Ty Mawr Country Park 15/02/09

We started today's walk from Ty Mawr Country Park and set off after having a chat to one of the helpful rangers Bill who gave us instructions on a walk in that area. It involved walking across the Pontcysyllte Aqueduct is considered to be the best work of Thomas Telford who built it 121 feet above the River Dee. The first stone was laid in July 1795 and construction took 10 years costing £47,000. Bryn pictured here with a barge crossing the aqueduct which was one of the world's first iron aqueduct which took 10,000 workers to build.

We also passed the Cefn Viaduct, Wrexham, the viaduct was built by Thomas Brassey, and it took two years to build, costing £72,346, and is 1,508 feet long, 147 feet high, and has 19 stone arches. It was officially opened on August 14 1848. The first public train went across on October 12, and was 20 carriages long.

Ty Mawr Country Park situated between Telford’s Aqueduct and the Viaduct in the magnificent setting of the River Dee Valley. There are lots of animals you can meet at Ty Mawr such as donkeys, pigs, goats and pictured here is the Turkey. You can even feed their free range chickens and ducks. However Lawrence the guard Llama, who protected the sheep from foxes! apparently he had to leave as he was harming the sheep himself. He now lives in Oswestry and is very happy there. Lawrence will soon be replaced with two new lamas lets hope that they don’t bite.

Pictured here is a carving in the visitors Centre by Jim Heath

I have added web links for Thomas Telford, Ty Mawr and Jimm Heath if you find time to read as the history of the area is very interesting.

bye for now lv Hef