Martin's Mag.

Llanymynech to Chirk Mill – 14 miles (22.5 Km) After the flattest section the Trail, it returns to rising and falling via Llanymynech Hill, Moelydd, Candy Woods and Oswestry Old Racecourse. There are some good stretches of the Dyke itself and industrial archaeologists will be interested by the mining areas around Nantmawr. The first ascent of the day brings you to the Llanymynech Quarry, now disused but previously a busy limestone quarry supplying the Hoffman Kiln. Sections of the quarry are now under the management of the Shropshire Wildlife Trust and the Montgomeryshire Wildlife Trust as local nature reserves. Both Trusts are now using sheep to graze the quarry’s grasslands which is increasing the botanical diversity and helping to provide better habitats for various butterflies. The summit of Moelydd is one of the surprises of the day – the 360 degree views are stunning and a topascope helps you identify the many hills you see.

Chirk Mill to Llandegla – 15.5 miles (25.7 Km) This varied section includes the last stretch of the Dyke followed before it and the Trail part ways for good on the edge of the Llangollen Canal. This area is now part of the Clywdian Range and Dee Valley AONB which the Trail will be in for the rest of its journey to Prestatyn Hillside. After Chirk Castle (which can be reached via a permissive route in the summer only) the Trail crosses the historic Pontcysyllte Aqueduct via an alternative / permissive route. The 127 feet aqueduct built by Thomas Telford in 1805 is now listed as a World Heritage Site and is the largest aqueduct in Britain. After leaving the village of Trevor the Trail traverses the spectacular Eglwyseg Crags near Llangollen as it passes by Dinas Bran on its way to the well named ‘World’s End’. The route then passes over the moorland before descending through Llandegla Forest. This area of moorland and forest holds the largest population of Black Grouse in Wales and the rectangular mown areas are cut annually for the males to show off to the females, known as ‘lekking’.

We stayed in a cottage in Llangollen, in North Wales, for a week. On the way up we completed the last few miles of the section of the Path, from Four Crosses to Llanymynech, that we should have finished last July. I had been fairly sure that we would complete all of Offa’s Dyke Path last year, but the logistics, weather and other distractions, defeated us.

The cottage, in the centre of the very pretty and busy town of Llangollen, is really comfortable and (essential in January) warm, with a log fire as well as good central heating. With a big kitchen, large sofas, high-grade broadband and big TV with i-player, Netflix, etc., there was no need to go out, really. The back garden overlooks the River Dee, with the occasional kyaker, either hurtling past or stuck on a rock.

This was not, though, an ideal venue for a recovering alcoholic [not that I am. Recovering, that is] as the walls of the cottage are peppered with jaunty exhortations to get pissed as quickly and as often as possible, and to remain relentlessly cheerful at all times. Viz:

We arrived on Friday, and on the Saturday we ignored Offa’s Dyke path, for once, and walked along the canal (Shropshire Union) from Llangollen to the Horseshoe Falls.

Later, Miles and Flo arrived with a bottle of whisky. The lad hasn’t turned out so bad. Curry at nearby restaurant.

Next day, by juggling cars about, we all walked a section of the OD Path from the canal lock at Froncysyllte to a point north of Llangollen, where we turned back down, via the Castell Dinas Brân, to the cottage.

Sal and I, and Lucy, spent the rest of the week filling in the “missing bits” of the OD Path from Llanymynech to a point between Eglwyseg and LLangdegla (OS Grid ref SJ232484).

Llanymynech to Oswestry Old Racecourse.

Oswestry Old Racecourse to Chirk Castle.

Chirk Castle to Froncysyllte.

Castell Dinas Brân to OS Grid ref SJ232484.

The view from the cottage, with castle above, and Sally’s sketch.