St Asaph

(see also: Rhyl | Prestatyn)

The city of St Asaph lies between Denbigh and the coastal resort of Rhyl, and has the smallest cathedral in Britain.

Set on the banks of the River Elwy, St Asaph has been an important ecclesiastical centre for centuries, going back to AD560 when a community was founded by the Scottish saint Kentigern, who left his disciple Asaph in charge when he returned to Scotland.

Destroyed by fire twice, the hilltop cathedral was restored by Sir Gilbert Scott in 1869, and is the mother church of the Diocese of St Asaph, which covers the whole of No rth East Wales. The North Wales Music Festival is held in the Cathedral in late September each year.

Conveniently sited on the A55, St Asaph makes an ideal base for touring the north east Wales area.