The Chainbridge is an historic riverside hotel located only a couple of miles outside the popular tourist market town of Llangollen . We walked slowly along the gentle canal path from town and were overtaken by a horse drawn canal boat, some ducks and a few joggers. The path has some gorgeous views as walk near the Eisteddfod field, some old stone bridges and the steam train track.
The hotel is famous for the chain bridge, which crosses the river Dee just outside the main entrance. It is made from a network of handmade chains and swings and sways as you cross it. It was originally constructed to facilitate the transfer of coal and lime from the mines between the Llangollen Canal and the main A5.
It was sited where an original crossing had been built by the monks of the nearby Valle Crucis Abbey, the preserved remains of which remain a visitor attraction today. READ MORE: North Wales Indian restaurant serving 'feast in a bowl' you'll struggle to finish READ MORE: North Wales chippy where portions are 'not for the faint hearted' The original chain bridge was refurbished and strengthened by Sir Henry Robertson, who owned the nearby Brymbo Steel Works in 1870. In 1928 heavy floodwaters combined with the partial damming of the river caused by fallen trees, caused the river to rise dramatically and flow over the bridge itself to the depth of four feet.
It was rebuilt in 1929 with a much stronger design where it linked Berwyn station with its antique working steam trains, directly w.