The B T R Overall area of PO i Stage 3 CeiriogValleyWalk Overall area of Stage 4 Overall area of  Stage 1 B B P B B T R WC PO Dolywern R WC Fully Way- marked T i Pont Faen Bridge PO B T R B T Overall area of Overall area of Stage 2 Stage 6 Overall area of B T R Pandy Stage 5 Place name Pronunciation Meaning Y Waun Uh-Wine The Moor Pont Faen Pont-Vine Stone Bridge Buzzards Bronygarth Bron-uh-garth Hillside Enclosure Pontfadog Pont-vad-og Madog’s Bridge Overall area of Dolywern Doll-uh-wern Swampy Meadow Stage 7 B T Glyn Ceiriog Glin-key-re-og The Glen of Ceiriog Pandy Pan-dee Fulling Mill Tregeiriog Tray-gee-re-og “Town” of Ceiriog Llanarmon Thlan-ar-mon Saint Garmon’s village Dyffryn Ceiriog Duff-rin Key-re-og in the

Llanarmon Dyffryn Ceiriog ‘“The tranquil and unspoilt B T R WC Ceiriog Valley” (WC open in Summer) Pheasants “A haven of Welsh history and culture” “The bubbling torrent falls 1740 feet B4500 P R in its 22 mile journey from source to Main Valley road Car Park Refreshments confluence with the Dee” Side road T Public Telephone B Bus Stop. Remember, the “Remnants of the Glyn Valley Bus will stop on request at any Main Valley Walk route PO Post Office point on the main valley road. Tramway hug the river banks” Route to a Bus Stop “A valley of great Welsh poets” Alternate route WC Public Toilet i Tourist Information Point DownDDownvalleyownvalleyvalley Stage 1 DownDDownvalleyownvalleyvalley Stage 1 Stage 1 Marina To and Start the walk from Chirk, either from the car park behind A choice now - you can aim for Chirk via “The Aqueduct the Hand Hotel (1a) or from the Train Station (1b). Walk” (35 mins); or the shorter 20 mins. “Castle Woods” walk Rail to Chester 1a. The Aqueduct Walk direct to the train station. B5070 Chirk Chirk Car Park to Pont Faen 1a. The Aqueduct Walk Chirk Train B P B T Distance 1.5 km. Height gain 20 metres Pont Faen to Chirk Station  B R WC PO (65 ft). Time 30 mins. There is a bus stop at Pont Faen. B4500 Church Leave the car park through the ‘No Exit’ way, Distance 1.5 km. Height gain 35 metres Caravan i Chirk Castle Gates Park turning left on to the main street. Continue past (112 ft). Time 35 mins. 1b the church and begin to go down the hill. About B4500 1a Standing on the bridge, face the main road and go Pont Faen Bridge Aqueduct 100 yards after leaving the last building in town, through the kissing gate on your right. Walk along the Trout farm Viaduct cross the stile on your left. Follow the grassy river bank for 9 mins. to pass under the great railway B T B5070 River Ceiriog Main route track to the right downhill, then bear left towards viaduct, then the canal aqueduct built in 1801 before River Ceiriog the old mill building. Cross the footbridge over railways were even invented! Follow for another 8 Fishing j Canal mins. along the riverbank to a brick building and T Rail to the old mill race, go over the stile and keep ahead to a metal gate. Go through a gap left of the gate ascend the ramp to the main road (until recently the A5 London to Holyhead trunk road). Carefully cross Castle Woods and To and carefully cross the road and through the 1 kilometre the road. Left of the drive into the former mill, take a Shrewsbury kissing gate opposite. Continue down the track The Aqueduct Walk 0.5 miles gap between two metal gates onto an initially tarmac and follow the river bank, passing under the The area around Chirk has seen many changes point for the River Ceiriog, the oldest bridge in path. Keep ahead alongside the old millrace. After a massive aqueduct and viaduct. Keep to the the stile and a little footbridge keep ahead on the path over the centuries. Many hands, from the Celts, the valley being the bridge at Pont Faen, which river bank on your left until you get to a stone which swings right, up towards an old stonewall. Steps Romans, Welsh and English have modified the carried the Chester / road! The later bridge. Pass through the kissing gate and turn left and a stile lead to the main road for the final 5 mins. settlements. Holyhead / London coach road, built by Thomas onto Pont Faen (Stone Bridge). into the centre of Chirk and the Hand Hotel. In 1282, when Llewelyn, Prince of was Telford, also crosses the river at Chirk. is on the other side! OR 1b. Castle Woods defeated and killed by Edward I, the land around The developments in industry and transport 1b. Castle Woods Chirk was confiscated and handed to Roger during the 18th and 19th century saw the Pont Faen to Chirk Train Station Chirk Train Station to Pont Faen Mortimer. The creation of a borough charter in expansion of small-scale mining operations. The Distance 1 km. Height gain 30 metres 1324 cemented English rule over the area now coal mines at , Black Park and Distance 1 km. Height Gain negligible. (100 ft). Time 20 mins. known as Chirkland, though it always remained Brynkinalt needed a means of transport. The Time 15 mins. From the bridge, face the main road. Ignore the within Wales. building of Telford and Jessop’s canal and aqueduct Leaving the station, turn R, crossing the railway kissing gate on right and walk uphill on the main road in the valley in 1801 provided the vital link with bridge and canal tunnel, ahead for 5 mins. to the for 100 metres to take a footpath forking left up Chirkland was sold to Sir Thomas Myddelton at through woodland. 