Trailblazer Guide Books

Trailblazer guidebooks provide practical information on specific routes… in less accessible parts of the world.
 - Wanderlust

BODFARI TO CLWYD GATE (A494)        MAPS 6-12
This is a challenging 11-mile (18km, 53⁄4-61⁄2hrs) section which involves
crossing the first part of the Clwydian Hills (see box below). Leaving Bodfari,
the first landmark of the day is Moel-y-Parc (398m/1306ft), the hill with the
radio mast on top that remains in sight throughout this section, although your
route takes you over the shoulder without visiting the summit.

You do top out on the next hill, Pen-y-Cloddiau (440m/1442ft). The
site of an Iron Age hill-fort, with a flat top surrounded by the vestiges of
earthwork defences, it’s the first of several hill-forts which you come across
on this stage. The trail crosses one hill after another: there’s a dramatic loss in
height on each side of Moel Arthur (456m/1496ft); it’s a striking, conical hill
surmounted by another hill-fort that you’ll miss unless you divert from the path to visit the summit. Continuing through the range, you pass Moel Llŷs-y-coed
(465m/1524ft), Moel Dywyll (472m/1550ft) and Moel Famau (555m/1820ft).
Moel Famau, ‘the mother mountain’, is the highest point of the range and
is protected as an AONB (see p75). Its summit is crowned with the squat
blockhouse of Jubilee Tower, built in 1810 to mark the jubilee of George III but
rebuilt many times since, being no match for the fierce winds (but a welcome
shelter for passing walkers).

Foel Fenlli (511m/1676ft) and Moel Eithinen (434m/1424ft) follow on,
before another gap allows the road (the A494 Mold to Ruthin road) at Clwyd
Gate to cut through the range. This section along the spine of the Clwydian Hills
has several escape routes so you can retreat to the safety of a village pub or a
warm B&B if the weather closes in.