With the holidays just around the corner now, thoughts are turning to how to spend those long - and hopefully warm - summer days.
And while many in the region are likely to flock to the coast should the sun make an appearance, there's a charming town nestled in a Welsh Valley that's also attracting tourists from Greater Manchester and Merseyside.
Less than 90 minutes from Manchester, and situated along the A5 on the banks of the river Dee, the picturesque town of Llangollen lies at the heart of a world heritage site, which sits along eleven miles of canal from Gledrid to the Horseshoe Falls via the Pontcysyllte aqueduct - a true marvel of the industrial revolution.
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The Vale of Llangollen in Denbighshire, North Wales, was carved out millennia ago by glaciers sculpting the dramatic landscape. It is believed its name comes from St Collen who is said to have established a church on the banks of the Dee in the sixth century.
Overlooked by the remains of the medieval Castell Dinas Bran, and home to both the Llangollen canal and River Dee, today, it is a popular spot with day-trippers as well as canoeists and kayakers. As well as water activities, come summer, visitors can step back in time with its 157-year-old railway line, which is still in use for trips after its restoration works in the 1970s, reports Liverpool Echo.
In early June, visitors will be able to take rides of its heritage trains - steam, diesel - with each train making travels ten miles to Corwen. Meanwhile, its bridge, situated in the centre over the town and built over the River Dee, was constructed in the 1600s - and you can catch a good view of it from The Corn Mill pub and restaurant.
The babbling waters of the River Dee come down from Snowdonia and travel dramatically through the town, giving the settlement and almost alpine quality. Many enjoy strolling along the riverside, while others venture up to Llangollen Wharf to watch the horse-drawn canal boats.
Aside from its beautiful riverside location, visitors can also explore its numerous listed buildings such as the Royal Hotel, war memorial, Dee Mill, the town hall and railway platform. Its streets are also lined with many independent shops, cafes and restaurants - ideal for stopping off at before a train ride on one of its heritage trains.
The town is also very well known for its numerous festivals, most famously the annual International Musical Eisteddfod, which was first held in 1947 and features more than 20 competitions between singers, dancers and musicians from all across the world.
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