200 metres up the path it passes the end of the 15th century. His descendants lived the . With the development of impressive castle gates. Turn left onto the sometimes gated tarmac drive. Where the drive through a low stonewall and 15 metres beyond, turn in and developed Chirk over the centuries. His steam the masterpiece was slightly overshadowed left onto a walled track. Pass a caravan park and keep bends left into the caravan park, keep ahead. At a family still reside in Chirk castle to this day. by Brassey’s magnificent railway viaduct in 1852. ahead to reach the splendid white ornamental castle T-junction go right, downhill through woodland. On route 1b, you will pass the magnificent castle gates. Turn right here for the final 5 minute walk to the Emerge onto the road, go right for 100 metres, train station. gates, which were built by Davies Bros in 1719. There is a Tourist Information point at ‘Home and then left onto the delightful old stone bridge, (If you wish to continue into Chirk Centre, keep straight ahead). The area has always been an important crossing Wear’ shop (opposite Hand Hotel). ‘Pont Faen’. 1 kilometre Stage 2 DownDDownvalleyownvalleyvalley Stage 2 0.5 miles Stage 2 The English Bit The English Bit Pont Faen to Offa's Dyke Offa’s Dyke to Pont Faen

River Bus stops at Pont Faen and at Castle Mill There are bus stops at Pont Faen and at Castle Mill Ceiriog Offa’s Dyke  You may join the walk here by taking public transport to Distance 2.7 km. Height Gain 154 metres Cas- (510 ft). Time 1 hour 5 mins. Castle Mill (there is no car parking space), crossing the river bridge and up the short steep lane to a T-junction. tle B From the bridge turn right onto a riverside lane Chirk Castle Turn left up the lane for about 10 or 11 mins. to the Old (we have just joined a section of the Way). B4500 School House which is on your right, with a clock above an Just past the telephone box go over the stile on upstairs window and a spire with weathervane. Twenty right and through a meadow with the river on metres beyond the house, take the tarmac lane left (You Pont Faen Bridge Trout farm your right. Follow along to the next stile that are now on the route!) Main route Bronygarth B T Offa’s Dyke leads into woods owned by the Woodland Trust. Distance 2.7 km. Height gain perhaps 5 Follow the path along the riverbank, and then up metres (20 ft). Time 50 mins. and down the steps, turning left at the bottom of Fishing j From the Dyke, continue on the broad track with fine WALES T the flight. Continue ahead crossing a stile out of beech trees on your right and superb views to the left. the wood and ahead to another stile onto a track. Ten mins. from the dyke, reach a crossroads and go left, ENGLAND Pass beneath the huge Black Poplar tree to follow downhill on a good stone track for 200 metres (3 The English Bit DownDDownvalleyownvalleyvalley the track to double gates at a house. Continue up mins.) to cross a stile on right. Keep ahead to a low the lane to a road at the top. Turn right for just 20 broken wall/hedgerow into a humpy field (quarry on Warfare has played a major role in the history of population. The design of the castle has been metres then fork left into a ‘green lane’ which right). Go slightly left to pass just left of a large tree the Ceiriog valley; the number of related features compared to that of Beaumaris, Anglesey. The stump and through hedge gap. Turn right here for 15 runs down the left side of the old school building. found in the valley demonstrates this fact. The building and gardens are well worth a visit. This is a metres to a gate and stile, then pass right of a stone and Follow this short lane to its end and climb over a features span the ages, from Roman encampments National Trust property, Check the opening times. brick outhouse and ahead passing right of the attractive (Rhyn Park), Offa's Dyke (Bronygarth), and the hidden stile beside the gate. Go through a gap in ‘School House’ to a tarmac road. Ahead on the road for It may have been built originally with an imposing the hedge on your left and cut diagonally across a imposing Chirk Castle. double-towered gatehouse, mirroring the remaining just 20 metres, then left downhill on tarmac lane. Pass a humpy field with a quarry on your left, through an ‘Public Footpath’ sign on your right and keep ahead Offa's Dyke consists of a 168 mile long earthen drum towers. The castle gatehouse would have faced old hedge line and then a small field to the stile through 2 gates onto track passing beneath an ancient, bank, which is at times 8 metres high and in places is towards Wales, presenting a palpable menace to the onto a stone track. Turn left uphill on this track mighty and quite rare Black Poplar to a gate/stile (6 accompanied by a western ditch. It runs across the rebellious Welsh princes. Some historians believe mins. from road). Take your last view of the Castle Ceiriog Valley and when constructed in the 8th that it was built on the site of an earlier Welsh for 5 minutes to a crossroads. Turn right still uphill for another 8 or10 minutes. The track levels out, before going right on a clear path into Pentre Wood for century divided (Saxon) from the castle, but no physical proof has been found. 