Clwyd South MP visits and praises new visitor viewing point at Horseshoe Falls

The MP for Clwyd South has praised a new viewing point for visitors at Horseshoe Falls.

Simon Baynes MP made a socially distanced visit to the Horseshoe Falls near Llangollen, to learn more about the new visitor viewing point and railings that have recently been installed for the public.

The project has been led by the Clwydian Range and Dee Valley Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty, and funded by the National Lottery Heritage Fund with partners including Canal and River Trust, Natural Resources Wales as well as Denbighshire, Shropshire and Wrexham County Councils.

This has enabled the Picturesque Landscape team to install a new viewing platform so that visitors can appreciate the full beauty of the River Dee and the Horseshoe Falls.

It is part of the wide-ranging £2m Our Picturesque Landscape project (2018-23) which covers the area from the Gledrid bridge to Corwen in the Dee Valley, mainly made up of the World Heritage Site. It encompasses a wide range of projects to improve communities and the landscape in the area.

In addition to the viewing platform at the Horseshoe Falls, the project has also financed very welcome improvements to the nearby Llantysilio Green car park which is used by visitors to the Horseshoe Falls.

On the visit, Mr Baynes met with Our Picturesque Landscape Partnership Officer, Kate Thomson and Community Engagement Officer, Hannah Marubbi, as well as AONB Area Manager, David Shiel and Senior Countryside Officer, Rhun Jones.

Commenting on the new viewing area, Andrew White, Director of the National Lottery Heritage Fund in Wales said: “The Horseshoe Falls is part of one of three World Heritage Sites in Wales and with its connection to Thomas Telford who was responsible for great Victorian feats of engineering including the Pontcysyllte Aqueduct and the Menai Suspension Bridge, it is clearly an important part of the history and heritage of north east Wales.

“With growing visitor numbers to this area over the last decade, the viewing platform and railings that have been constructed, thanks to the grant we have awarded to the ‘Our Picturesque Landscape’ project, will help to ensure the resilience of this site for years to come and safeguard it for future generations.”

Simon Baynes MP said: “The new viewing point provides a platform for visitors to the Horseshoe Falls and the River Dee to see the amazing beauty we have in and around Llangollen.

“We’re all incredibly proud that our area is home to some outstanding natural beauty spots.

“And the Picturesque Landscape team have done a terrific job in creating this new viewpoint, as well as relieving congestion on the towpath, allowing enough social distancing so that visitors can enjoy the area and their experience at the Horseshoe Falls safely.”