Corwen, River Dee and Caer Drewyn

Corwen is a busy little market town at the foot of the Berwyn Hills. The church of St Mael and St Sulien in part dates back to the 13th century. It is dedicated to two 6th century Celtic saints. A 9th century cross-shaft stands outside its south-west corner. There is nothing ancient about the circle of standing stones in the forest clearing although the native broad-leaved trees give a feeling of antiquity. This is a Gorsedd Circle, one of many erected near places where the National Eisteddfod of Wales has been held. The stones are the setting for ceremonies derived from ancient practices, and were first used after the Great War in 1919.

The woodlands of Coed Pen-y-pigyn contain sessile oak, rowan (mountain ash) and silver birch. There are also plantations of conifers. From here, the viewpoint overlooks the town and the Dee valley. A cone-shaped memorial surmounted by a flagpole commemorates the marriage of the Prince of Wales (King Edward VII) with Princess Alexandra of Denmark in 1863, and the investiture of Edward, Prince of Wales (later Duke of Windsor) in 1911.

On Caer Drewyn is an Iron Age hillfort. This is where Owain Gwynedd mustered his Welsh army in response to King Henry II’s invasion of Wales in 1164. However, Henry retreated due to bad weather conditions, but not before putting out the eyes of his Welsh hostages, including two of Owain’s sons.

In the middle of the River Dee stands a lone pillar (see picture) which was once part of an old railway bridge. This used to support the Denbigh, Ruthin and Corwen Railway. Opened in 1864, this railway was joined at Corwen by a line from Ruabon in 1865 that was to reach Barmouth in 1869. Corwen then became an important station, with waiting rooms, refreshments and sidings. Sadly, trains ceased in 1965.