10 mins. At a fork, take wooden steps uphill then down. and your climb is rewarded by magnificent views independent British Kingdoms (Celts). Some experts The castle has had many owners before Sir Below on your left is the Chirk Trout Farm. Continue and a fine stand of beech trees! Arrive at a cutting believe that the dyke may well be older, dating from Thomas Myddelton purchased it in the year 1595 along the riverside where a stile/gate leads into Roman times. for £5,000. Having survived the English civil war through the 1200 year old Offa's Dyke. You are meadowland, still beside the river. A second field brings The most impressive features of this section are relatively unscathed, the Myddeltons have lived there back In Wales! you over a stile to a tarmac lane and telephone box. Go views of Chirk Castle. It is a border castle, to this day. left and in 4 mins. reach Pont Faen (The Stone Bridge). Cross the bridge back into Wales! constructed in the late 13th century by Edward I. It In the area of the fish ponds and the Trout Farm Footsore? You can take the Dyke path downhill, formed part of the "Ring of Stone" built in North (as you walk through Pentre Wood) you have a then a lane steeply down hill to the bus route at You could catch a bus here, but would miss an Wales to cement the king's control over the native good chance of seeing herons. Castle Mill. attractive last section into Chirk. 1 kilometre Stage 3 DownDDownvalleyownvalleyvalley Stage 3 B4500 0.5 miles Stage 3 Terraced lanes and pastures Terraced lanes and pastures Offa's Dyke to Pontfadog Pontfadog to Offa’s Dyke. B T R Facilities in Pontfadog include a Post Office, bus stop, Distance 3.5 km. Height gain 170 metres PO i B  telephone box, old tramway waiting room, a garage (550 ft). Time 1 hr 15 mins. River and a welcoming pub From the Post Office, cross the road to the Swan Pontfadog Ceiriog Offa’s Dyke Distance 3.5 km. Height Gain 65 metres Inn Car Park, taking the lane over the river bridge. Castle (214 ft). Time: 1 hour 5 mins. Climb the hill, ignoring all right turns for 1.5 km (1 Nissen Mill B mile) to attain higher ground. After a level section the Hut Just 40 metres beyond Offa's Dyke, as the track lane drops downhill. Keep ahead for about 13 minutes widens, take a stile by gate onto fairly level track. until reaching a large ‘nissen hut’ barn on left backed Continue, as the track descends to two gates and by tall coniferous trees. Opposite is a small tumbling a stile. Take the stile into a field and drop down stream. Bronygarth for 50 metres. to climb another stile. Go ahead, If you are weary, you could keep on the lane, go right at Offa’s Dyke initially with a fence on your left, and as the fence the first junction, then next left downhill to Castle Mill on bears away, keep ahead (just right of a boulder), the main road for a bus. fairly level, for about 200 metres, then swing The lane swings away left here, but we go ahead up a Terraced lanes and gently right to a stile near the field corner. Go gated tarmac drive for 2 mins. to its end. Go ahead pastures DownDDownvalleyownvalleyvalley ahead, just below hawthorn trees, keeping roughly through the gate and stile, then immediately right level, to reach the bottom left corner of the field. through a gap in the hedgerow. Walk quite steeply up Much of this section is on hillside quite high successfully by 3 ladies. During the war, teachers Cross the stile and descend quite steeply, keeping the field, keeping to the left hand hedge to reach a above the valley, so affords superb views, from Manchester stayed over weekends in to the right hedge and towards a gate between stile. Catch your breath, then continue up for just 20 metres to hawthorn trees. On easier ground, walk especially to the north and east. order to be away from the noise of the two buildings, which opens onto a tarmac drive. ahead, level, aiming for the bottom corner of woodland The account of the 'Battle of Crogen' can be bombings and to get some sleep. Originally, it Follow the drive for 2 mins. to a lane with a large was a small estate attached to Chirk Castle. which slopes down from right of the field. Keep left of found in the Brut y Tywysogyon (the Chronicle “nissen hut” building opposite. Follow this lane a large oak tree which stands forward, and keep just of the Princes). The battle took place in 1165; But its no good looking for it as it is hidden uphill, straight ahead, ignoring all turns and forks below a couple of hawthorn trees to a stile. Now walk the independent Welsh Princes defeating the below a wooded rise! As you contour the to the left. After 45 minutes on the