Denbighshire

Denbighshire occupies a stretch of north-east Wales that includes a short coastline on the Irish Sea and an inland mix of valleys and uplands. The Vale of Clwyd runs north–south through the county, drained by the River Clwyd, while the Clwydian Range Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty forms a ridge to the west with heather moor and limestone outcrops. Coastal towns such as Rhyl and Prestatyn have promenades and sandy beaches facing the North Wales coast, and the North Wales Coast Line links the seafront settlements to the regional rail network.

Historic market towns and small cities mark the interior: Ruthin serves as the county town, with a Norman castle and a medieval street layout; Denbigh has the hilltop ruins of its castle overlooking its streets. St Asaph sits where the River Elwy meets low-lying flood meadows and was granted city status in 2012, its cathedral forming a local landmark. Agriculture, local industry and visitor services around walking routes, castle sites and beaches shape the local economy, while short lanes and field boundaries reflect long-established land patterns.