Moel Arthur to Penycloddiau, Clwydian Range.

Start Point - Carpark SJ147657.

Its a bright, clear morning, I have the day off but have to take the wife to work for eight and pick her up later in the afternoon. It would be a shame to waste such an opportunity as the next hours present. I feel the first signs of Spring in the air as I get the dogs in the car along with my rucksack and boots, heading of the seven miles or so to drop off the wife at her work which just happens to be at Western foot of the beautiful Clwydian Range.

 

 

After the usual 'Be careful's and 'Don't be late picking me up's' I'm a free man, to roam where I want.
I follow a winding lane up a valley onto the top of the range and park in the small car park on the left. Towering above me are the steep banks of the ancient hill fort, Moel Arthur. Built around 500BC, over two thousand years ago, the hill fort is one of many along the Clwydian Range, commanding spectacular views over the Vale of Clwyd to the West and over the border into England  to the East. This site was inhabited before the Iron age as a possible Bronze Age burial mound lies in the middle of the site and excavations have unearthed Bronze age axes.

 

Moel Arthur from the Car park

After kitting up its the step climb up to the summit. Its step on this Southern side with a narrow winding track through the heather leading the way. I'm soon puffing and panting, the legs starting to burn when about half way up I reach a slight level area with views to the East. I can see the Jubilee Tower on Moel Famau in the distance, some three miles away. A few photos later and its upwards again to the top of the hill to the site of the old fort. There's a cold wind blowing up here, the rock pile at the summit, some 456m, is totally exposed to the elements, the ground here is still frozen, the sun has still to work its magic. I look around at the views. Below, a few miles away I can see the small village of Llandurnog, further to the West I can make out the Castled town of Denbigh with a backdrop of the snow capped mountains of Snowdonia in the far distance. It is beautiful, a view to behold. A view I cant truly capture with the camera.

 

Moel Famau away in the distance

 

Views over into England

 

 

Denbigh with the snow capped mountains of Snowdonia in the distance

 

From here I follow a narrow track down to the well trodden Offa's Dike Path, known in Welsh as Lywbr Clawdd Offa. It is one of Britans National Trails, its 177 miles, 285km, route runs from Prestatyn to Sedbury, near Chepstow on the Severn estuary, closely following the Welsh, English border and attracts walkers from the world over.
Here, I turn left, following a N.W. direction, down into the next small valley, wooded on the North side, eventually leading to a busier car park, (Grid Ref  SJ139669).

 

The way down to the second valley

 

 

Out of the car park, heading for Penycloddiau

 

 I stop here for a rest and drink, watching fellow walkers coming and going, some couples, holding hands, some on their own with all the modern brightly coloured walking clothes, some out walking their dogs. Refuelled, its time to move on. Around the wooden gate and taking the narrow footpath to the right, just a few meters ahead, its a steady climb up along the woods edge towards the second, larger hill fort of the day, Penycloddiau. The path eventually breaks away from the woods and heads over the rampants of the fort  Again, the path offers some fantastic views across the Vale below. Carrying on the path continues along the barren, windswept hillside. The small pond I've seen on the map appears to the right jurns out to be more of a bog, not a possible campsite as I hoped. But to be honest, I wouldn't want to camp here as it is too close to the well walked path anyway.

Continuing uphill for a few hundred metres or so to the summit of Penycloddiau, marked by a small mound of stones. I rest here and chat for a while to a couple of fellow hikers, taking some photos and admiring the views below.
Penycloddiau translates as 'Hill of the Trenches' or 'Peak of the mounds'. It is one of the largest hillforts in Wales and is one of the five 'Marilyns' on the Clwydian Range. It stands at 440m, some 1440 feet. Its believed, as with Moel Arthur that this area was inhabited before the Iron Age as there is evidence of a Bronze age burial mound to the Northern end of the hill.
One thing about these hill forts is the beautiful views, but, more importantly to their inhabitants, is the commanding views. You could never sneak up on them and to attack them would be exhausting.
Views enjoyed, food and water consumed, its time for the return trip and eventually pick up the wife and return home.

 

A pose from the boys.

Crib Goch

A selection of photos from Crib Goch, early Spring 2015.

Llyn Cwmorthin and Quarry, Nr.Blaenau Ffestiniog

Start Point - Carpark SH684453

Second outing in two days and last of this one week holiday, I'm heading to the old ruined slate miners barracks and chapel on the edge of Llyn Cwmorthin near the village of Tanygrisiau.
I start out at quarter to nine in the morning traveling over the Denbigh moors until coming to the A5. Then heading towards Betws-Y-Coed but turning left just before the town onto the A470. Passing through the small village of Dolwyddelan I continue up and over the Crimea Pass coming down passing Llechwedd Slate Caverns on my left and Gloddfa Ganol Slate mines on my right I finaly come to the small town  of Blaenau Ffestiniog. Heading for the village of Tanygrisiau from the first roundabout on the outskirts of the town I follow into the village taking a right turn, heading up a steep hill, under a railway bridge I see car parking spaces on the side of the lane to the left.
From here there are two footpaths, one veering to the left which was closed and under repair, the other heads straight up from the carpark, through a gate with an initial steep climb passing a waterfall on the left.

 

The track levels out after a short period and I come to an open area of ground, slate piled high to my right and the river running its man made channels to my left. Following on, up a slight incline I turn left, over a small bridge and onto the track following the shores of the lake.

 

Its over cast and there's a bit of a chill in the air, the surrounding mountain summits are cloud covered and don't show any sign of making an appearance whilst I'm here.

 

The remains of the quarry men's barracks

 

Those steps provide a convenient spot for a rest, cup of coffee and some spicy Mexican rice on the return trip back to the car.

 

Continuing along the track I soon come to Capel Rhosydd, a ruined chapel, the only place of worship for the workmen and there families and also used for the schooling of the children.

 

 

Continuing from here I can glimpse  Plas Cwmorthin through its surrounding trees at the foot of the lake to the right of the track but head first to the large ruins of Rhosydd. Sitting down to rest the legs I can't help but think what life was like back in the 1800 when people lived and worked here. The quarry had a reputation for poor working conditions and was known locally as "The Slaughterhouse''. Between 1875 and 1893 there were 21 deaths in Cwmorthin out of a workforce of around 550. Hard time we can't imagine nowadays but somehow, in places like this you feel it or sense it. Whilst in the chapel I tried to envisage it back then, with men women and children praying to God, music, a piano maybe playing the tune to Hymes as the people sing. But no more, just a ruined old building from times gone by. But there is a presence, a feeling to be felt.

Time for a few more photos from the large ruins at the end of the valley. The point where the path takes a turn to the left and leads up a steep incline to more ruins further up the mountain.

 

 

Foel Ddu.

 

 

A view back down the valley.

 

Starting on the return trip, I take a left onto a short narrow path over a brook to the gardens of Plas Cwmorthin partly hidden beneath a stand of pine trees.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Plas Cwmorthin from the track.

 

 

Plas Cwmorthin is where the quarry manager  would of lived in his relative luxury surroundings. Built around 1860 this building possessed four rooms on each of the two levels plus what looks like a nice garden area.

Back to the track to make my way back to the carpark, stopping once for a coffee and food before heading back down past the beautiful waterfall to the car.