lane, you diagonally left aiming just below a grove of trees which forces of Henry II. whose exhausted soldiers meadows you will, however, see the house and reach a river bridge into Pontfadog village. lie on right of the meadow. From below the grove suffered heavy losses. It is is reputed that the outbuildings of Penisa'r Glyn Farm down below swing left, keeping roughly level, passing just left of Battle took place in the valley, either near this you. boulder and ahead to gate and stile at the far side of section of the walk or further up the valley at the field. Immediately over the stile, go sharp right Near the river bank large deposits of uphill for 45 metres to another stile, then left onto a Tregeiriog. Buildings below our route here are limestone were found and extensive mining rising track. In 5 mins. cross a gate/stile onto a larger named after the event. took place. Lime kilns are still visible in the area. track and go left for 40 metres to arrive at Offa's Dyke. The dyke here is still the boundary between Down below our route, just to the Welsh side Take time to visit the Tramway Waiting Room of Offa's Dyke, is the impressive house of Wales and England 1200 years after it was built! in Pontfadog which houses details of the former Now for the "English Bit"! Penisa'r Glyn. It was, for much of this century, a private hotel. From 1939 to 1969 it was run Right: Glyn Valley Tramway. To catch a bus, the Dyke path will take you down to a which ran until 1935. A postcard from 100 years ago. lane to Castle Mill on the main B4500 road. 1 kilometre Stage 4 DownDDownvalleyownvalleyvalley Stage 4 0.5 miles Stage 4 Meadow and Woodland Meadow and Woodland Pontfadog to Glyn Ceiriog Glyn Ceiriog to Pontfadog Bus stop, Pub, Post Office and garage at Pontfadog. And a Bus stop, shops, Post Office,Trout farm, "The Institute" and  tramway waiting room!! refreshments at Glyn Ceiriog. B T R WC PO B T R PO Bus stops, Post Office, shops, The Institute, Trout farm and Bus stop, Post Office, pub, a garage at Pontfadog. Also a School Pontfadog refreshment in Pubs and Christian Centre at Glyn Ceiriog. tramway waiting room!! Glyn Ceiriog i Distance 4 km. Height Gain 80 metres Distance 4 km. Height gain 60 metres Bank Caravan (250 ft). Time 1 hr 30 mins. (190 ft). Time 1 hr 25 mins. Shop Park From Pontfadog centre follow the main road towards Glyn Leaving The Cross, head downhill on a side road to the Ceiriog for about 6 minutes to a crossroads. Take the minor Post Office, cross the road and take the riverside B4500 lane right, rising back on itself for 3 or 4 minutes to the end Trout farm footpath. In 7 mins. you will again reach the main road Dolywern of the tarmac. Go sharp left here on a footpath above a which must be crossed. Take the lane alongside the River garden to emerge on a broader track. Turn left to reach a Ceiriog school playing field and in 4 mins reach a T-junction. Go tarmac lane and continue right for 150 metres to reach an right for 8 mins. along this lane, passing a GPO letterbox. ‘arrow-head’ crossroad. Keep ahead passing a letterbox on 20 metres after a wayside seat take the stile on left. this initially level lane for about 6 mins. to reach "30MPH" Glyn Ceiriog B restriction signs. Proceed a further 80 metres to the crest of Cross the field diagonally right to pass behind the part- T R timbered building, swinging right behind this building to Meadow and Llwynmawr a rise and here turn right up a short green lane to a stile. Ahead, uphill and then diagonally left through mixed woodland follow above the hedge line. Just before reaching a stream Woodlands DownDDownvalleyownvalleyvalley to a gate and stile into an open meadow. Follow the little gully, turn left for 50 metres up to a stile and footbridge depression uphill where a further stile leads to a path to cross the stream. Rise up across the front of a stable The settlement of Glyn Ceiriog is the largest in the , which is periodically held in Glyn Ceiriog between hedges. Just 35 metres up this path find a stile on the block to a gate, then follow up a driveway (left of the valley. It was dominated for many years by the (most recently in 1999). Beside the playing field you left into a meadow. Follow on level ground above the house) to a lane. Go left uphill on the lane for just 2 quarries perched just above the village. The Cambrian can see the circle of "Gorsedd" stones, the centre of hedgeline for 100 metres to use a stile and steps on left. mins. to a hairpin bend where a path leaves the lane right and Wynne slate quarries employed large numbers of the traditional ceremony. Continue along the same hedgeline, but now below it and between derelict (at 2002) buildings. After 2 stiles go workers from the village and were the centres of Glyn Ceiriog had other industries, such as the two cross another stile. Keep generally ahead, but now dropping diagonally left uphill to follow contouring hedge line for 2 many social activities. These groups included debating, flannel mills, which involved the cleaning and slightly away from the hedge, aiming to pass below a small mins. to a stile, then ahead for a further 1 min. to use choir, horticultural, reading and various bands which treatment of woven wool for the production of group of Scots Pine trees to two stiles. Pass between old steps and stile on left. Now follow above the same hedge competed in local and national . blankets and flannel. The upper mill was converted buildings and onto a tarmac lane. Turn left downhill for 1 !