{"id":636,"date":"2013-05-11T01:38:11","date_gmt":"2013-05-11T00:38:11","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.christophersomerville.co.uk\/?p=636"},"modified":"2013-04-21T16:21:24","modified_gmt":"2013-04-21T15:21:24","slug":"moel-famau-the-clwydian-hills-north-east-wales","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.christophersomerville.co.uk\/?p=636","title":{"rendered":"Moel Famau &#038; the Clwydian Hills, North East Wales"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>Rain and gales over north-east Wales, with the Clwydian Hills bathed one moment in brilliant sunshine, the next in grey showers chased northwards by the wind. <script type=\"text\/javascript\">window.onload = setupZoom; function popwalk(walk) {var url = \"\/Walks\/amap.php?f=\"+walk; varwalkwindow=window.open(url,\"walkwin\",\"height=1300,width=840,resizable=yes,scrollbars=yes\"); if (window.focus) {walkwindow.focus()}}<\/script>First published in: The Times <a href=\"javascript:popwalk('MoelFamau.gpx');\" rel=\"nozoom\" title=\"Click here to view a map for this walk in a new window\">Click here to view a map for this walk in a new window<\/a><br \/>\n<a href=\"http:\/\/farm9.static.flickr.com\/8257\/8654795646_292c7750b1.jpg\" title='Looking south along the ridge'><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/farm9.static.flickr.com\/8257\/8654795646_292c7750b1_s.jpg\" alt=\"picture\" \/><\/a> <a href=\"http:\/\/farm9.static.flickr.com\/8099\/8653695113_850aff4e18.jpg\" title='approach to Moel Famau 1'><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/farm9.static.flickr.com\/8099\/8653695113_850aff4e18_s.jpg\" alt=\"picture\" \/><\/a> <a href=\"http:\/\/farm9.static.flickr.com\/8248\/8653695455_00aa5da808.jpg\" title='approach to Moel Famau 2'><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/farm9.static.flickr.com\/8248\/8653695455_00aa5da808_s.jpg\" alt=\"picture\" \/><\/a> <a href=\"http:\/\/farm9.static.flickr.com\/8242\/8654796680_97250aeeeb.jpg\" title='approach to Moel Famau 3'><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/farm9.static.flickr.com\/8242\/8654796680_97250aeeeb_s.jpg\" alt=\"picture\" \/><\/a> <a href=\"http:\/\/farm9.static.flickr.com\/8114\/8653696113_fa639882c4.jpg\" title='view west from ridge 1'><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/farm9.static.flickr.com\/8114\/8653696113_fa639882c4_s.jpg\" alt=\"picture\" \/><\/a> <a href=\"http:\/\/farm9.static.flickr.com\/8244\/8653696501_df0ac43d4d.jpg\" title='looking south west from Bwlch Penbarra'><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/farm9.static.flickr.com\/8244\/8653696501_df0ac43d4d_s.jpg\" alt=\"picture\" \/><\/a> <a href=\"http:\/\/farm9.static.flickr.com\/8114\/8653696935_88707ccb00.jpg\" title='view west from ridge over Vale of Clwyd 1'><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/farm9.static.flickr.com\/8114\/8653696935_88707ccb00_s.jpg\" alt=\"picture\" \/><\/a> <a href=\"http:\/\/farm9.static.flickr.com\/8260\/8654798198_3d62a2d161.jpg\" title='view west from ridge over Vale of Clwyd 2'><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/farm9.static.flickr.com\/8260\/8654798198_3d62a2d161_s.jpg\" alt=\"picture\" \/><\/a> <a href=\"http:\/\/farm9.static.flickr.com\/8253\/8654798886_3ebe02da7a.jpg\" title='above Fron-bellaf'><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/farm9.static.flickr.com\/8253\/8654798886_3ebe02da7a_s.jpg\" alt=\"picture\" \/><\/a> <a href=\"http:\/\/farm9.static.flickr.com\/8241\/8653698505_bc99ac0514.jpg\" title='Fron-bellaf'><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/farm9.static.flickr.com\/8241\/8653698505_bc99ac0514_s.jpg\" alt=\"picture\" \/><\/a> <a href=\"http:\/\/farm9.static.flickr.com\/8104\/8653698871_20c7006ede.jpg\" title='mountain stream at