B Walk from Loggerheads

Walk Leader: Beverley Kelly
Total Distance:  8 miles app
Total ascent/descent: 1900ft

B Route [anticlockwise] click to enlarge

At 1818ft Moel Famau - which means "Mother Mountain" in Welsh - is the highest summit in the Clwydian Range. Topped by the Jubilee Tower, built to celebrate  George 3, this iconic landmark is visible for many miles around, including Formby if the conditions are right.

It sits in the middle of the heather-clad hills of the central part of the Range and offers stunning views across the Vale of Clwyd to Snowdonia and the North Wales coast.
 
Moel Famau and much of the surrounding land make up Moel Famau Country Park, which attracts about 200,000 visitors each year.

We shall start the walk with a gentle but lovely walk along the River Alyn with the sound of water and chirping of birdsong as the river bed gently drops leaving us some 100 ft above it. We pass evidence of mining and other interesting features. A short steep bit of road then we are across fields and woodland towards the charming little village (Pentre) of Cilcain.We shall detour through Cilcain to view the delightful features including "The White Horse Inn".

Leaving Cilcain we start the climb to Moel Famua which we can see in the distance. By the small reservoir we shall probably stop for lunch with a nice sheltered (providing it isn't raining) view. 

As the views open out we traverse heather pathways heading for the trees just below the summit. From here  it is just a short distance to the Jubilee Tower at the top.

Our way down is gentle and easy as we circuit Frith Mountain, passing a WW2 decoy on the way. We do encounter a bit of mud on the final stretches, but then it is a bit of roadwalking to reach the cafe back at Loggerheads.

This is a good first walk of the season with a bit of a challenge, but we have plenty of time as the coach should arrive by 0930hrs and we will go the pace of the slowest. I can assure you that I will not be running up Moel Famua.