the Eisteddfod and Cuffe and Taylor have co-promoted concerts at the Pavilion, bringing major international artists and audiences to the town.

Representatives from both organisations will attend the meeting, which starts at the Pavilion at 6.30pm, to provide the latest information about the upcoming events programme, site arrangements, traffic management plans, noise mitigation measures, and access to the Pavilion site.

The Eisteddfod says numerous steps are being taken to maintain a safe environment for the public during event days, including traffic management measures and a one-way system in certain areas. 

A dedicated phone line will also be launched to allow residents to contact the Eisteddfod team with any issues during the festival.

Eisteddfod Chair John Gambles said: “In just a few weeks’ time, the doors of our iconic Pavilion will welcome tens of thousands of people for another exciting summer season of live entertainment, with TK Maxx Presents Live at Llangollen Pavilion 2026 and the Llangollen International Musical Eisteddfod. 

"This meeting will be an opportunity for Llangollen residents and businesses to get the latest information as we prepare for a fantastic summer programme. It’s important to us to keep residents informed, listen to, act on their concerns and ensure the impact on our town is positive.”

* Tickets and further information about events at the Pavilion and the Llangollen International Musical Eisteddfod are available from llangollen.net