Fron-bellaf'><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/farm9.static.flickr.com\/8104\/8653698871_20c7006ede_s.jpg\" alt=\"picture\" \/><\/a> <a href=\"http:\/\/farm9.static.flickr.com\/8246\/8654800004_cecb30764c.jpg\" title='Fron Goch'><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/farm9.static.flickr.com\/8246\/8654800004_cecb30764c_s.jpg\" alt=\"picture\" \/><\/a> <a href=\"http:\/\/farm9.static.flickr.com\/8107\/8653699437_933c18e7b5.jpg\" title='ewes and lambs at Bron-y-felin'><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/farm9.static.flickr.com\/8107\/8653699437_933c18e7b5_s.jpg\" alt=\"picture\" \/><\/a> <a href=\"http:\/\/farm9.static.flickr.com\/8121\/8653699853_19cc92e772.jpg\" title='snow-choked gully above Tyn-y-Celyn'><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/farm9.static.flickr.com\/8121\/8653699853_19cc92e772_s.jpg\" alt=\"picture\" \/><\/a> <a href=\"http:\/\/farm9.static.flickr.com\/8105\/8653700185_423e3e15ea.jpg\" title='stream gully above Tyn-y-Celyn'><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/farm9.static.flickr.com\/8105\/8653700185_423e3e15ea_s.jpg\" alt=\"picture\" \/><\/a> <a href=\"http:\/\/farm9.static.flickr.com\/8254\/8654801534_0f15e92502.jpg\" title='Jubilee Tower foundations on Moel Famau'><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/farm9.static.flickr.com\/8254\/8654801534_0f15e92502_s.jpg\" alt=\"picture\" \/><\/a><br \/>\nFacebook Link: <script src=\"http:\/\/connect.facebook.net\/en_US\/all.js#xfbml=1\"><\/script><fb:like href=\"http:\/\/www.christophersomerville.co.uk\/wordpress\/?p=636\" layout=\"button_count\" show_faces=\"true\" width=\"200\" colorscheme=\"dark\"><\/fb:like><br \/>\nWe watched the squalls marching through the Vale of Clwyd far below as we followed the broad stony track of Offa\u2019s Dyke Path north along the ridge.<\/p>\n<p>The Clwydian Hills make a hugely popular day out for local walkers; and Moel Famau, at 554m the summit of the 20-mile range, is the natural target with the stump of its ruined Jubilee Tower as an aiming point. Hikers, runners, strollers, dog-walkers, all were out striding the path in the buffeting wind, children running and tumbling in the heather, their parents crunching across the snow banks of last month\u2019s unseasonable blizzards.<\/p>\n<p>The Jubilee Tower was erected in 1810 for King George III\u2019s Golden Jubilee and blown down in a storm in 1862. Its blockhouse foundations sit across the peak of Moel Famau like a double-crowned cardinal\u2019s hat. Up on its walls we found we couldn\u2019t keep our feet \u2013 the wind literally pushed us off that hilltop, tears in our eyes, the breath rammed back in our throats. There was time for a glimpse of the snow-streaked crests of the Berwyn Hills in the south, and then we had left the Offa\u2019s Dyke Path and the wind-blasted ridge, and were skeltering down a green hillside into the calm airs of the Vale of Clwyd.<\/p>\n<p>A string of small sheep farms runs north to south in the shelter of the Clwydian Hills. Above Tyn-y-celyn we crossed a fast-running hill torrent, ice-cold from snowmelt, and turned back along a path through sheep pastures. Ewes issued their throaty, peremptory calls to the lambs who came in pairs to look us over, their large ears sticking out and filtering the sun into a pink glow. We crossed a patch of unmelted snow, stamping our boots into the icy crust to get a grip, and went on south above the slate-roofed farms that crouched among shelter trees \u2013 Tyddyn Norbury, Bron-y-felin, Fron Goch, Fron Ganol, Fron Bellaf, ringing names to a Saesneg ear.<\/p>\n<p>At Fron Bellaf we crossed a stream where daffodils were still in bud, and took the old green road up over the shoulder of the hill, climbing back towards Offa\u2019s Dyke Path once more. The gale came rushing to meet us, the sky raced from peak to peak, and an old crow\u2019s nest rocked in the fork of a weather-skinned thorn tree, seething to itself in the wind.