A 1899 monument by Goscombe John in St Sannan’s Church commemorates five literary figures from the parish. Llansannan’s literary history is complemented by a secluded peat bog southwest of the village and a section of the North Wales Pilgrim’s Way. This combination makes Llansannan interesting for travellers who want to explore cultural history and nature as distinct highlights.
Literary History and Remembrance
Several significant Welsh writers were born in Llansannan between the 15th and 19th centuries. Tudor Aled was born in the parish of Llansannan in Denbighshire; he is one of five literary figures commemorated on the monument by Goscombe John. The monument is in St Sannan’s Church and dates from 1899.
Those honoured include Tudor Aled, poet; William Salesbury, New Testament Bible translator; Henry Rees, Calvinistic Methodist minister; his brother William Rees, Congregationalist minister and journalist; and Edward Roberts, Baptist minister and poet. This group brings together poetry, translation, religious life and journalism. Anyone interested in Welsh literary history will encounter various roles in which writers from the parish are remembered.
Churchyard and Local History
The churchyard of St Sannan lies on the western edge of the Aled Valley. This gives the place of religious remembrance a clear connection to the valley. Another glimpse into local history leads to the First World War: Llansannan housed a prisoner-of-war camp in a mansion belonging to the Countess of Dundonald. The building no longer survives. The two historical connections are clearly distinct: the monument commemorates literary figures by name, while the camp is associated with the use of a mansion during wartime.
Nature and Trails
The Blaenyweirglodd nature reserve lies two miles southwest of Llansannan. The secluded peat bog is a habitat for specialist plants and animals; a permitted path runs along the edge of the bog. For planning a visit, the reserve’s current visitor information is a useful reference.
Section 8 of the North Wales Pilgrim’s Way runs from Llanefydd to Llansannan and is 4.5 miles (7.2 km) long. The path at Blaenyweirglodd runs along the edge of the bog; the pilgrim way section, by contrast, has named endpoints and a stated distance. These are different types of routes and involve different planning considerations. Check the current conditions on the pilgrim route before setting out.
Y Llew Coch
Y Llew Coch Llansannan, also known as the Red Lion Inn, is a traditional Welsh village pub dating from the 14th century. It serves traditional beers, wines, non-alcoholic drinks and snacks; this offering may change. The pub adds a specific food-and-drink point of interest to the historical themes. If drinks or snacks are relevant to your plans, check the pub’s current information.
Llansannan for Your Trip
If you’re looking for a hotel in Llansannan, you can plan your trip around your main interest: the monument and literary biographies offer a different focus from the moorland at Blaenyweirglodd; Section 8 of the pilgrim way adds a route with named endpoints and a stated distance.
Discover more destinations: Towyn, Kinmel Bay, Capel Garmon, Colwyn Bay, Corwen, Conwy, Llanrwst, Abergele.
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