Tag: llangollen

To The Hills

On By paulmackeyIn TravelLeave a comment

Monday Aug 19 2024

Today’s journey started by climbing back up the canal then up to the ruins of Castel Dinas Bran. 

Dinas Bran was to be the first of many Iron Age hill forts we would encounter in the Clwydian Hills which would be our path for the next several days. This one was converted to a castle in the 1260s but was then burned by its defenders lest it fall into the hands of Edward I (of Chirk Castle fame). 

Now it is steadfastly defended by sheep. 

We would also be leaving the crowds of Pontcysllte and Llangollen behind. We remarked how few people we met on the trail. Today would be no different.

As we climbed up towards the ruin we could look back and over the vale of Llangollen, including the eisteddfod tent where we famously didn’t see Pavarotti. 

The path left Dinas Bran and took us the lee of Creigiau Eglwyseg. This was certainly the wildest part of the path so far. No more evident than in the name of “Rock Farm”!

We passed beneath Craig Arthur and Craig yr Adar and into the valley leading to World’s End. 

Yes really.

But instead of taking that path we forded the stream and climbed up onto the moorland of Cyrn-y-Brain. The heather and gorse were in brilliant bloom. Our marvel at the spectacle as we crossed the wild and windy moor was not dampened by the drizzle that accompanied us. Well not much.

The path then descended down through a plantation of Sitka spruce in which we had to keep an eye out for mountain bikers. This then lead us into the village of Llandegla where we enjoyed our reward of a coffee and sausage roll while awaiting our pick-up to the Druid Inn at Llanferres. A fitting end to our medieval day. 

And we settled in to watch some British TV

16.12 km

How do you say “Pontcysyllte”?

On By paulmackeyIn Travel1 Comment

Sunday Aug 18 2024

Today we would be starting out from Castle Mill up the Ceriog Valley and making our way to Llangollen up the Dee valley. We were joined by Kerry, Paul and Jude as well as Anne Hendrie.

Today’s Team
Chirk Castle

At the start of the day we had the choice to walk around the Castle ground on the official path or up through the grounds of Chirk Castle on the “summer route”. This route is closed in the winter  for the grouse hunting season.

The summer route took us up to and around the Castle. It was originally built in 1310 by Edward I to lord over the (now defeated) Welsh. It passed to the Myddleton family who now maintain it more as a stately home under the care of the National Trust (the Myddletons were patients of the General Practice in Chirk when I was there).

The trail took us up more of Offa’s Dyke before veering west to (re)join the “proper” Offa’s Dyke Path which descended down to the Llangollen Canal.

Pontcystlle Aqueduct
Aqueduct and Dyke
Our last contact with the Dyke

A highlight of the day was to be walking across the Pontcysyllte Aqueduct that takes the canal across the wide Dee Valley between Froncysyttle and Trevor. An engineering marvel by Thomas Telford. And a very popular tourist attraction. Again, while I had done house calls here back in the day I don’t recall ever actually walking across the aqueduct.

More importantly, we found a canal boat selling very good coffee. 

Coffee!
Canada Bill

After lunch, instead of climbing up the Trevor Cliffs to follow the actual path we chose a leisurely walk alongside the canal up into Llangollen.

Castel Dinas Bran

17.36km

And there was a train!


That evening the Lovedays kindly picked us up and transported us to their house in Knighton for a sumptuous dinner with them and Simon and Laura Rummens. Remembering the days at Shepparton (before Lori and I had arrived in the UK)