/2 The close knit was on the whole deeply into a trout farm, using the millrace to provide the minutes to a hairpin bend and leave the lane to follow down a line for 2 mins. to cross a stile in the right-hand corner religious and almost exclusively Welsh speaking. This water for the large natural tanks. The lower mill is drive above a house. Pass through a small gate, then diagonally of the field. Turn right downhill on a path between can be seen by the number of churches and chapels now a high quality woodcraft business. The trout farm right and down, below a stable block, to a stream footbridge hedges. A stile leads into an open field. Take the small dotted throughout Glyn Ceiriog. and workshop both welcome visitors. 'Coed Ceiriog', and stile. Go downhill 50 metres to a hedgeline, then right to depression ahead to a gate and stile into mixed The rich cultural heritage culminated in the building located by the school playing field, is a new venture follow above the hedge and a large house, then diagonally left woodland. Descend diagonally left for 3 mins., then of the Ceiriog Memorial Institute in 1911. The building bringing together many local people engaged in to a stile onto a tarmac lane. Turn right along the lane for 8 directly downhill for 1 min. to cross a stile and onto a has many uses including a library, women's parlour, a sustainable woodland management and the use of mins., then take the left junction around the edge of the tarmac lane. Turn left along the lane for 7 mins. to an social institute and local museum, all still used today. local timber. school playing fields to reach and cross the main road "arrowhead" crossroads. Keep ahead for 150 metres, but Visitors are welcome to view this fascinating building, The church of St Ffraid (Bridget) is located up a opposite the school entrance. Find a riverside footpath and just before the road dips downhill, by a high retaining wall which is located in Ffordd Uchaf (High Street). It was hillside north of the present village but close by the follow this for 8 mins. to its end by Glyn Ceiriog Post Office. built to commemorate notable Welsh people; in original (pre-mining) centre of the community. It on left, fork left on a rising track for 200 metres (3 Go right uphill for 2 minutes to end this section at ‘The mins.), then right, downhill, on a woodland path for 4 particular the valley's poets, John ‘Ceiriog’ Hughes, provides breathtaking, panoramic views of the village Cross’. mins. to its end by a house on the right. Take a sharp Huw ‘Eos’ Morus and Rev. Robert ‘Cynddelw’ Ellis. The and surrounding valley. There are refreshments (Pubs or Christian Centre), bus Welsh names are given as an honour to outstanding For more information pick up a free “Glyn to stops, shops and ‘The Institute’. The local fish farm also right down a tarmac track to the main road and left poets and members of the community at the Powis Pandy” leaflet at local shops. welcomes visitors - pick your own Ceiriog trout! along the road for 6 mins. to the centre of Pontfadog. The Pandy Hump Stage 5 DownDDownvalleyownvalleyvalley Stage 5 Stage 5 The Pandy Hump The Pandy Hump Here, dominating the valley, is Pandy Crag, a Glyn Ceiriog to Pandy Pandy to Glyn Ceiriog volcanic tuff formation and an area identified as a 1 kilometre Bus stop, shops, Post Office, Trout Farm, and refreshments Bus stop at Pandy possible RIG (Regionally Important Geological) site. 0.5 miles  at Glyn Ceiriog. Distance 2.5 km. Height gain 150 metres The area has a great variety of mineral deposits B Bus stop and summer meals at "The Woolpack" in Pandy. (500 ft). Time 55 mins. Glyn Ceiriog located close together. Many of these were quarried Distance 2.5 km. Height gain 150 metres including slate, silica, granite and china stone which This section goes over the magnificent Pandy Rock B T R WC PO (500 ft). Time 55 mins. which dominates the valley. It may make you puff, but was used to give opacity to porcelain. This section goes over the magnificent 'Pandy Rock' which dominates the valley. It may make you puff but you can take you can take the option of walking the valley road, and If you have chosen to avoid the climb and walk the option of walking the valley road, and save yourself over save yourself over 20 minutes! along the road you will pass large flooded caverns, 20 minutes! You will miss out on wonderful views though, If you do that, go back down to the river and turn left which can be viewed through an iron gate. These and the road has no footway so take special care. along more tramway track, which joins the road in 5 were granite and silica workings. If