County Dossier
Denbighshire
A borderland county of hills and history.
Denbighshire is a maritime county in north Wales, with a gentle, sandy coastline along the Irish Sea (Môr Iwerddon). Holiday resorts line the shore, including Rhos-on-Sea (Rhos-on-Sea), Colwyn Bay (Bae Colwyn), Old Colwyn (Hen Golwyn), Towyn (Towyn), and Kinmel Bay (Bae Cinmel).
At a glance
Denbighshire at a glance
A borderland county of hills and history.
- Lands of Perfeddwlad
- Formed of ancient Welsh Cantrefs: Rhos, Rhufoniog, Dyffryn Clwyd, Iâl, Nanheudwy, Cynllaith
- Ancient 'Denbighland'
- Area: 668 sq miles / 1,730 km²
- Population: 227,680
- County top: Cadair Berwyn south summit 2,726 ft / 830 m
County Geography
Denbighshire faces the Irish Sea to the north, meets Flintshire, Cheshire, and Shropshire to the east, Montgomeryshire and Merionethshire to the south, and Caernarfonshire to the west. The River Conwy marks much of the western line, while the Clwydian Hills define the eastern side of the Vale of Clwyd.
The combination of coast, vale, border hills, and western upland gives Denbighshire a clear shape.
Map Reference
View Denbighshire on the map
Denbighshire is the county. The map also shows lieutenancies and council areas that use the county name.
The county.
The lieutenancy.
Council areas.
Places and routes
Denbigh, Ruthin, Wrexham, Llangollen, Colwyn Bay, Abergele, and Towyn all belong to the county’s story. So do the Vale of Clwyd, the Conwy valley edge, the north-coast resorts, and the castles, market towns, and bridge crossings that tie coast and inland together.
Connections
The county has long been organised by the coastal road, the line of the vale, and the river crossings and passes leading south and east.
Names
- Denbighshire
- County of Denbigh
- Sir Ddinbych
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County Reference
Explore Denbighshire
Open the map to explore Denbighshire, or return to the county index to browse other counties.