5 minute read
Walking World
Y Graig Hebridean sheep
Y Graig, near Tremeirchion, Denbighshire
This winter walk incorporates The North Wales Wildlife Trust’s Y Graig Nature Reserve, where Hebridean sheep graze limestone grassland landscapes and where panoramic views across the Vale of Clwyd can be found!
Set on a limestone outcrop, this reserve encompasses a variety of habitats and provides a haven for wildlife within its very agricultural surroundings. Woodland covers the north of the site; oak, beech and elm create a thick, shady canopy under where the sounds of woodland birds including woodcock surround you. As the slopes steepen, the woodland gives way to grassland and incredible views of the Vale of Clwyd open up, with the snow-capped mountains of Snowdonia also visible far in the distance.
Things you need to know
J Directions: Y Graig can be found about 0.5 miles to the south of Tremeirchion, just off the
B5429. From the A55, head South at Rhuallt on the B5429, pass through Tremeirchion, and look for a stone house and a red-brick chapel on the Right. Directly opposite these buildings, turn onto the lane where you can park and access the reserve via a field gate or stile (SJ 083 721).
W3W ///outlooks.slice.steer
J Time: 2 – 2.5 hours J Distance: 3.2 miles (5.2km) J OS Explorer Map: 264
Views from Y Graig
© Lin Cummins
THE ROUTE
1. Walk past Tan y Graig house and, on the sharp left-hand bend, head right over the stile and onto the Wildlife Trust’s Y Graig Nature Reserve. The wildflower-rich grassland area
is kept open by management work done by volunteers and a conservation grazing regime with Hebridean sheep. The woodland has many birds, including redstart, wood warbler, tree pipit, great spotted woodpecker and tawny owl.
2. Follow the path up. At the Wildlife Trust sign, carry straight on (not to the Pen y Graig summit, or the quarry). The path is narrow and steep in places.
3. Leave the trees and enjoy extensive views along the length of the vale. There is a picnic table and seats above the path here. Look for rock-rose and quaking-grass in the clearings near the benches. Keep following the path across the slope and to a stile. In summer, look out for butterflies as
you go, including grayling, small pearl-bordered fritillary and common blue.
4. Cross the stile to leave Y Graig. At the concrete drive to Ael y Bryn, bear right.
5. At the road, turn left, and follow it around to the right. The hedgerows here are good for birds; look, too, for dog rose, and blackberries in the autumn.
6. The tarmac road ends by a house, but the walk continues up the rough-tracked green lane. In late spring look for bluebell, wood sorrel and honeysuckle.
7. Eventually you come to a metal gate, and an open track beyond. As you cross the gate, look down into the valley to the trees at the bottom, where grazing has been excluded – all that’s left of a primeval forest that would have covered this whole area. This is good buzzard country.
8. Ignore gates on your left and keep straight ahead along the track. At this point it levels off – after around 100 metres, head through a gate to a road. Turn immediately left onto the Offa’s Dyke Path, over the stile. Look for coal tit and goldcrest in the conifers as you pass.
9. Approach another stile up a short steep section and through an area of gorse – look for linnet, yellowhammer and stonechat. Go over the stile into sheep-grazed fields. Keep second stile and walk diagonally towards the middle of the field. You will pass the summit of Cefn Du. At the next stile,
head for the road coming down the hill opposite. The stile and waymarker you are heading for will be slightly off to your left.
10. Cross this stile, which is on a bend in the road, and carry on straight along the road you have been using as a landmark for around 75 metres, then turn left along the drive into Penuchaf farm. Almost immediately, cross the stile on your left. The footpath parallels the drive, keeping left of the farm to a stile.
11. Cross the stile and head for the right-hand edge of the copse – a wet alder/willow carr – and cross the next stile at the wood’s edge. Continue to follow the edge of the wood, keeping a patch of gorse on the slope to your right. Follow the hedge until you reach a stile and steep steps which lead down onto the tarmac road. Turn left along the road.
12. Here the road turns to the right, and a track carries straight on. Keep on the road. The hedge-bank here has bluebell, wood avens, polypody fern, greater stitchwort and sanicle. To get back to your car, walk downhill through the village, past the pub, church and school, bear left at the small triangular green (towards Bodfari) and follow the road, which comes out directly opposite the gates to ‘Brynbella’. Turn left here and follow the road, turning left opposite the red-brick chapel.
Discover more ‘Wildlife Walks’ across North Wales
J Explore 23 walking routes in six counties J Visit 25 North Wales Wildlife Trust nature reserves J Enjoy gentle strolls and whole-day rambles J Full descriptive text and maps supplied
Special offer to North Wales Magazine readers! Get the Wildlife Walks book for FREE when you become a member of North Wales Wildlife Trust. Just select ‘North Wales Magazine WB’ in the ‘how did you hear from us’ section of the online form to receive your free book. northwaleswildlifetrust.org.uk/membership
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.
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