Rounding the hill and heading towards the stream in the valley, we climbed up towards a large area of burned gorse and crossing the stream, began to make our way in a clockwise direction around Moel Eithinen before dropping down to the A494 road. We had reached Clwyd Gate where we'd planned to arrive the evening before. It was here that we made our first mistake and we failed to take proper regard to R along this busy road for 250 yards (no verge). We turned right and the road was busy. We travelled much further than the requisite distance and walked ¼ mile down the road before realising the error. Turning around, walking back uphill was less easy than minutes earlier! Regaining the lane opposite the motel (restaurant/inn in the notes) now on the left - and remarking that there was no OD sign, we turned right. In the distance there was a group of walkers making its way up the steep field behind the farm at the end of the private road. Soon we were also puffing up over Moel Gyw but the route missed the trig point on the summit by some 320' (ascent not distance) and we were grateful for this! On gaining the rough stony farm track, it was downhill before turning off around Moel Llanfair. We felt we were catching up with the group in front but then it disappeared behind the hill.

Five minutes later we came across five - do we say "ladies" or "women" (there was some disagreement within the group itself on this point) - who were sitting on the raised bank at the edge of the track and enjoying a coffee stop. They hailed from the Wirral and were walking for four hours or so. We joined them and chatted before they went on their way.

We had some climbing to do over Garreg Llyd before skirting Moel Llanfair and Moel y Plās on their western sides which brought the Clwydian Range of hills almost to an end. Passing a radio mast brought us to a lane where, after a short stretch southwards, took us towards the B5431 to the east. No sooner had we crossed this road and a couple of fields then we had the River Alyn for company towards Llandegla. As we neared the village we could hear the sound of children's voices carrying across the fields but they disappeared as the village came closer and we assumed that their lunch-break was over despite the time being before 13:00.

However, climbing up the last field and approaching the village church, the voices were still to be heard and by the time we arrived in the village, the children in their red sweatshirts were lining up in the playground ready for the afternoon session.

We have learned from the school's Internet Webpages that it is called "Ysgol Dyffryn Iāl (meaning Yale Valley Primary School) and is a twinned-site school. Two establishments - Bryneglwys & Llandegla - were merged in 1980 and today both sites operate as one school separated by six miles of mountain road. The twinning allows the two schools to pool the expertise of staff, to share resources and for the children to have a wider scope of friends and experiences." As the children were re-entering school for the afternoon, we met the Head Teacher, Roger Hayward and asked for the school's Email address. Moving away from the school we found a convenient seat outside the Post Office and started lunch.

This was a most welcome break and we passed the time of day with Betty who was walking back to her home. She stopped to talk and a most interesting conversation ensued. We learned that her sister had been the landlady of the local public house at the time when the Welsh vote on Sunday opening had taken place. Sunday had been a day of rest and the "yes" vote wasn't popular; after that decision, the pub didn't open on Sundays until the chapel had finished.

We also found out that in yesteryear the pub had been both a farm and a pub with its history going back to the 12th century. Its stables and land were used for many years by cattle drovers. Betty told us that she had been educated at the village school at a time when it was completely Welsh speaking and that the Welsh singing at the pub on Sundays used to be "wonderful". After eating we made a telephone call to Trevor to arrange our bed and were relieved by the message that if we hadn't arrived by 19:30 a key would be left for us! We felt sure that we'd be there before then. Setting off again at 13:30 we soon "progressed" as we were off the map; we had almost walked the length of Landranger 116 (Denbeigh & Colwyn Bay) and now needed 117 (Chester & Wrexham). We crossed the A5104 and headed down over a field almost crossing the stream and walking under the pylon line at the same time.

We ascended and found the lane at Hafod Bilston and the house Nant Yr Hafod with the words Offa's Dyke Path in two languages. We also found its owner, Neil who was about to wash his car fearfully feeling that his action might encourage the rain which had been threatening! He described his abode as "a heavenly spot".

The climb up through Llandegla Forest was not an easy one. It followed fairly narrow steep paths which ran at right angles to the wider forestry tracks. They were often very muddy in places with walk-boards where streams coincided with the route. It was dark and gloomy in places and rain fell during two spells (guess the car was clean by this time!).

