Situated in an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty, The Old Mill Holiday Cottages are in the perfect location to explore the stunning scenery and beautiful views that North Wales has to offer.
Located in Flintshire a ‘Hidden Gem’ and only 1 hour from Liverpool and Manchester. Many of our favourite walks are lesser-known and are much quieter than in Snowdonia.
As a family, we’ve always enjoyed being out and about discovering new places, but with the addition of our new dog Eli, we’ve got more excuse now than ever!
I hope you love our ‘Top 5 Walks in North Wales’ as much as we do!
All of these walks give you the feel-good factor, but for walks that have stunning views, I’ve also included a ‘Stir-you-soul’ rating as well 😊
1. Penycloddiau Hill Fort, Llangwyfan
Difficulty Level – Moderate
Time – 2-hour circular
Footwear – Walking boots
Views to stir you soul – 5/5
Distance from the cottages – 3 miles
Penycloddiau is the largest hillfort in the Clwydian Range and one of the largest in Wales. Recent archaeological searches have found stone tools dating back 4000 years to the Bronze Age.
There are many walks in this area and on the main its usually very quiet (Don’t tell anyone!!).
Our favourite trail begins at the far right-hand side of the car park. The path takes you up a gradual incline through pine forest. (The path is a bit rugged in places, be careful of tree roots and uneven ground). Once through the wooded area, the views to the left over the Vale of Clwyd are just breathtaking!
Continue up the hill to the top of the hill fort – In good weather, you can see for miles around, the views are just stunning!
2. Moel Famau to The Jubilee Tower
Difficulty Level – Moderate
Time – 2 ½ hour circular
Footwear – Walking boots
Views to stir you soul – 5/5
Distance from the cottages – 10 miles
Park at the lower car park (Change needed for parking). Here there is a nice picnic area, play park and toilets.
Moel Famau is the highest hill within the Clwydian Range, there are several walks from this area, for a range of abilities – Which makes this, and Loggerheads the most well-known and popular of the walks listed.
There are x3 main trails signposted here. Our favourite is the purple trail – it’s a steady climb upwards (And gets your heart pumping!) It takes you through open countryside and woodland area, with beautiful views across the Clwydian Range.
The last section of this walk is the most challenging and includes a 30-minute steeper section – However, once you get to the top, you’re rewarded with reaching the Jubilee Tower, and stunning views across as far as Liverpool!
The Jubilee Tower was built to commemorate ‘Mad’ King George III and dates back to 1810 – However, it was never completed!.
3. Loggerheads Country Park
Difficulty Level – Easy/Moderate
Time – 1 to 2 hours +
Footwear – Sensible Foot-ware (Weather depending)
Views to stir you soul – 3/5
Distance from the cottages – 7 miles
Loggerheads Country Park is a very accessible walking area (Suitable for off-road prams as well) with a large car park, café, gift shop, picnic area and toilets. (Please note change needed for parking).
Loggerheads Country Park is such a wonderful place to go walking at any time of year. If you like, you can wander by the shallow river and quietly absorb the sounds and the beauty of the woodland. Or if you’d like a bit more of a work-out take a hike to the top of the cliffs, its hard work to get up there, but the views at the top are outstanding!
When you come back to level ground, there’s a café, gift shop and field where dogs and children can run and play games.
4. Clwydian Range – Afonwen – Known Locally as ‘The Tank Track’
Difficulty Level – Easy/Moderate
Time – 1 to 2 hours – Or much further if you wish..?
Footwear – Walking boots
Views to stir you soul – 4/5
Distance from the cottages – 3 miles
From the village of Afonwen, take the left turn towards ‘Afonwen Craft & Antiques Centre.’ (An ideal stop off – perfect for gifts and it has a great café.) Instead of branching left, continue straight up the steep hill. Please note – This road is known locally as the ‘tank track’ do drive carefully, the road is very steep and has main pot-holes!
Park in the small lay-by area. If you prefer a flatter walk, go through the 5-bar gate, to the right of the car park. Here you are on the Offa’s Dyke path, this is a much flatter and gentler walk, with sheep grazing in fields and isolated farms dotted around.
For a more challenging walk, climb to the top of the hill to the left – This is the chain of hills which make up the ‘Clwydian Range’. In the distance, you will be able to see Moel Famau. The landscape extends ahead of you, like a series of ‘big dippers’
For keen more experienced walkers, there’s plenty of scope for a long walk here…
5. Starting Point – The Old Mill Holiday Cottages
Denbigh Road, Melin-Y-Wern, Nr Mold
Difficulty Level – Easy/Moderate
Time – 2-hour circular
Footwear – Walking boots/wellies (Can be muddy in the Winter)
Views to stir you soul – 3/5
Distance from the cottages – 0 miles!
This is a circular walk, beginning at The Old Mill Holiday Cottages. The popular Cherry Pie Inn is just next door – An ideal stop for lunch or an evening meal after a day sight-seeing.
Cross in front of The Cherry Pie Inn. Take the footpath between the two bungalow cottages. Walk ½ mile to the end of the lane, at the T-Junction, you’ll see a bench, with a footpath sign to the right. Follow the footpath into the woodland.
On entering the wood, the footpath is clearly marked and meanders alongside the pretty stream. There are many shallow pools, making it perfect for children and dogs to paddle in.
Look out for the ‘Teepees’ (This is a lovely spot for children to play) Continue on through the woodland, until you reach a stile. Cross into the meadow (Fabulous wild-flowers grow here in the Summer). Walk diagonally to reach the top end of the field.
Cross the stile into the lane. Turn left downhill, into the pretty hamlet of ‘Nannerch Mill’. Walk up the hill (The lane flattens out) and after approx.1 mile, enter the rural village of Nannerch. With ‘The Cross Foxes pub’ opposite, turn left and through the village past the church. As you are leaving the village take the left turn. Continue straight on this lane, which gradually takes you downhill and back to the bench.
At the bench turn right – you have then completed the loop and are back on the lane to The Old Mill Holiday Cottages. (Cross the road in front of The Cherry Pie, for best visibility).
I hope this has inspired you to explore this beautiful part of Flintshire and Denbighshire in North Wales.
Kindly Supplied by The Old Mill Holiday Cottages.
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