Pen y Cloddiau: – Flintshire.
Height:
1410 feet or 430 metres
Distance to summit:
1.1 miles or 1.73 kilometres
Time to summit:
0.75 hour to 1 hour
Difficulty:
Moderate. The climb is steep in places although overall fairly easy.
Getting there:
Take the A541 from Mold and travel through the village of Hendre. Take the left
turn into Nannerch, marked “Fly Fishing”.
Take the first left, sign posted to Llandyrnog. Keep to this narrow tarmac lane
for 4 kilometres (2.5 miles) until you see the car park on your right.
Alternatively, you can get there from the B5429 in Llandyrnog by following the
signs from Nannerch.
Parking:
Park in the free car park on the right (or left if coming from Llandyrnog). This is
the Coed Llangwfan car park.
The Area
Pen y Cloddiau is a short distance from Moel Arthur. Both are set on heather
moorland and are part of the Clwydian Range of mountains. Vast areas are
given over to sheep which roam quite freely throughout the area.
Pen y Cloddiau lies on Offa’s Dyke Path which links Chepstow (in the south) to
Prestatyn (in the north) via a series of linked footpaths. Overall, Offa’s Dyke
Path stretches some 190 miles.
Directions.
Leave the car park via the gate and follow the signs for Offa’s Dyke Path. Make
sure that you take the path to the right up through the trees.
You are now on Offa’s Dyke Path. Continue up; the path runs close to a fence
and stone wall on your right.
You will reach a wooden stile on you right. Go over the stile and continue to
follow the sign posts for Offa’s Dyke Path. At the second post, keep left and
then bear right (about 20 paces) up the hill. Continue to follow the signs until
you reach the summit.
.
At the summit.
(View looking north towards Moel y Parc)
You will be able to see the ramparts protecting this hill fort.
If you are lucky enough to have a clear day you will have commanding views
of the surrounding area. If the air is clear, you will be able to see down into the
Clwyd Valley and across to Liverpool.
Find a large stone and add it to the pile – and make a wish!
Here’s a question for you;
What is the tall structure you see to the north?
Return walk.
Retrace the steps of your ascent.
Refreshments.
There is the Cross Foxes in Nannerch or the Kinmel Arms Tavern in
Llandyrnog.