Venture into North Wales to explore the charming village of Llangollen, ride on a vintage train and tour a handsome medieval castle. First, settle in for a picturesque drive across the Mersey and southward into the Welsh landscape, transiting historic towns and Horseshoe Pass to reach Llangollen. It’s a charming town known for its annual folk festival as well as its 14th-century stone bridge spanning the River Dee. With free time here you can shop, linger in an inviting pub or watch horse-drawn boats ply the Llangollen Canal. In time, you’ll board a restored passenger train and set off into the unspoiled Dee Valley aboard the only standard-gauge steam railway still operating in the region. During your seven-mile rolling voyage, you’ll pass sheep grazing, hikers hiking, and dramatic limestone bluffs lining the river. On arrival in Carrog – its proper name is Llansanffraid-Glyn Dyfrdwy but only a local can pronounce that – you’ll enjoy a traditional Welsh lunch before heading for Chirk Castle. Dating from 1310, this fortress is lavishly decorated with period tapestries and furnishings in grand rooms where aristocrats once gathered. Its lovely gardens make for an idyllic stroll to top off your day of Welsh discovery.