magazine spring 2011 magazine spring 2011 Wales Wales 10/02/2011 12:07 05 Ceredigion Coast Path, Cardiganshire 06 Offa’s Dyke, northeast Wales l Distance 22½km/14 miles l time 6-7hrs l type Coastal l Distance 12km/7½ miles l time 6hrs l type Lowland, National trail

NavigatioN FitNess NavigatioN FitNess 1/2 level 1/2 3 level 3 2 level 2 2 level2

feature p61 plan your walk plan your walk see l WaLes Halton l New Quay Bronygarth l l aberporth Llechrydau Whittington l

Cardigan l Newcastle l

emlyn troP

Where: Linear walk from Where: Linear walk from New Quay to aberporth. oswestry, , to Start: New Quay, car park Llangollen, Denbighshire. hy: aLaMy PhotograPhy: in Church Road (sN387599) oNa BarL FI PhotograPhy: Start: oswestry old – bus stop nearby. The 96km/60-mile Ceredigion 1. START a former shipbuilding Racecourse Country Offa’s Dyke Path National Trail dyke running parallel, and turn end: aberporth, car park Coast Path stretches from the centre, New Quay is a popular Park (sJ256303). offers a huge diversity of R at the junction marked above beach (sN258515) Dyfi estuary in the north to the holiday resort today – not to be end: Pontcysyllte aqueduct landscapes, from challenging Carreg-y-big (sJ252323). Leave – bus stop nearby. Teifi in the south, where it links confused with North Cornwall’s Llangollen (sJ270421). upland sections to wildlife-rich the road and cross the stile, terrain: Well-signed with the Pembrokeshire Coast equally popular Newquay! Dylan terrain: Mainly clear paths lowland stretches. This particular taking a L turn along the dyke coastal path along rugged Path. It was officially opened in thomas lived here for a time and and lots of open farmland, section, roughly Oswestry to towards the western flank of cliffs – some stretches 2008 after work on the final new used it as the model for Llareggub plus some wooded sections. llangollen, is less physically selattyn Hill (sJ251341). quite high – with a final stretches was completed. Much (if you need it pointing out, try MapS: os explorer 240 & demanding than some. But it section along paved path. of this work – which included spelling the name backwards...) 256; Landranger 126 & 117. does offer clear, well-defined 2. From the B4579 near Craignant, MapS: os explorer 198; clearing and excavating new in his play Under Milk Wood. GettinG there: gobowen sections of the dyke itself, veer R, then sharp L to descend Landranger 145. paths and installing bridges, turn R out of the car park and (for oswestry); Ruabon crossing the english-Welsh border into the valley to rejoin the dyke. GettinG there: Richards gates and stiles – was done take the next L (Mason’s square), (for Llangollen) train several times over, and a Cling to the dyke now for a mile Brothers bus 550 between by volunteers, notably from which bears round to the R to stations on arriva trains dramatic, UNeSCO-listed site. or so, crossing stiles and small Cardigan & aberystwyth Ceredigion Ramblers. A fine become Water street, then go Holyhead and lines Surfing the top of the dyke with streams, but always keeping via aberporth & New Quay example (which you’ll see for L again along Lewis terrace. respectively (✆ 0871 200 views of the Ceiriog valley, a the dyke to your L. Ride the crest (✆ 01239 613756, www. yourself on this walk) is the this leads to the Coast Path and 2233; www.www.traveline. brush with history on the fringe of the dyke (sJ259370) before richardsbros.co.uk). there’s splendid stretch of path cut into some of Ceredigion’s finest cliffs. info), then taxi to the of Chirk Castle and a final, crossing farmland to meet the a mainline railway station trailheads (Berwyn Cars of the formidably steep cliff-side, Just over 1km/²⁄³-mile along the triumphant stride across the shropshire border (sJ264375) in aberystwyth (✆ 0871 200 south of Cwmtydu. Before it was Coast Path you’ll reach a restored gobowen, ✆ 01691 652000). highest navigable aqueduct ever and descend into the hamlet of 2233, www.traveline.info). created, walkers were obliged look-out shelter above Birds Rock eatinG & drinkinG: built, add lots of colour and Castle Mill (sJ263376), where you eatinG & drinkinG: good to follow an inland route along – the most important seabird sebastian’s, oswestry interest to this heritage-rich walk. meet the B4500. selection of places to eat in roads. This linear walk – which colony in the county. thousands (✆ 01691 655444; www. New Quay, Llangrannog and includes some of the most of guillemots perch on the sebastians-hotel.co.uk); 1. START from oswestry old 3. to visit Chirk Castle from here, aberporth; cafés en route spectacular scenery of the ledges from March to July, the Corn Mill, Llangollen Racecourse (sJ256303) and head divert R from the National trail at at Cwmtydu and Penbryn. whole Coast Path – is easily while kittiwakes can be seen (✆ 01978 869555; www. north, joining the minor road Castle Mill and follow the seasonal

SleepinG: good choice of accomplished with the aid of here between May and august. www.brunningandprice. at a junction marked oswestry permissive path for ¾ mile. this ▲

accommodation in and ▲ the regular bus services between it’s about 6.5km/4 miles from New co.uk/cornmill). (sJ258310). Follow the selattyn waymarked route rejoins offa’s New Quay and Aberporth. Quay to Cwmtydu. road for 1,200m, with the Dyke Path at tyn-y-groes (open ▼ ▼ 53-54 WALK30 WALES ROUTEMASTER.indd.indd 1