By 15:09 the forest was behind us, level ground had been reached and we were setting out across Lllandegla Moor for the most part on a "sleeper" walkway. We were relieved to find this walkway as all material read before the walk mentioned the peaty, boggy nature of the moor and the need to wring out one's socks afterwards!

Despite the gloomy light, it wasn't raining but the walkway was slippery in places and there was ample evidence of the depth of the bog's pools; we understood now the references to wet feet. We soon reached the narrow road across the moor.

Turning right onto it, we had a mile of road walking before entering woodland again as the road dropped sharply towards the ford at World's End. A little before this sharp bend in the road there was a gap in the trees allowing a view down the valley to the south and to the road further along its length.

Leaving the road to the left just below the ford, the OD Path takes one through a small coniferous woodland and emerging from it, the path takes a narrow course across the scree slopes beneath Eglwyseg Mountain. The section calls for a good sense of balance and we found the wind very strong as we rounded each rounded crag.

We were pleased to be travelling southwards with the scree slope falling away to our right as we feel safer walking this way in the strong wind! The views looking down the valley were splendid - when one dared to takes one's eyes off the narrow path which in certain places was almost non-existent.

Towards the end of the scree-slope path - above and to the east of Rock Farm - we crossed a wide gulley with a rushing stream coming down from the crags above. Walking away from the cliffs and rounding a right-hand bend in the now much wider track, we were suddenly surprised be two girls sitting on a large boulder. They were almost as surprised as we were! We chatted briefly about the walk and pictures on a website but forgot to ask their names.

We had now reached the narrow road with no verges ( which was developed as a panorama walk for visitors to Llangollen) and as each bend was rounded we were expecting to see Castell Dinas Bran ahead. When it appears and one approaches, it increasingly dominates and the town of Llangollen is seen beyond and below.

The isolated hilltop of Castell Dinas Bran was occupied by an iron Age hill fort but its ramparts were partly destroyed when the castle was built in the 13th century. This was a Welsh castle of the princes of north Powys but it was probably occupied only until the wars later in the same century when it was burnt and abandoned.

Much of the ruins still survive. The spectacular viewpoint was unsuitable for civilian development so the town of Llangollen was established in the valley below. Along this road we met several signs advertising the Prospect Tea Rooms ahead but we doubted whether they'd be open at this time of day and year. A cup of tea (or two) would have been very welcome!

However, some little distance further along the road we came across Geraint Jones (a freelance photographer from Rhosllannerchrugog, Wrexham who runs North Wales Photo Treks) and Peter from Chelmsford in Essex who had spent the afternoon walking on the ridge above. We stopped and talked; we must have had a tired appearance as Geraint kindly offered a carton of juice from a cool box which was very gratefully accepted.

Arriving at the path off to the right into coniferous woodland, we turned for a last view back up the valley over the autumnal bracken to the castle's mound and then started the descent. The woodland was dense and contained a very gloomy section (even allowing for the time of day) and was steep and atmospheric in places over its 550' descent. We were pleased to leave it behind for a narrow lane.

We found ourselves following a dog being exercised and we caught up with it as we joined the main A539 into Trevor. It didn't like our company and yapped a great deal. We overtook it quickly and within five or more minutes were climbing the drive to Oaklands. It had been a long day but we still had over an hour before the key would have been left. There was a nice welcome when we rang the bell!

Walk Statistics
Day	Hr	Min	Mins	Miles	Ascent	Conversations	Photographs	Mins per mile	mph
3	9	22	562	18.8*	2050'	6	27	29.9	2.01
* Includes 0.5 m having missed a left turn.

B & B Details
	Avril Dennis, Oaklands, Llangollen Road, Trevor, Llangollen, LL20 7TL Tel: 01978 820152
	Hot drink facilities in room. Good breakfast.   B & B 15.00 Packed Lunch 2.50 Flask coffee 0.50 TOTAL   £18.00

 

Meal Details
	Telford Inn, Station Road, Trevor, Llangollen, LL20 7TT Tel: 01978 820469
	Meal : Vegetable Soup, Cheese Omelette, Chipped Potatoes,           Salad, Peas 9.10 2 pts Bitter 3.60 TOTAL   £12.70

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© Scarpa - Page last updated 04/12/97