Maria’s Love Chester article

Posted April 1, 2024

Our Publicity Officer, Maria, submits a monthly article to Love Chester magazine, relating to a club walk.
Read the latest story here.

Valleys, vistas and a veil of mist
Members of Chester Rambling and Hill Walking Club are used to all manner of weather conditions during their countryside forays, especially in winter. On a recent walk at Llanferres, stunning views were shrouded in mist that lingered stubbornly until lunchtime. On the plus side, it wasn’t raining or blowing a hoolie, and the thick mud that had featured on walks since the year began was slightly less gooey than usual.

Starting from Plymog Layby on the A494 Mold to Ruthin road, we headed up the track that crosses the River Alyn. Some stepping stones lead walkers along the edge of Big Covert Wood to meet an old quarry track where we turned right along the bottom of Bryn Alyn. Footpaths abound in this area, and our leader, Dave, chose a lesser-used one that joins a lane at Bryn Haidd. Descending to the disused Pystyll Gwyn Quarry, we crossed the Llanarmon-yn-ial road to the track opposite. This takes walkers down to a footbridge over the Alyn. Beyond here the track is sometimes flooded and impassable, but on that day we managed not to get our socks wet!

After this point the upward bit of the walk began, along a footpath that wends its way past a couple of remote farms to reach a wooded area. The track climbs steadily through the trees, before emerging into a field at Cefn-y-fran. Here you can normally claim your reward for chugging your way up the hill, because the view from here is wonderful! Across the valley are the twin humps of Bryn Alyn and further north is Moel Findeg. Sadly, on that particular day the mist obscured all this, and we had to remember the view fondly from our previous visits! The footpath then enters woodland where fallen conifers often block the way, but a steely determination and a bit of limbo-ing under some tree trunks brings you out onto the open hillside once more. Cefn-y-fran is actually the lower slope of Moel Gyw, the summit of which now looms steeply to your left.

From this grassy slope there should be a panoramic view of the Clwydian Hills, previously hidden on your approach from Pystyll Gwyn from the other side of the hill. On that foggy morning this beautiful landscape was hidden from sight, but those of us who’d trodden these paths before remembered what’s there: the pointed summit of Gyrn, Moel Eithinen with its little strip of forest, Foel Ffenlli and Fron Hen.

Where we met the Offa’s Dyke Path, we stopped for a well-earned rest and a hearty picnic lunch. As we were packing up to move on, the mist also decided it was time to shift itself, and the hills finally began to appear from under cover.

Nearby is the nameless summit from which the Vale of Clwyd can be seen, as well as the hillside track that was to be our return route. We followed the Offa’s Dyke Path as it gently climbed the lower slope of Gyrn and through the woods at Eithinen. This route offers wide-ranging views that I never tire of, however many times I walk these paths! Where the Offa’s Dyke bears left up towards Foel Fenlli, we bid it goodbye and continued straight on, with the Alyn Valley below us.

To descend to Plymog, we took a narrow footpath that enters a small wood before emerging into the open. Once through a kissing gate, the final panorama revealed itself, and almost the entire valley along which we’d walked in each direction, was now displayed.

Continuing downhill, the layby was soon in sight. After de-booting, we adjourned to the nearby pub to end the day with a convivial drink before dispersing homewards.