you do take the road option follow the B 4500 from The Cross towards Llanarmon for about 20 mins., and mins. Then follow the main road for about 20 mins. You On top of the ridge you are at the highest point shortly after the entrance to the caravan park turn left onto will miss out on excellent views, and the road has no of the walk at 350 metres (1165 ft) and have fine the National Trust tramway track which brings you into footway so take special care. views over the Berwyns to the west and Y Foel to Pandy in 5 mins. Our recommended route follows the minor lane To follow the recommended route take the right fork which runs just north of the tributary river, Afon Teirw the north. Closer at hand, to the south, the land about 5 mins. after leaving The Cross, signposted for Nantyr. River drops steeply to the river Teirw (Bulls), which flows Continue up this road for about 5 mins. until, when you (Bulls river). From the Pandy follow this lane for 11 Ceiriog down its steep valley to join the river Ceiriog at reach a hairpin bend, you continue straight ahead on a mins.. Fifty metres beyond a cottage ‘Rhosydd’, fork Pandy. rough track past a wooden cottage. Continue up this steep right up stone track, rising steeply for 7 mins. to a ford. sunken path for about 10 mins. until you reach a field gate. Don’t cross it but go sharp right over a stile and uphill Caravan The valley was visited by George Borrow (Wild Go through this and walk straight ahead - there’s a farm on Park for just 75 metres (1.5 mins.). Now go 90 degrees left Wales, 1854) who captured the essence of the your right hand side. The path can be very muddy here and you may wish to skirt to the left to avoid some of it. to a gate and ahead for 6 mins. on a grassy track passing valley: Remember to keep the old hedge line, which runs from the a derelict building on your left and through a gate Alternate route “The valley was wild and solitary to an farm up the hill, on your right hand side. After about 4 mins. ahead. Go right for another 6 mins. up an ‘avenue’ track extraordinary degree, the brook or torrent running in cross a stone track and continue up the ridge, again with to the crest of the rise. Turn 90 degrees left up another the same hedge line on your right hand side. After another 5 'avenue' to its end, then diagonally right (above the Main route the middle of it, covered with alder tree”. mins. of walking gently uphill the land levels out. You have fence and below the gorsy bank) swinging a little left to reached the highest point of the whole walk so take time to The area is rich in wildlife and you may see birds attain the crest of the ridge (7 mins.). Pause to admire Pandy appreciate the extensive view! Here look for the 'green of prey such as buzzards, kestrels, peregrine falcons, lane' which forks off to the left and follow this with a fence the views all around! This is the highest point on the B T R hen harriers and merlins. In spring and summer you line on your left downhill. Stick closely to the fence line whole walk. Turn right keeping to the crest of the may hear the call of the curlew nesting on the high rather than the track and as the fence ends turn left to wooded ridge to cross a stone track in 4 mins. keeping follow an old green ‘avenue’ down the field. At its end turn ahead on often boggy ground. Take care as you ground. In the woodland you may see flycatchers, right and follow a similar 'avenue' down to and through a jays, yellow hammers and wrens. Watch out for grey field gate and continue for a couple of minutes until coming approach farm buildings, for in wet weather deep mud B wagtails (the yellow ones!), pied wagtails and to two field gates on your left Go through the wooden gate abounds! Pass right of these buildings to go through a Polecat dippers by the rivers. and drop down on to the low green lane following right of gate. Descend the sunken track for 7 mins. to reach a Pony trekking an old hedgerow past a derelict building, then swinging right lane and continue downhill for 4 mins. to join the main If you are very lucky you may see some of the to a field gate and down to the conifer wood. Turn right and road. Go left and in 5 mins. reach ‘The Cross’, the B4500 shier mammals of the area which include hares, follow the fence down the hill and cross a stile at the bottom. Turn sharp left, without crossing the stream, and centre of Glyn Ceiriog. badgers and foxes, stoats, weasels and the rare DownDDownvalleyownvalleyvalley follow this forestry track downhill for 5 mins. At the tarmac Bus stop, shops, Post Office, refreshments at Christian polecat. lane go left to reach Pandy. Centre or Pubs, the Trout Farm and The Institute. Quarry and Tramway Stage 6 DownDDownvalleyownvalleyvalley Stage 6 Stage 6 The Quarry and Tramway Quarry and Tramway The hamlet of Pandy is named after its fulling Pandy to Tregeiriog Tregeiriog to Pandy mill which is now The Woolpack. The mill may Bus stops at Pontricket and Tregeiriog. Except in winter Bus stop at Pandy Pandy well have been the first of its kind in Wales and Crag