May
8:00 Start with 17:30 (5:30pm) Return
13½ miles (22km) with 3,450ft (1,050m) Total Ascent.
Starting from the centre of Llangollen we cross the Afon Dyfrdwy and storm the hill fort of Castell Dinas Bran. A trail that purports to follow the dyke built by some ancient bloke called Offa then takes us north below the tremendous limestone rampart of Creigiau Eglwyseg (the Dales has nothing on this scale) to Plas yn Eglwyseg, where the long climb to Bwich Oernant (Horseshoe Pass) begins; beware of bikers at the summit.
At 577m/1,893ft, Moel y Gamelin is the highest point on Maesyrychen Mountain, itself the highest of the Bryniau Clwyd. The leisurely descent to Rhewl precedes a short climb to Llandynan to avoid too much tarmac bashing. We then return to Llangollen along the canal towpath from Berwyn, although for a fee you could catch a steam train. Mwynhau!!
13 miles (21km) with 1070ft (326m) Total Ascent.
We leave Llangollen along the canal and by the River Dee as far as Valle Crucis Abbey (Valley of the Cross) near to Elisegs Pillar, a 9th century medieval cross. We then join the Clwydian Way southwards to Castell Dinas Bran. This medieval castle sits on the site of an Iron Age hill fort with good views from the mound.
From here we head down to join Offa's Dyke Path in a south easterly direction on a panoramic walk and through Trevor Hall Wood to Trevor where we cross the River Dee with a view of the aqueduct above and to the left. When we reach Froncysyllte we cross the canal and return on the dramatic Pont Cysyllte aqueduct 1000 feet long and 126 feet above the Dee. We join the Lllangollen canal tow path to return to the starting point and a look round the town.
8½ miles (13.7km) with 900ft (274m) + 350ft (107m) Total Ascent.
We start our walk today from Llangollen, which has a worldwide reputation as a centre of Welsh culture and music. The Llangollen canal provides us with our first picturesque setting for the walk. Leaving the canal behind we make our way to the Horseshoe Falls (really a weir), on the River Dee. From here we move uphill through field and country tracks, to arrive at the picturesque remains of Valle Crucis Abbey. We now carry on uphill through woodland, slowly making our way east. As we follow country lanes we have splendid views of Eglwyseg Mountain and Ruabon Mountain.
Our direction is now south through open fields and country tracks, which form part of the Offa's Dyke Path. Shortly we will be able to see the remains of Castell Dinas Bran on the distant hill top. When we arrive at the foot of the hill, those not wishing to do the climb (350ft) can avoid it and make their way directly back to Llangollen. For the rest of us the final climb of the day is up to the castle remains. From the top it is a zig zag path back downhill to Llangollen and refreshments.
6 miles (9.7km) with 356ft (111m) Total Ascent.
We start our walk by heading for the Shropshire Union Canal. We leave the canal at the Motor Museum and begin a gentle climb to overlook the remains of the Valle Crucis Abbey. We continue our gentle climb through the woods to Tan-y-fron. It is a narrow road until we reach Ty-Newydd where a short road walk brings us to field paths which we follow to the Offa's Dyke Path and World's End Panorama.
We will have lunch around this area where there are good views of the remains of Castell Dinas Bran on the hilltop in front of us. After lunch we continue to Tan-y-Castell to take a footpath which leads us around the foot of the hill and, after a short climb, we descend to Llangollen. Once again I have booked the weather. Have a nice day!