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Offa's Dyke Path: Chepstow to Prestatyn & Prestatyn to Chepstow

Offa's Dyke Path: Chepstow to Prestatyn & Prestatyn to Chepstow

Excerpt:
Sample route guide: Bodfari to Clwyd Gate


Contents | Introduction | About the Offa's Dyke Path | Planning your walk | Using this guide | Sample route guide: Bodfari to Clwyd Gate


 

BODFARI TO CLWYD GATE
(FOR LLANBEDR-DYFFRYN-CLWYD)

MAPS 6-12

This is a challenging 11-mile (18km, 5¾-6½hrs) section which involves crossing the first part of the Clwydian Hills.

Leaving Bodfari, the first landmark of the day is Moel-y-Parc (Map 7; 398m/1306ft), the hill with the radio mast on top that remains in sight throughout this section, although your route takes you over the shoulder without visiting the summit.

You do top out on the next hill, Pen-y-Cloddiau (Map 8; 440m/1442ft). The site of an Iron Age hill-fort, with a flat top surrounded by the vestiges of earthwork defences, it’s the first of several hill-forts which you come across on this stage.

The trail crosses one hill after another: there’s a dramatic loss in height on each side of Moel Arthur (Map 9; 456m/1496ft); it’s a striking, conical hill surmounted by another hill-fort that you’ll miss unless you divert from the path to visit the summit.

Continuing through the range, you pass Moel Llys-y-coed (465m/1524ft), Moel Dywyll (472m/1550ft) and Moel Famau (Map 10; 555m/1820ft). Moel Famau, ‘the mother mountain’, is the highest point of the range and is protect- ed as an AONB (see p59).

Its summit is crowned with the squat blockhouse of Jubilee Tower, built in 1810 to mark the jubilee of George III but rebuilt many times since, being no match for the fierce winds (but a welcome shelter for passing walkers).

Foel Fenlli (Map 11; 511m/1676ft) and Moel Eithinen (Map 12; 434m/ 1424ft) follow on, before another gap allows the road (the A494 Mold to Ruthin road) at Clwyd Gate to cut through the range.

This section along the spine of the Clwydian Hills has several escape routes so you can retreat to the safety of a village pub or a warm B&B if the weather closes in.

Offa's Dyke Path: Chepstow to Prestatyn & Prestatyn to Chepstow

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