Weekend #1: Llangollen

Recently, I've decided that I want Awake + Make to become a little more personal, serving as a place where I record things that I do, and places I go, and featuring a little more lifestyle content. No worries - I'll still be posting my usual content as well, but I want a little more variety. So, without further ado let me introduce you to the Weekend posts, where I'll just be sharing snippets of my week, and things that I've been up to. Hope you all enjoy!

Llangollen is probably most associated with the Eisteddfod - an annual celebration of international music, but is well worth a visit at other times of the year too. It's such a picturesque town; with a canal, steam railway, and charming independent shops - all of which remind me of being on a seaside holiday, even though it's only a small drive away from where I live. If you ever find yourself in North Wales, be sure to plan a stop!

DO:
Llangollen is great if you're a fan of walks in the countryside - you can choose to walk along the river or the canal, or if you're in the mood for taking it easy, you can choose to enjoy a horse drawn barge along the canal. If you're more energetic, you can rent out canoes to use along the river (er - I'd recommend waiting for the warmer weather first!), or take a longer walk up to Dinas Bran, a ruined castle. I have yet to walk up to Dinas Bran, but it's something I'm hoping to do this year when it's not so wet.

EAT:
We topped off a relaxing morning with a bite to eat at Dee Side Cafe - they do hearty, homemade food with so much choice it makes my head spin! Make sure you have the chips - they are uhmazing. One of the best things about this cafe is the view - they have large windows overlooking the river Dee, which means you can enjoy the view all year round. If you've got room for a dessert, head to Candy Cottage for some freshly made takeaway waffles. Words cannot describe how good these are.

VISIT:
I always make sure I check out Harley's Vintage Boutique - a hidden gem that has a great mix of vintage and repro, as well as pieces for every budget, so there's something for everyone's price range. I particularly love their selection of tweedy jackets. There are also a couple of bookshops on the main street that I always "pop" into (meaning staying there for at least 30 mins!). The visitor information centre has a small art gallery section, showing paintings from local artists, as well as locally crafted gifts.

Hope you all had a lovely weekend!