Introduction
At last, I got to Wales, and ascended two peaks on this lovely early autumn day.
I normally keep my walks within an hour’s drive, but todays was one and a half hours away.
From Rhewl, 410 feet above seal level, this walk rises to Moel y Gamelin, 1900 feet above sea level, drops dramatically to a col, 1426 feet above sea level, then rises again to Moel Morfydd, 1800 feet above sea level.
Plotted on the OS Map the walk is 5.4 miles, but my phone tells me that I walked over 7 miles today. Perhaps the steep slopes significantly reduced my step length, and confused the phone. Whatever, with a monster total 2100 feet of ascent, it certainly felt like more than 5.4 miles!
It took me 3 hours 15 minutes to complete the walk, plus 15 minutes for lunch.
Most of the walk is on open moorland with sheep grazing, so dogs must be kept on a lead, unless well behaved and controlled.
I walked in an anticlockwise direction.
The walk is on OS Explorer Map 256.
I parked in a spot immediately opposite the small chapel in Rhewl, postcode LL20 7YT, What 3 Words ///argue.giggles.hike
Rhewl To Moel y Gamelin
I stepped out of the car, and the air was fresh and silent. A glorious day!
I set off past the chapel and took the signposted path to the right, seemingly up someone’s front drive!
Through the gate, I entered a pretty clough with a bubbling stream, trees young and old, and ferns on the turn from green to bronze..
Emerging into a field, I began to climb my my first mountain, Maesyrychen. The view was immediately stunning, along the valley of the River Dee.
After a stile, the route was not along a track, but on a narrow path, up the hillside. This path was not well used, and required careful footing through the bracken, and a fallen silver birch tree.
A little while further the path became easier, following the edge of a conifer plantation, then rising to a huge pile of discarded slate workings.
Skirting the left hand side of the “tip”, there was a brief flatter section, the view still stunning.
The colours of the gorse, heather bracken and grass here were beautifully contrasted.
I reached the base of the final ascent to the first of my two peaks, and took one more picture of the view!
Nearing the summit at Moel y Gamelin, I was surprised to look back at the “tip” and see bulldozers and other machinery still at work in the quarry! Such a contrast with the beautiful scenery all around.
As I came over the top to the summit, I was surprised to come across three humans and a dog, the first I’d met all day!
Steve, and his dog, stayed awhile and photos were taken as we admired the view, and the path to Moel Morfydd (behind us on these pictures).
On To Moel Morfydd
Steve set out westwards ahead of me.
I enjoyed the views to the south, north and east for a little while longer. The town of Llangollen is in the Dee valley, in the left hand picture below.
I followed Steve. I mentioned the dramatic drop to the col between the two peaks in my introduction. It is precipitous. At the edge, I could just see Steve at the bottom.
After a careful descent on the scree path, I made my way up Llantysilio Mountain to the further summit, Moel Morfydd.
Mike and Helen, who I’d briefly met on the first peak, had been strolling along here, so I joined them for a while, discussing their holiday from Herefordshire, my upcoming trip to The Cotswolds, and Mike’s love for Forest Green Rovers FC.
At the trig point, we exchanged photos!
The Descent Back To Rhewl
Yes! All downhill from here. Mind, that can be hard on the knees, but it was so easy to just enjoy the views.
Turning to head east, the sight of the medieval Castell Dinas BrĂ¢n sitting atop a hill overlooking Llangollen brought happy memories of our stay on the side of the river in the town. We visited the castle, and Jordan scared us all by running down the hillside at a faster rate than planned, and unable to stop himself falling over rather dramatically.
The final section took me down a lovely wooded valley, past Cymmo Farm, and almost to the River Dee.
Well, that was a belter, and definitely worth the extra driving time to get here!
And Finally….
I’ve been listening to the new album “Borderlands” by The Milk this week. I’d describe it as soft soul music, see what you think. This is the title track.