there are refreshments at the Woolpack. Distance 3 km. Height gain perhaps 15 Pandy was used to transform local woven woollen Distance 3 km. Height gain 20 metres (70 metres (50 ft). Time 45 minutes. B T R material into flannel, using fullers earth. ft). Time 50 mins. Cross the lane but NOT the river bridge, taking a The quarry at Hendre was the largest employer Cross the main road with care and head for the riverside lane for 7 mins. to pass through a road gate.  telephone box. Walk down the lane past the row of in the valley for many years. Opened in 1873, it Immediately after the gate and before the lane starts to provided dolerite, an igneous rock similar to houses on your right. Go through the gate at the end and rise ahead fork diagonally left on a permissive path* turn right to join the National Trust Tramway track. across a field, following a hedge and keeping about level. granite, which was used for road construction and Continue along this level path for about 10 mins. until you B as facing stone for prestigious buildings. The Keep ahead over 2 fields for 6 mins. then cross a stile come to a lane which you cross directly to go through a by a small and boggy stream! Cross the stream onto a quarry was the furthest point of the Glyn Valley gate by a house with the bell on it. Continue straight Pony trekking level but faint grassy track and follow with the hedge Tramway and the National Trust path follows part ahead along the Tramway crossing a stile and after 1 min. above you. Cross a stile and continue just below the follow the left hand fork uphill. Continue along this track of the route. As you follow the track look out for field boundary to emerge in 11 mins. onto an old for about 12 mins., passing the entrance to the disused the few remaining sleepers and the ruins of many drovers’ road. Go L downhill for just 1 min. turning B4500 (and dangerous) Hendre Quarry, ignoring all turns to your of the former quarry buildings right at a white cottage. Follow this track uphill left or right until you come to the attractive stone between attractive and well-restored stone buildings**. The poet Huw ‘Eos’ Morus (1622-1709) lived in buildings of Hendre Farm.* Go between the main house Hendre Continue along the track on to what was the terminus Pont y Meibion from the year 1647.This and outbuildings and follow the gravel track downhill. At Quarry of the former Glyn Valley Tramway. In 10 mins. you farmhouse is on the main valley road just above the T-junction turn left up the lane for a minute then turn reach the disused and dangerous Hendre Quarry (right "The house with a bell". He lived in the days of right through a field gate and then almost immediately over a stile to follow a level track below the hedge line. of the track). Take the right fork and continue for 8 Pontricket Cromwell and wrote a range of poetry. He is best Continue for a couple of mins. and where the farm track mins. through woodland passing several ruins of former remembered for his political poems. As an ardent bears left into the field above, continue straight ahead to a quarry buildings. Descend to a stile, continue to "The royalist he attacked the parliamentarians in his stile. Follow the grassy level track along for about 3 mins. house with a bell" and cross a tarmac lane onto the B T River verse. He did not condemn them openly, National Trust Tramway track. Continue for 10 mins. to Ceiriog until reaching a stream and crossing a stile. Keep right on preferring the use of allegory, so avoiding the a permissive path** with the fence line on your right for 5 cross the river (on former tramway bridge) and in 50 Tregeiriog persecution dealt out to other critics. mins. to reach a tarmac lane. Follow the lane right through metres turn left, for 2 mins. passing houses and the the gate for about 8 mins. until reaching a cross roads. Woolpack. This is the small hamlet of Pandy. If you wish to go to the hamlet of Tregeiriog to catch * If the permissive path is closed, follow the lane to the bus, turn right here over the river bridge and ahead the white farmhouse then descend left to the bottom for 5 mins. to a telephone box and bus stop. corner of the field by the stream. * A short section of path either side of Hendre Farm is ** Should this permissive path be closed at any time permissive. If it should at any time be shut, follow the the less obvious Definitive footpath runs across the definitive path which runs in the water-meadow just field just below the stone farm house. 