<\/p>\n<p>Start: Bwylch Penbarras car park, Llanbedr-Dyffryn-Clwyd, LL15 1US approx. (OS ref SJ 161606).<\/p>\n<p>Getting there: Bus \u2013 Free shuttle bus from Loggerheads (denbighshirecounytryside.co.uk) in summer<br \/>\nRoad \u2013 A494 from Mold towards Ruthin. In Llanbedr-Dyffryn-Clwyd, just before church, right up L\u00f4n Cae Glas. Bear left along L\u00f4n y Mynydd to Bwylch Penbarras car park at top of road.<\/p>\n<p>WALK (5 miles, moderate, OS Explorer 265):<\/p>\n<p>From car park follow Offa\u2019s Dyke Path\/ODP to Moel Famau tower (162626) and on. In \u2153 mile cross side track in dip (156628); in next dip, left off ODP (152630, fingerpost, yellow arrow\/YA). Descend slope, looking to left for marker posts on a clear downward track. Follow it down. At bottom, cross stream (143628); in 200m, above Tyn-y-Celyn farm, sharp left (142627, waymark post) back along wall. Recross stream; on beside wall\/fence. In \u2153 mile, YA points ahead (144622), but you hairpin right to cross stile; ahead along drive. At entrance to Bron-y-felin farmyard (144620), left through gate; bear right above and round farm; ahead through field gate and on with hedge on right. Keep same contour above Fron Goch (144616, stile, YA). At Fron Bellaf cross stream; left to cross stile (YA); climb bank ahead. Ignore first green track you cross, and YA pointing right; keep climbing to fence (147612). Turn left here, following fence on green track. In 200m cross stile; up slope for 50m, then left on grassy track, climbing for \u00bd mile. At top, ignore first stile on right (154609); ahead with fence on right for 200m to cross next stile. Ahead to join ODP (157608); right to car park.<\/p>\n<p>Lunch: Griffin Inn, Llanbedr-Dyffryn-Clwyd (1824-702792; <a href=\"http:\/\/griffinllanbedr.co.uk\">griffinllanbedr.co.uk<\/a>) \u2013 cosy and friendly<\/p>\n<p>Moel Famau Country Park: <a href=\"http:\/\/moelfamau.co.uk\">moelfamau.co.uk<\/a><\/p>\n<p>Information:  Ruthin TIC (01824-703992); <a href=\"http:\/\/visitwales.co.uk\">visitwales.co.uk<\/a>;<br \/>\n<A HREF=\"http:\/\/www.ramblers.org.uk\/\">www.ramblers.org.uk<\/A> <A HREF=\"http:\/\/www.satmap.com\/\">www.satmap.com<\/A> <A HREF=\"http:\/\/www.LogMyTrip.co.uk\/\">www.LogMyTrip.co.uk<\/A><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Rain and gales over north-east Wales, with the Clwydian Hills bathed one moment in brilliant sunshine, the next in grey showers chased northwards by the wind<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[3],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-636","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-walks","category-3-id","post-seq-1","post-parity-odd","meta-position-corners","fix"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.christophersomerville.co.uk\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/636","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.christophersomerville.co.uk\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.christophersomerville.co.uk\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.christophersomerville.co.uk\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.christophersomerville.co.uk\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=636"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.christophersomerville.co.uk\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/636\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.christophersomerville.co.uk\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=636"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.christophersomerville.co.uk\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=636"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.christophersomerville.co.uk\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=636"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}