{"id":1008478,"date":"2024-03-07T16:51:53","date_gmt":"2024-03-07T16:51:53","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.half-daywalker.com\/?p=1008478"},"modified":"2024-03-07T16:51:56","modified_gmt":"2024-03-07T16:51:56","slug":"ffrith-and-bwlchgwyn-near-wrexham","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.half-daywalker.com\/?p=1008478","title":{"rendered":"Ffrith And Bwlchgwyn Near Wrexham"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Introduction<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

The forecast was for a misty day, clearing during the morning. I woke to clear blue skies and headed optimistically down the M56 to Wales.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

It\u2019s a 1 hour drive from Cheadle Hulme to Ffrith.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

By the time I reached the Welsh border the mist had closed in. Sadly, it remained murky throughout the walk. It was also cold, with the thermometer at 5 deg C throughout the walk.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The walk is almost 6 miles long, with 1080feet of ascent, and it took about 3 hours , plus half a quarter hour for lunch.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

This is generally a great walk for dogs, mainly on tracks and barely used roads, barring the obvious village section at Bwlchgwyn. However, there is one part across Coed Pen-y-nant (lower left of map that is impassable with a dog, and to be avoided by any less than very agile humans. This could be omitted by reducing or extending the walk, though I can’t vouch for the viability of alternative routes.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

I walked in a clockwise direction.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The walk is on OS Explorer Map 256.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

I parked outside The Poacher’s Cottage, a micropub currently undergoing refurbishment, postcode LL11 5LH.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Ffrith To Bwlchgwyn<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

The profile of the walk is very much first half uphill, second half downhill, but it’s never really steep.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Before the ascent the walk offers a view of the pretty River Cegidog in the village. <\/p>\n\n\n

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Heading up Valley Road, a surprise awaits, a lovely, substantial, disused railway viaduct crossing the Nant y Ffrith valley.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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After the viaduct, I took the left hand path up the valley. It’s a stone path through woodland, emerging where another disused railway crosses over.<\/p>\n\n\n

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Beyond here, the landscape opens out, with views back down towards Ffrith.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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The path continues to rise steadily to Glascoed Road, and on again to Cefn Road. There were plenty of friendly horses along the way.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Approaching the village, there are views down the valley that are probably quite beautiful on a sunny day!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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It’s a decent sized village, and the brown sign on the side of the pub advises that it’s the highest village in Wales!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Nant Road To Coed Pen-y-nant<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

After twice crossing the relatively quiet A525,I made my way along and down Nant Road, where the houses enjoy a stunning aspect.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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The road almost becomes a track as it heads down to the valley.<\/p>\n\n\n

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at the bottom, the brook is lovely, and it’s a very pretty spot, as shown in the header picture (downstream) and in this picture (upstream). <\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Rising from the valley, I soon left the road to the right, and then a path to the left. More lovely countryside.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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It’s a good path, but my route right across Coed Pen-y-nant is nowhere to be seen. To continue my route, I had to climb over a barbed wire fence, which was quite low, and the several further fences, such as this one, where the gate has been fenced off..<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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I approached the point where my non-existant path meets another at a small building. The building is in fact only an outline of stone, about 4 feet high, but it has to be climbed over and jumped off to reach the other side! All very unsatisfactory.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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The bridleway is also poorly marked, and to cap it all, when I reached the road, the path is well signed, but completely fenced off from the roadway! No barbed wire, but still uncrossable for a dog!<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n

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Through The Woods And Back To Ffrith<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

The road winds across a fairly flat landscape towards the woods.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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I head onto the forestry track, and come across this random, dilapidated play equipment.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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From here, the path leaves the track and heads into the woods for a while.<\/p>\n\n\n

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I carefully noted the path dividing, and took the right hand route, going sharply downhill, where it became very mossy. Check this out moss lovers!<\/p>\n\n\n

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There was an unusual planting of trees with exposed roots as I neared a return to the forestry track.<\/p>\n\n\n

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It was standard fare on the track now, and I made good time.<\/p>\n\n\n

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At the end of the forest, a path led round a farm, with more equine interest.<\/p>\n\n\n

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Beyond the farm, a rather random boat had run aground!!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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And the view up the valley included the ubiquitous abandoned JCB!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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And so, I returned to the spectacular viaduct to complete my walk.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Each time I walk in Wales I seem to find paths that are totally disrespected by landowners. But this, and the dull weather didn’t spoil my day in this delightful, and very much off the tourist trail, walk.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

And Finally….<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

I’m loving Liam Gallacher’s new album in collaboration with John Squire. It ranges from quite poppy to quite heavy metal.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

This track is You’re Not The Only One, and it’s just good old rock and roll. Could be Status Quo!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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