Walking

Walkingworld

A BRYN ALYN CIRCUIT

The Clwydian range of hills roughly run along the border between Denbighshire and Flintshire and have been designated an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty. These lovely summits offer superb high-level walking on mostly good paths and give stunning views in all directions. Be prepared for steep ascents and descents if you intend to explore them, but generally they are friendly and benevolent hills which rise to their highest point on mighty Moel Ffamau at 1,821 ft./555 metres. From most areas of the Clwydian Hills towns such as Ruthin and Denbigh look tiny far below you and seem a long way away with the network of farmers’ fields that surround them making pretty patterns in the landscape. Offa’s Dyke Long Distance footpath follows the crest of the Clwydian range on the final stages of its epic 177 miles/285 km from Chepstow in the south of Wales to Prestatyn in the north. The Clwydian Hills also have a chain of high-level hill forts along them and the largest of these (which is also one of the biggest hill forts in Wales) covers around 21 hectares and is on the 1,440 ft./440 metre summit of the hill of Plenycloddiau. This month’s walk climbs to one of the more unusual of the Clwydian tops and does a circuit of Bryn Alyn on reasonably good paths and tracks. Bryn Alyn is a limestone summit and has three separate tops the highest of which rises to 1,338 ft./408 metres. Our walk does not visit the highest summit, which is not the best viewpoint anyway. We do however climb one of the summits which is a magnificent spot with great views in all directions. Although not long, this is a strenuous walk with plenty of steep ascents and descents, but the reward for all the effort is an airy outing in spectacular surroundings. Bryn Alyn was once ignored in favour of some of the other Clwydian peaks such as Moel Ffamau but things have changed here and the hill is now gaining in popularity and is especially loved by dog walkers. On this outing you will encounter fields, forests, limestone features and open fell side in this varied round. You will need full hill walking gear and a bright day if you want to get the best from this outing and don’t forget the camera as you will get plenty of opportunities to use it!

THINGS YOU NEED TO KNOW

J Distance: 3.7 miles/5.95 kilometres J Time: Allow around 2.5 – 3.0 hours J Start: Park in the large layby on A494 just south of Llanferres between Mold and Ruthin. The layby has a bus stop and an information board for Bryn

Alyn in it J Grid Ref: SJ 187598 J Nearest postcode: CH7 5SN J Ordnance Survey Map: Ordnance

Survey Explorer 265 – Clwydian Range J What to expect: This walk uses a combination of field paths and hill

paths and tracks which are fairly clear throughout apart from in one small section. It also involves some lane walking. There are plenty of steep ups and downs with some rough going in places and one or two awkward stiles to negotiate. You will need full hill walking gear and a map and compass with the ability to use them. The route should be avoided in bad weather J Dogs: OK on leads J Suitable for: Experienced hill walkers J Refreshments: Best heading for Mold or Ruthin where there are cafés, pubs and shops. There is also a café at

Loggerheads Country Park north of

Llanferres

WALK DETAILS

START/ FINISH

2 5

3

START

Exit the layby over a stile near the bus stop at the https://openstreetmap.org/copyright https://openstreetmap.org Copyright OpenStreetMap and contributors, under an open licencenorth end by a sign for Bryn Alyn. Take a track up the right side of a field beyond the stile. Cross a

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Near the start

Retrace your steps back to the track and go left to pass 3 through a gate and descend beyond on a grassy track. In a short distance take a faint path left before a low maker post by bushes is reached – if you reach this you have gone too far. Follow the path as it become clearer to pass through a wall gap and reach a gate in a fence. Cross an awkward stile right of the gate and take the path beyond towards a quarry. Descend the main path steeply towards buildings below to cross a stile in a fence and wall. Once over continue ahead to reach a lane.

bridge over a brook to cut half right over a field to

pass through a gate by a hedge. Continue by a hedge right with a stream next to it to pass through another gate into woods. Cross a stream on stones and planks and follow the path by the stream to pass by a metal barrier. Continue uphill in the woods on the path beyond. Rise steadily in trees to pass through a gate and continue in the woods beyond to pass houses and reach a track junction by a ‘byway’ sign.

Go right to pass houses and shortly after the track becomes 2 surfaced reach a stile and footpath left. Cross the stile to take the marked footpath beyond rising steeply through trees. Follow the path as it winds a steep way up through woodland. Climb to exit the trees and cross a stile left of two small gates. Take a few paces forward to reach a track and go left on it and climb steeply – the angle eases further on as you pass through a limestone valley. Then the track steepens again – continue on the main track to curve left to join a fence. Continue on the track and just after it bends right (and just before it rises to a gate) take a narrow path left to climb to one of Bryn Alyn’s three tops and a great viewpoint passing through a broken wall just before you reach it.

Points of interest on this section

J The massive quarry you see on this section is Burley Hill Quarry where limestone is quarried.

4 Go left on the lane descending to a junction left with a driveway for houses. Leave the lane to fork left towards the houses to reach a gate and stile right and follow the footpath sign to cross the stile and go left to pass buildings and rise beyond to reach a fence corner. Follow the improving path besides the fence. Rise steadily to cross a stile and shortly go left down steps at a path junction. At the bottom of the steps cross a stile to continue ahead on a path to reach a junction with a track.

Go right on the track through trees to reach your outbound route by houses. Go right on your outbound route to pass through a gate and continue on your outbound route to pass the metal barrier. Continue by a stream to cross it on stepping stones and planks. Pass through a gate to go down the left

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side of a field. Pass through another gate continuing on your

outbound route to cross the next field and cross a bridge. Rise

up a track beyond the bridge to cross a stile back to the layby and the start.

Points of interest on this section

J Bryn Alyn is a limestone summit and has three separate tops the highest of which rises to 1,338 ft./408 metres J The views from the top we visit are extensive and include Mole Ffamau which is the highest summit in the Clwydian range at 1,821 ft./555 metres

A WORD OF CAUTION

Walking in the outdoors can be a strenuous activity and it is up to you to ensure that you are fit and healthy enough to undertake the route described and to approach the venture with caution and care. You should wear appropriate footwear and suitable clothing, take along food and drink plus carry the relevant map and a compass and be able to use it. The details given here are believed to be correct at the time of going to press. However, neither North Wales Magazine nor the author can accept responsibility for inaccuracies encountered.