1 kilometre below the farmhouse. (You may join the path at Tregeiriog by taking public 0.5 miles **Should this permissive path be closed at any time go transport to Tregeiriog crossroads. Follow the side road going diagonally uphill across the field heading for a white downhill to the river bridge in 5 mins.). farmhouse where you join a stone track. Go downhill on DownDDownvalleyownvalleyvalley Tramway Pandy has a bus stop, and except in winter, refreshments the track to the road gate. at the Woolpack. Stage 7 DownDDownvalleyownvalleyvalley Stage 7 The Pheasant Strut The Pheasant Strut Stage 7 B T Tregeiriog to Llanarmon D.C. Llanarmon to Tregeiriog Tregeiriog Bus stops at Tregeiriog and Llanarmon. Llanarmon Bus stops at Tregeiriog and Llanarmon. Llanarmon has has public toilets in summer. Refreshments in plenty! public toilets in summer and refreshments all the year! Distance 2 km. Height Gain 45 metres Distance 2 km. Height gain 45 metres Main route (150 ft). Time 40 mins. (140 ft). Time 35 mins. B4500 Cross the lane (but not the bridge) and on a Our walk begins at the crossroads centre of B T R WC minor lane pass the pumping station on your Llanarmon D.C.. Walk around the lovely village (WC open in Summer) right. Go through the road gate ahead and before commencing your walk. You will want to River continue for one min. before turning right through come back to explore the area further. Llanarmon Ceiriog a gate into the field. Continue level "along the The attractive finger post points the road to Dyffryn Church  contour" for 4 or 5 mins. to reach a gate ahead Ceiriog . Follow this route past the Church and near the bottom of the mixed wood. Go through uphill for about 7 minutes. Immediately before a 1 kilometre the gate and follow the level track through this wayside seat a level gated track leads off left. After 0.5 miles pheasant wood. After about 4 mins. where the 3 minutes pass a traditional stone barn and swing Pheasants main track drops down through a field gate, slightly left through a field gate ahead. Keep ahead The Pheasant Strut DownDDownvalleyownvalleyvalley continue ahead on a grassier track (just inside the uphill and as you crest the rise see a stile ahead. wood) with the fence line on your right. After 4 Llanarmon D.C. was for many centuries a Wales. He produced some of the finest lyrics in the Cross a further field ahead and through a gate. mins. leave the wood through another field gate stopping point for drovers on their way to England. on themes such as nature, love, and Climb the stile immediately on your right and and continue (much bracken) with the fence still See the church of St. Garmon with two yew trees patriotism. Some of the poems such as ‘Nant y cross the small stream beside it. Walk left with a on your right hand side. After 4 mins. pass left of a each over 1000 years old. The religious site was Mynydd’ and ‘Alun Mabon’ remain popular today. hedge line on your left. In 2 minutes pass a stone house (Ty’n y Fedw) reaching in two mins. a house (Ty'n y fedw) on your left and walk ahead established here in the 5th century and the grass In 1923, proposals by the Warrington slightly boggy area. Slightly right to cross a stream for 5 mins. on a level path just above the hedge mound just inside the gate is believed to have been Corporation for the creation of two large and stile. A sign warns that "path 1 is temporarily line. Much bracken! Go through a gate into a a "Preaching Mound" which pre-dated any building. reservoirs were submitted to Parliament. The closed" but we take path 2 through the left field wood and keep level and ahead for 7 mins. to The village name can be translated as Llan (the Corporation planned to acquire some 13,000 acres gate and straight ahead across the field to cross a emerge into a meadow. Keep level (contouring) to church land), (G)armon (the French travelling saint of land which included the villages of Tregeiriog, stile. Keep straight ahead and as you crest the leave the field in 4 mins. through a gate onto a who established the Christian Community), Dyffryn Llanarmon D.C. and Pentre. The impact of the rise, see an isolated barn ahead. Pass through a (the wide valley of), Ceiriog (the river name). The construction of the two reservoirs would have stone (becoming tarmac) track. Go left downhill gate and keep left of this barn onto a level grassy for 3 minutes to meet a tarmac lane by a Pumping valley floor at Llanarmon is some 260 metres changed the valley for ever. Fortunately for the track. In 2 minutes a field gate opens onto a above sea level, compared with 75 metres at Chirk. inhabitants of the valley, a massive amount of Station. tarmac road. Follow this road down for about 5 support was received from all corners of Wales. In To stay on the walk, keep straight ahead. The renowned poet John ‘Ceiriog’ Hughes (1832 minutes into the village of Llanarmon, your Parliament Lloyd George condemned the scheme -1887) was born in the farm at Pen-Y Bryn, journey’s end! and the whole project was rejected. He described Llanarmon. He began his working life as a farm Tregeiriog village has a bus stop and 'phone box. hand and went on to become one of the greatest the valley as "A little bit of heaven on earth", and You may join the path at Tregeiriog by taking public transport to Tregeiriog crossroads. Follow the side road To use them, go over the river bridge and ahead Welsh poets. It was Ceiriog’s ability to blend words asked "Why should anyone want to flood this going downhill for 4 mins. to the river for 5 mins. to music that captured the imagination of Victorian exquisite little valley?" bridge.