Friday 20 February 2015

356 Walks from Loggerheads in N Wales

Our next walking will be on
Saturday 14th March 2015
and will be from 

Loggerheads, N Wales

ideal place to start exploring the Clwydian Range

Why not join us as a visitor to enjoy the Great Outdoors in Good Company?

Loggerheads Country Park

Loggerheads Country Park with its beautiful wooded river valley, dramatic cliffs and outcrops is great for a short stroll or an ideal place to start exploring the Clwydian Range. It has a well marked Discovery Trail and easily accessible pathways around the park and to the hills and valleys beyond.
Within Loggerheads Country Park
Loggerheads was an important lead mining area and evidence of this industrial past still remains partially hidden within this beautiful woodland. The left path follows the line of the old water course built to carry water for the mining operations - following the whole length of the Alyn Valley and often perched high on the steep cliffs.
Many activities take place in and around Loggerheads Country Park, from abseiling in Devil's Gorge (see Activities and Services) to family activities, guided walks and practical tasks.
Rivers and Streams of Loggerheads Country Park


 




Caffi Florence is open every day and serves Fair Trade drinks, homemade soups, lunches and traditional afternoon teas. Caffi Florence is open 7 days a week, 10AM - 5PM.
Loggerheads Country Park
Ruthin Road, Nr Mold CH7 5LH


 
 There will be three walks;

  • A Walk led by; Peter Hitchcock
  • B Walk led by; Beverley Kelly
  • C Walk led by; Doreen Lethbridge
Walk details will be added as they become available, but by Saturday 7th March.

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A walk from Loggerheads

Walk Leader: Peter Hitchcock
Total Distance: 11+  miles app
Total ascent/descent: 2080ft



The first major outing of the year is both scenic and varied, teasing you back in time as you tread peat, heather and stone paths paced thousands of years ago by our Iron Age ancestors!  The first half of the walk ventures South and is a gentle 2-hr warm up along woodland tracks, across fields and up and down country lanes.  Excellent distant views of the Clwydian Range are visible including our goal – the Jubilee Tower [for K. George III] at Moel Famau.   

The 2nd half of the walk involves an initially steady then steeper climb up the eastern side of the ridge to Foel Fenlii, the splendid remains of an Iron Age hill fort (1667ft).  The route joins Offa’s Dyke which we follow to the summit of Moel Famau, the highest part of this Park at 1818ft.  

 Hopefully, splendid views across N. Wales, Cheshire and Merseyside will be on offer.  From the summit, a gentle 1:20mins stroll downhill then along the River Alyn takes us back to Loggerheads.  Some paths will be muddy and possibly slippery if there has been some recent snowfall.  So, sticks are advisable (and basic crampons maybe if you have them).  In all, an 11 mile ‘medium-grade’ walk which, at a good pace and with group-style stops, should take 6 hrs.

B Walk from Loggerheads

Walk Leader: Beverley Kelly
Total Distance:  8 miles app
Total ascent/descent: 1900ft
B Route [anticlockwise] click to enlarge

At 1818ft Moel Famau - which means "Mother Mountain" in Welsh - is the highest summit in the Clwydian Range. Topped by the Jubilee Tower, built to celebrate  George 3, this iconic landmark is visible for many miles around, including Formby if the conditions are right.

It sits in the middle of the heather-clad hills of the central part of the Range and offers stunning views across the Vale of Clwyd to Snowdonia and the North Wales coast.
 
Moel Famau and much of the surrounding land make up Moel Famau Country Park, which attracts about 200,000 visitors each year.

We shall start the walk with a gentle but lovely walk along the River Alyn with the sound of water and chirping of birdsong as the river bed gently drops leaving us some 100 ft above it. We pass evidence of mining and other interesting features. A short steep bit of road then we are across fields and woodland towards the charming little village (Pentre) of Cilcain.We shall detour through Cilcain to view the delightful features including "The White Horse Inn".


Leaving Cilcain we start the climb to Moel Famua which we can see in the distance. By the small reservoir we shall probably stop for lunch with a nice sheltered (providing it isn't raining) view. 

As the views open out we traverse heather pathways heading for the trees just below the summit. From here  it is just a short distance to the Jubilee Tower at the top.

Our way down is gentle and easy as we circuit Frith Mountain, passing a WW2 decoy on the way. We do encounter a bit of mud on the final stretches, but then it is a bit of roadwalking to reach the cafe back at Loggerheads.


This is a good first walk of the season with a bit of a challenge, but we have plenty of time as the coach should arrive by 0930hrs and we will go the pace of the slowest. I can assure you that I will not be running up Moel Famua.

C Walk from Loggerheads

Walk Leader: Doreen Lethbridge
Total Distance: 5.5 miles - undulating
Total ascent/descent:  750ft
 
C Route, click to enlarge

We make a short walk around the river, then cross the bridge to the A494. From the road we enter the woods, making a gradual climb (passing 12 mosaics and an explanatory plaque to the gates of Cholomendy Centre and cricle the perimeter.
Just before the village of Maeshafn we turn right to Llanferres and after a short road walk turn left and enter the woods bwhere we will probably have lunch.
We continue across the fields before taking a path to the right, climbing a little - then drop down and return to the country park

Saturday 14 February 2015

Our new Business Style Cards to give to those possibly interested in our walking club.
It gives basic details and directs them to our web site where more information is available.
It will also appeal more to the younger age group with it's QR codes which are scaned with your smart phone or tablet and then brings up our web page on the screen.
Do ask for some to give out. (Jennifer has the main stock).