Denbighshire

Denbighshire runs from the busy Victorian resorts of the north coast to quiet market towns and villages inland. Prestatyn and Rhyl offer promenades, sandy beaches and traditional seaside amusements, making them well suited to family holidays, while Rhuddlan and St Asaph, both with long histories and notable castles or cathedrals, sit a little further inland along the coastal plain.

Further south, the market towns of Denbigh and Ruthin retain a good deal of medieval character, with castles, timbered buildings and weekly markets, while Llangollen draws visitors for its riverside setting, steam railway and canal. Corwen makes a useful base for exploring the Dee Valley, and the smaller villages of Cynwyd, Llanferres, Llandrillo and Bodelwyddan suit those wanting a quieter, more rural stay amid the surrounding hills.

Denbighshire's places to stay fall into two quite different camps. Around Llangollen, guest houses and small hotels like Bryn Howel Hotel, Berwyn Guest House and Plas Hafod suit walkers and visitors drawn to the Dee Valley, Castell Dinas Bran and the canal, with many properties set in gardens or open countryside just outside town. Along the coast at Rhyl, options such as Melbourne Guest House and Gabriel Guesthouse cater more to seaside breaks and family holidays, within easy reach of the promenade and beaches.

Between these two poles sit smaller family-run B&Bs such as Riversdale House Bed & Breakfast, Bryn Meirion and Tyn Celyn, offering a quieter alternative to the larger hotels. The Mulberry Inn and Snowdon Single Traveller Guest House show the range on offer, from traditional inns to accommodation aimed at solo visitors. Choosing between them often comes down to whether you want valley scenery and hillwalking or a coastal base for exploring the north Wales shoreline.

Denbighshire splits neatly between the coast and the hills, and the days out on offer reflect that. Rhyl and Prestatyn hold the seaside end of things, with wide sandy beaches and family attractions like Nova Prestatyn, while inland the Dee Valley around Llangollen and Corwen turns towards activity and heritage.

Llangollen itself is well stocked, from the horse-drawn boats at Llangollen Wharf and steam trips on Llangollen Railway to outdoor operators such as Whitewater Active, Rapid Horizons Llangollen and Hunt Fun Llangollen for those wanting something more physical. Nearby, Drosi Bikes Bike Hire and Mynydd Sleddog Adventures Ltd suit those keen to explore the surrounding hills under their own steam.

For karting and a change of pace, Glan Y Gors Park Karting fills that gap. Choosing between them mostly comes down to whether you want a coastal day by the beach or an active one in the Dee Valley.

Denbighshire's dining runs from riverside pubs to family cafes, with Llangollen and Ruthin holding the strongest concentrations of places to eat. Llangollen makes good use of its setting along the Dee, with several venues geared towards walkers and visitors following the canal or heading up to the Horseshoe Pass, while Ruthin's market town character brings a mix of traditional pubs like The Three Pigeons Inn alongside newer cafes and takeaways.

Rhyl offers a more coastal, casual scene suited to a day at the seaside, and the wider county fills in with village inns and countryside spots such as Sorbus at the Glan Llyn. Choosing between them often comes down to pace: a proper sit-down pub meal inland, or something quicker and more informal near the coast.

Denbighshire's mix of coast, river valley and hill country gives campers plenty of options. Around Llangollen, sites make the most of the Dee valley and the surrounding hills, with shepherd's huts and small campsites such as Llangollen Shepherd's Huts and Cae Main Shepherds Hut tucked into quieter corners away from the town itself.

Further west and south, the Clwydian Range and its foothills bring a more rural, spread-out feel, with farm-based stays like Hafoty Boeth, Cymmo Farm Wild Camping and Dolafon Meadow near Corwen and Graianrhyd offering wild camping and simple pitches for those after peace rather than facilities. Clwydian Glamping Pods and Campsite and Clwydian Holidays cater to those wanting something more comfortable, with pods and glamping set-ups replacing tents.

Nearer Prestatyn, Ruthin and St Asaph, sites tend to suit those splitting time between hills and coast, and motorhome or campervan travellers will find dedicated stopovers such as Ty Morol alongside smaller certificated locations like Ty'n Yr Ardd for a no-fuss overnight base.

Denbighshire's self-catering cottages range from converted coach houses and old farm buildings inland to seaside apartments along the Prestatyn coast. Places like Meifod Coach House and Bryn Rodyn suit those wanting a rural base near the Clwydian Range, with walking straight from the door and market towns such as Denbigh and Ruthin within easy reach.

Closer to the coast, cottages and apartments such as Sunny Prestatyn Apartment offer a simpler seaside stay, handy for beaches and the Wales Coast Path. Elsewhere, smaller retreats like Black Sheep Retreat, Walden Cottage and Misty Cottage tend to sit in quieter spots, better suited to those after peace over nightlife.

With 99 properties across the county, it's worth deciding first whether you want hills or coast, then narrowing by size - many, such as Y Beudy and Bryn Dedwydd Cottage, are compact cottages for couples or small families rather than large groups.