A 10 mile walk crossing the Vale of Llangollen by the Pontcysyllete aqueduct  and getting a drenching but finishing on the Panorama Road with some great views.

Date walked: 30th March 2022

Distance:  10  miles

Maps used:  OS Explorer 255 Llangollen and Berwyn (downloaded onto my phone)

Guide used: Walking Offa’s Dyke Path by Mike Dunn published by Cicerone in 2016

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I had finished my last time on the path at Chirk Mill in August 2021,  staying at the excellent Swan Inn at Pontfadog. My plan at the time was to have carried on to the end of the path, camping and staying in B&Bs. Unfortunately I had developed a nasty pain in my knee so had abandoned that plan. I have done several longish day walks since then without problems. I have also had an x-ray which didn’t show up any issue. But then a cartilage problem (which was what I suspected it was) would probably need an MRI scan to show itself. So this is my plan B: no carrying a tent etc and supporting my knees with Beister Knee Compression Support Sleeve with Side Springs. 

And in case I needed a shoulder to cry/lean on, my dear friend Bob was joining me for the first three (of 4 ) days. So we stayed the night at the Swan, both of us enjoying the great atmosphere, good beer and excellent food at this friendly and cosy establishment. In the morning we were dropped off at the start of the walk (a standard and very welcome part of their service), our bags being taken on (at a very reasonable price) to the Cambrian House at Llangollen. 

Me at the start; Chirk Mill inhabitants showing solidarity with the embattled Ukrainians. Pic by Bob

The forecast was pretty rubbish but we started off dry as we climbed the lane on the edge of Gwyningar Wood.

We were too early in the year to enjoy the emergent carpets of Wood Garlic but the tree roots of a Yew we passed impressed……

…. as did the massive trunks of ancient oaks.

It may not have been raining but it was very murky.

Even on day one we were slow up the steep hillside.

Leaving the woods, we had a misty view of Chirk Castle just half a mile away .

The park was scattered with sheep and their inquisitive lambs.

More massive old oaks populated the park….

…. and one very obviously old house.

Leaving the park a quiet lane (and one crossed field) led us for the next mile or so to the busy A5.

It was here that our luck broke and it began to rain. Heavily.

On with the waterproofs

This was a shame as for most of the next mile the path runs next to the Llangollen Canal.

Cameras and heavy rain don’t mix well but as it happens I had walked the next mile or so a few years ago when I did the Llangollen Circular route, so the next few pics are from that trip.

Despite the heavy rain there were still a few people on the canal path but none of could have enjoyed the views I had had years back from Telford’s amazing viaduct.

Built between 1795 and 1805,  The Pontcysyllte Aqueduct is (according to Wikipedia)  the longest aqueduct in Great Britain and the highest canal aqueduct in the world.

We paused briefly to read the bi-lingual plate at the viaducts end …..

and then went in search of shelter and a hot drink. We found both at the Chapel Tea room where Bob had a sausage sandwich and I had a Victoria sponge.

Amazingly it had dried up by the time we had finished our break so Bob snapped one last pic of the Viaduct….

Jolly good pic, too

… before we briefly re-joined the canal side route. A bridge over the canal with well-worn steps….

…. took us to a field next to the village of Trevor and after a little climbing road walk climb we entered Trevor Hall wood.

The “official” route through this coniferous wood actually drops a bit before climbing to the Panorama Road but we chose a footpath off to the right which reaches the road a little earlier and didn’t lose us any altitude. It arrived at the road almost directly opposite a track leading to a monument marked on the map.

I didn’t fancy any additional climbing so Bob explored on our behalf.

A Welsh poet whose ashes were scattered nearby.

While Bob explored I walked under leaden skies along this super road that follows the contours above the Vale of Llangollen….

…. arriving at a viewing point and bench bedecked with a bunch of flowers.

You’ll think me very mean spirited but I really don’t like people dropping bunches flowers by roadside death sites and here, in memory of Mother.

To me they are just litter and the trouble is that when someone does it it encourages others to do so.

I don’t mind the odd little memorial plaque on benches but balk at people fixing them to stones.

But what’s really annoying here is that people have been planting daffodils and even bloody tulips.

Next time I’ll bring some Glyphosate

Bob joined me on the bench, as did a walkers dog and we had a coffee and I had a chunner.

We were in such good time and were not overly tired that we agreed that rather than summon a taxi to take us down to Llangollen we would walk down. But first we continued on the road for another mile…..

…. enjoying the views….

Castel Dinas Bran in the distance

…. pondering the geology….

…. and wondering what the World’s End would be like.

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The walk off the road into town was about two miles and provided a great view of the escarpment above the Panorama Road.

We also passed a little closer to Castel Dinas Bryn.

We didn’t think it would be much fun getting water up there

Mucky and sweaty, we didn’t stop in town for tea but headed straight for our accommodation at Cambrian House. From the outside the place is quite presentable.

The landlady was friendly and chatty to the point of ebullience; Bob said that he felt assaulted by her barrage of chat. His single room at £45 was tiny. My double at £68 was much bigger but basic and I didn’t really like the slightly chintzy style. The shower was hot and the bed comfy but if I were to stay in Lllangollen again I’d try somewhere else.

We enjoyed our meal at beer at The Corn Mill by the river; on the way back it began to snow. Here’s the view from my window at bedtime.