Borderlands
Fit or fat – pub walks around llangollen part 1
Too much Christmas Pudding? Pinch an inch or two? Well, don’t just sit there, do something about it! A walk in the countryside will not only get you back in trim, you’ll enjoy it too. Better still, base your walk around a country pub and you can pop in for a guilt-free meal and drink afterwards.
One of the most accessible areas in the British Isles is the North Wales Borderlands with it’s picturesque flagship town Llangollen. Featuring glorious rolling countryside and spectacular mountains, it’s only an hour’s drive from Liverpool and Manchester. Are you tempted?
The first of three increasingly challenging walks is an easy three mile stroll along footpaths and country lanes and starts at the Abbey Grange Hotel on the Llangollen to Horseshoe Pass road. Having parked up, resist the urge to go in for a drink, you can do that later. Instead, turn right back towards Valle Crucis Abbey on the roadside footpath taking in the wonderful valley views with Llangollen in the distance. When you reach the red telephone box, carefully cross the road and turn left down the lane to Pandy cottage. Ahead of you is Fron Fawr mountain. Don’t worry, you’re only going halfway up it!
At the cottage, cross a stile and follow the path right down to the stream. Cross the bridge and follow the path up the opposite bank to a large stile. Carefully climb over it into a field, stop to get your breath back and turn left. Continue to another large stile, climb it and turn right. At yet another stile, turn left. Walk up to the Clwyddian Way and turn right towards Llangollen. The path climbs gently and soon offers wonderful views across the valley. After a quarter of a mile an excellent rest spot is reached. It is made up of slate seats and wooden tables, and was constructed by volunteers from the caravan site in the valley below, simply because they loved the area and wanted to share it with others. Sit down for a well earned rest, and appreciate the beauty of the area.
With your batteries suitably recharged, continue along the Clwyddian Way past farm buildings and on to a road junction. Ahead are the majestic Eglwyseg Rocks, Dinas Bran Castle and Llangollen town centre – what a spot!! Turn right on the lane and right again down to the main Horseshoe Pass road. Turn left over the canal bridge and drop down on to the Llangollen canal towpath. If you’re lucky you’ll come across a horse-drawn barge! Turn left along the towpath and enjoy a gorgeous, (and thankfully level), walk up to the Chainbridge Hotel – look out for Dippers on the River Dee. Resist the temptation to pop in for a drink and instead head up the iron stairway (more weight lost!) up to the car park. Bear left to the car park entrance and turn right up the road. At the junction, cross the road and follow the footpath up to a lane. Turn left and follow the lane up around Velvet Hill, eventually arriving back at the red telephone box. Retrace your steps back to the Abbey Grange for a well earned drink and maybe a meal.
If this walk has given you a taste for the area, why not take a short break in one of the local self catering cottages? For instance, Velvet Cottage, across the field from the Abbey Grange, is an ideal base for this and many more wonderful walks in the area.
Keep a look out for “Fit or Fat – Pub walks around Llangollen” Parts 2 and 3!!
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