Halkyn Mountain is about 300m years-old and A tale of real skulduggery! A local 12th century Welsh hero was was formed by being squashed between two poisoned at Ffagnallt Hall (to the West) and his dying curse ice sheets. It has been occupied since Neolithic keeps to this day, for if his skull is removed from the Hall disaster Ramblers’ times and supports a variety of wildlife habitats will befall the household. Association After pausing for a rest climb back to the top and go over This walk is designed to be as long as you like up to 5¾ N. Wales Area miles. Twin masts are visible most of the way around & to the right to pick up a path going (right) down towards the if you find you have taken perhaps too much time on village of Rhes-y-Cae. When you reach the road go left Moel-y-Gaer enjoying the views, just head back to the along it for a short while (lots of stemless thistle here) and twin masts to return to the Blue Bell Inn. then pick up a track going up right. Follow this to the road and turn left once more to the school (Ysgol Rhes-y-Cae). Leave the Blue Bell Inn car park and turn right up Turn right, passing the school on your left, then at the the hill passing Bryn Helyg and the capped Lewis Shaft on the opposite side note: Spring Sandwort in village boundary sign turn right on to a path crossing the abundance & the sea fossils in the walls & rocks. Follow common. You are heading for the single mast on the the road and at the junction, take care of the traffic horizon. When you reach this low ridge at the hamlet of & walk past the obelisk & seat on the right to take the Windmill turn right. another broad green track up on to the common. In 1660 sails were bought in Wrexham Fair for a windmill (that s d s d In 1868 the Barracks (to the left) was used to house 28 used to be here) at the cost of £1.3 .10 & £1.5 .2 . d miners Monday to Friday at 3 a week. They were from Go past the back of the bungalow on the common and Derbyshire & Cornwall and worked the local lead mines. follow the broad track to the road junction a great place for Moel-y-Gaer and Halkyn At the junction of the tracks turn left and head for field mushrooms. Common from the the hamlet of Berth Ddu (pronounced Berth Thee) & Cross over & go straight ahead over a broad track & up the the Hill Fort on Moel-y-Gaer in the distance. Walk hill towards the Twin Masts. When you reach the masts to the right of the cottage along the tarmac road Blue Bell Inn turn left and retrace your steps to us at the Blue Bell Inn. soon becoming a muddy track, follow through and on to the ramparts of the 1,000 foot Moel-y-Gaer. Notes: A walk of up to 5¾ miles around the twin • Please keep dogs on a short lead at all times. masts on Halkyn Mountain, a 1,000 hectare This impressive hill fort is at least 4,500 years old giving • Wear good quality shoes or boots & keep to recognised o common that has been mined for lead and stunning 360 70mile+ N Wales & NW England views. paths & tracks. quarried for stone for over 2,000 years. Turn left and walk around this magnificent view • Follow the Countryside Code. point. When you reach the large Green Bank • Take particular care near old mine workings. The mountain (reservoir) on your right go down the broad green is covered with old, deep & vertical mine shafts in various Built in the mid 1700s at the crossroads of two stages of repair. Report re-opened shafts to the Grosvenor track toward the track (road) to the right of the old coaching routes, the Blue Bell Inn is Estate Office 01244 684400. houses. When the track finishes walk go directly purportedly named after a local privateer’s boat ahead along one of the sheep tracks to the road. Walkabout Flintshire (Part of the nationwide 'Walking the Way the Blue Bell. Legend has it that he was later Follow this through the hamlet of Moel-y-Crio, to Health' scheme) A programme of FREE led walks which run caught and hanged for his piracy and is thought known of old as the Hill of Lamentation. Climb up the throughout the year, suitable for all abilities and age groups to be buried a few hundred yards away in the Kame & enjoy the view while looking for sea shells. to improve people's health and well being through regular walking. For more cemetery next to Halkyn Castle. When you reach the fork in the road go straight information please contact: across to a track going to the summit of the Foel, Rachel Cooper, Walkabout Flintshire Co-ordinator, This walk can count towards on Moel Ffagnallt. Known of old as the Hill of Blood – the 'footprints' incentive scheme 01978 757524 from the fort on Moel-y-Gaer then to Moel-y-Crio and simply add it to your 'footprints' finally here, it is said were brought those for execution. { [email protected] diary and get your There is a viewpoint and seat on the Rhes-y-Cae Copies of this walk & the countryside code are available from the Blue walking buddy or the Blue Bell Inn staff to side of the summit. Take time to look at the Bell Inn, Halkyn and its web site where you can also get a route map to the pub. Leaflet developed & produced by the Ramblers’ Association, sign that you have Millennium Cairn here full of fossils and tiny Countryside Council for Wales, Walkabout Flintshire and the Blue Bell done the walk! specs of gold. Inn, Halkyn. Walk One, Version 2.1 Birds – All Year Round: Black-headed Gull, Blue Tit, Bullfinch, Buzzard, Chaffinch, Coal Tit, Common Gull, Carrion Crow, Dunnock, Goldfinch, Great Tit, Greenfinch, Grey Heron, House Sparrow , Jackdaw, Jay, Kestrel, Magpie, Meadow Pipit, Mistle Thrush, Peregrine, Pied Wagtail, Raven, Red Kite, Robin, Rook, Song Thrush, Wren.

This leaflet is produced for free but we hope you might find it so useful you might wish to donate to the Friends of Walkabout Flintshire who are endeavouring to keep Walkabout Flintshire healthy by providing funds to maintain the free walks we all enjoy.

Birds – Summer visitors: Blackcap, Chiffchaff, Cuckoo, Hobby, House Martin, Lapwing, Linnet, Little Owl, Redstart, Skylark, Sparrowhawk, Stonechat, Swallow, Swift, Whitethroat, Willow Warbler, Yellowhammer.

Birds – Winter Visitors: Canada Geese (fly over), Curlew, Fieldfare, Greylag Goose (fly-over), Jacksnipe, Pink-Footed Goose (fly over), Pintail, Redwing, Snipe, Starling, Woodcock

Our thanks to the RSPB for allowing us to use their reference links.