Walking
world
EXPLORING PENYCLODDIAU HILL FORT
The Clwydian range of hills roughly run along the border between Denbighshire and Flintshire and have been designated an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty.
THINGS YOU NEED TO KNOW
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
J 2.3 miles/3.70 kilometres J Time: Allow 2 - 2.5 hours J Start: Free car park at Coed Llangwyfan
mighty Moel Ffamau at 1,821 ft/555 metres. From most areas of the
between Moel Arthur and Penycloddiau.
Clwydian Hills towns such as Ruthin and Denbigh look tiny far below
This is on the minor road linking
you and seem a long way away with the network of farmers’ fields
Llandrynog (north of Ruthin) and the
that surround them make pretty patterns in the landscape. Offa’s Dyke
B5429 to Nannerch (north west of Mold)
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 todays walk climbs to the largest of these (which is also one of the biggest hill forts in Wales). This covers around 21 hectares and is on the 1,440 ft/440 metre
and the A541
J Grid Ref: SJ 138668 J Nearest postcode: LL16 4NB J Ordnance Survey Map: Ordnance Survey Explorer 265 – Clwydian Range
J What to expect: Despite being short this
summit of the hill of Plenycloddiau. This fort was subject to careful
route should be treated as a full-blown
excavation and archaeological work between 2004 and 2010 as part
hill walk. Paths and tracks are generally
of the Lottery funded ‘Heather and Hillforts project’. And between 2012
good but there are some steep ascents and
and 2018 the fort was used as a training opportunity for students of
descents and some rough going in places.
Liverpool University Archaeology Field School. Penycloddiau hill fort
The summit of Penycloddiau is high and
is of Iron Age but there some evidence that this hilltop was used as a
offers no shelter so choose a good day of
burial mound from as long ago as the Bronze Age.
settled weather for the outing. You should wear boots and have full hill walking gear
Even though this walk to the summit of Penycloddiau and the hill
along with a stick in case of overgrown
fort remains is quite short and starts from a high car park, it should
areas
not be underestimated as it is quite tough and traverses sections of open hillside. Choose a sunny settled day and treat the outing as a full-blown hill walk and you will enjoy a superb day out in this unique area.
J Suitable for: Experienced hill walkers J Dogs: OK on leads J Refreshments: Mold, Ruthin and Denbigh all have shops, cafés and pubs
NWM 2020 Page 51
