Church and Chapel Walk

Walk 6

• Saturday leaving at  9.30 am
• Distance 12 km
• Height gained 150 metres of ascent

This walk will take you to Corwen Church, Rhug Chapel and Llangar old parish church with the added option of  touring each of these buildings. Cost of entry to Rhug and Llangar, both CADW properties, will be roughly £3 per person. You will be able to buy refreshments in the Rhug estate farmshop en route.

The two tiny religious sites of Rhug Chapel and Llangar old parish church together make a big impression. Built in 1637, Rhug is a perfect example of a little-altered period chapel. Llangar Church is older, dating back to 1291 and was originally called Llann-Garw-Gwyn, meaning church of the white deer. Never judge a chapel or a church by its exterior: step inside Rhug Chapel and be wowed by its decorative flourishes. Colonel William Salesbury, its founder, created a private chapel with a zany style to counter the puritanical notions of the time. He placed wood carvings and rose motifs everywhere - on altar rails, family pews, in the painted gallery and on bench ends. 

Llangar Church is just over a mile away from Rhug Chapel and is a few centuries older. Its whitewashed appearance cloaks an amazing interior. Wall paintings from the fifteenth century still survive along with a rather gruesome18th century figure of death.

Corwen Church is the parish church in Corwen and holds the regular services for the town. Legend has it that Owain Glyndwr threw a dagger from Pen Y Pigyn which hit the church and its mark on the stonework can still be seen.