Ordnance Survey mapping © Crown copyright. AM34/08 START 1 roup: g

: Ceredigion nformation: nformation: i ambler S 2 al r itor C S uidebook o Vi S g l around New Quay, around New Quay, including Llainfran House B&B (and self-catering in Stable Cottage next door), Nanternis, New Quay ( ✆ 01545 561243, www.llainfran.co.uk). Accommodation is also available at Llangrannog and Aberporth. Aberaeron TIC ( ✆ 01545 570602); Cardigan TIC ( ✆ 01239 613230, www. tourism.ceredigion.gov.uk). Coast Path by Gerald Morgan (£10, Ceredigion County Council, ISBN 9780953438334); Walking the Ceredigion Coast Path by Liz Allan (£4.95, Kittiwake, ISBN 9781902302676). Cardigan & District Ramblers ( ✆ 01239 710858, www. ceredigionramblers.org.uk/ cardigangroup). Continued...

3 There are more fine views -mile on a surfaced path. The ³ people, including dry-slope skiing, which you’ll be able to see – you’ll pass a stone memorial which commemorates the official opening of the Coast Path in 2008. The Path then goes round the slopes of Pen-y-Badell (topped by a hill-fort), before descending to the picturesque village of Llangrannog, which has a lovely sandy beach. 3. looking back as you carry on south from Llangrannog. You head inland slightly from the coast to descend National Penbryn, continuing Trust-owned down some steps through woodland, over a footbridge and back down to the coast. It’s to an easy walk from Tresaith Aberporth, with the last 1km/ ²⁄ bus stop is just up the road (Rhiw y Plas) opposite the church. Route devised by Fiona Barltrop

Map not to scale. Representation of OS Landranger MAP 145 1:50,000 www.ordnancesurvey.co.uk

The small cove of Cwmtydu FINISH cut into the sheer sides. It may look a little unnerving, but it’s quite safe and broad enough not to induce vertigo. In the distance is the Lochtyn headland and small tidal island of Ynys Lochtyn – its outline is used as the logo for the Coast Path signs. Just before reaching the Urdd Centre – which provides activities for young the cliffs ahead, with the path the cliffs 2. is owned by the National Trust. parking above the stony There’s beach and an old lime kiln on the other side of road. Follow the road for a short distance, soon turning R – as signed – to go past the public toilets and over a footbridge. The path heads inland briefly before turning back R and path. climbing to the cliff-top There are dramatic views back down over Cwmtydu and to the beyond. Soon, there are cliffs even more impressive views of

Ordnance Survey mapping © Crown copyright. AM34/08

5 6 3

4

START START 1 2 car park, turning L on the B5434 to rejoin the canal towpath. 6. The final section (not on the is a 4-mile saunter National Trail) along the towpath to Llangollen, descending Wharf Hill to walk into town across its historic bridge. Route devised by Rob Dingle, Dyke Path National Offa’s Officer Trail

Map not to scale. Representation of MAP 240OS Explorer 1:25,000 www.ordnancesurvey.co.uk FINISH a ¾-mile crossing of the River Dee via the Pontcysyllte Aqueduct might want to (SJ270421). You hold onto the rail at side, but do stop to marvel at the views and at Thomas Telford’s civil engineering masterpiece. Basin – Continue to the Trevor a good spot to stop for cup of tea amongst the narrow boats on a fine day – and then exit the

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01691 662753, The Offa’s : The Offa’s ✆ The Wynnstay ambler S al r itor information: itor information: C S uidebook o Sleeping: Sleeping: g Vi S l www.oswestry-welshborders. org.uk); Llangollen TIC ( ✆ 01978 860828, www. borderlands.co.uk). Hotel, Oswestry ( ✆ 01691 655261, www. wynnstayhotel.com); Cornerstones B&B, Llangollen ( ✆ 01978 861569, www.cornerstones- guesthouse.co.uk). Oswestry TIC ( Dyke Path by David Hunter (£12.95, Cicerone, ISBN 9781852845490, available from The Ramblers Bookshop, www.ramblers. Dyke Offa’s eclector.com); Path North by Ernie & Kathy Kay and Mark Richards (£12.99, Aurum Press, ISBN 9781845133122). Oswestry Ramblers ( ✆ 01691 780722, www. shropshireramblers.org.uk). Continued... from April to September). The official trail, open year-round, swings L around the western flank of the estate for one mile, with a fine view of Chirk Castle (SJ257384). Emerging from woodland, bear R and follow the path, turning R at Tyn-y-groes. 4. This 3-mile section heads northeast through a waymarked set of kissing gates across farmland. After crossing the A5 on your R, you are the last section of the dyke in this walk heading north, with the village looming on the horizon. of Trevor After the B5605, turn L to follow the Llangollen Canal towpath (SJ285407) for one mile to the swing footbridge at Froncysyllte. 5. Do not cross the swing bridge but continue on the towpath for the dramatic climax of walk:

53-54 WALK30 WALES ROUTEMASTER.indd.indd 2 10/02/2011 12:08