Llandyn Farm, Denbighshire

Llandyn Farm offers farm-fresh llaeth organig (that’s organic milk to any non-Welsh readers), dispensed from The Milk Hut via vending machine. The Milk Hut sits in a splendid location, on the trackbed of what was once the Ruabon to Barmouth Junction railway line and a pebble throw away from the river Dee that meanders through the landscape carrying salmon and the occasional otter. Up until the 1950s, it would not be uncommon to see coracle fishing on the Dee, but that’s a story for another day.

 If one were to walk away from the Milk Hut and the river Dee in the other direction, you’d quickly come across the Shropshire Union Canal (Llangollen Branch). The canal crosses the border of England and Wales and is forty-four miles long with twenty-one locks and some spectacular engineering along its route, including the Pontcysyllte Aqueduct. The aqueduct, completed in 1805, has eighteen stone arches that carry it high over the river Dee and is the highest canal aqueduct in the world. 

The more astute amongst you will have noticed that the Llandyn Farm bottle with its three tress and happy cow also features a ruin on a hill; what’s that I hear you cry! It’s all well and good going on about rivers, railway lines, canals and aqueducts, but we are talking about the bottles and their designs. Fine, you’re quite correct!

One kilometre away from the Milk Hut, you’ll notice a prominent hill towering above the landscape. Perched on the top of the hill is Castell Dinas Brân, a medieval castle built in the thirteenth century (approximately 1260). Legend says Gogmagog, a giant, was slain here by a Norman Knight named Payn Peveril at the castle. As Gogmagog lay dying, he told Payn of a great treasure of idols buried at the castle, including horses, peacocks, swans, and a huge golden ox. Unfortunately for Payn, the giant died before revealing its location.

Rivers, canals, aqueducts, railways, golden ox and farm-fresh llaeth organig. I do spoil you.

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