22nd May 2025: Bangor-on-Dee

This was a day when patience was needed. We had gathered at The Gladstone Library and had ordered coffees when the waitress came to tell us that they were still cleaning the machine. So, she took any remaining orders and disappeared. A while later, she came back and told us that the machine was broken and offered us filter coffees. Almost immediately, she came back to say that the machine was now working and we could have the coffees we had ordered originally. But they came in dribs and drabs as did the toasted teacakes some had ordered.

So, it was well after 10.30 by the time we got outside to the bikes to start the rides. This was only my fourth ride of the year since January, so I’d decided to go with the ‘mods’ today. My plan was to go down to The Two Doves café in Overton, a ride I’d done about a year ago. My ‘mod’ compatriots were Dave H, Keith, Ray B, Mike G and Trevor.

We set off down the hill past the castle car park and then up the steep road/track at the side of Bilberry Wood to reach the footbridge over the A55. Going down the hill I was immediately struck by how cold it was. The sky was overcast and there was a strong north-easterly wind.

Having climbed some more along Old Hope Road to cross the Mold road near Penymynydd, we were soon flying down Lower Mountain Road, crossing Kinnerton Road and into Golly and Burton. Here we crossed the railway line on the outskirts of Rossett. The wind chill had made me so cold that I stopped to put on me waterproof in an effort to keep warm.

We climbed part of the way up Marford Hill before peeling off down Hoseley Lane which took us to the roundabout on the A534 at Llan-y-pwll. After that, we followed more quiet lanes which skirt around Wrexham Industrial Estate and popped us out near Pentre Maelor. From here we threaded our way to Cross Lanes to pick up the A525 from where it was only a short run down to Bangor-on-Dee.

By this time, because of being cold, I’d decided to forego the delights of The Two Doves and persuaded the peleton to stop for lunch at The Royal Oak instead of going on to Overton. Once again, our orders were swiftly taken, but the meals took ages to appear. This gave us plenty of time to swap stories about our travels. The best one was told by Mike about a time that he and his wife were staying in Sunny Beach in Bulgaria. The decided to go by train to Plovdiv for the day. When it came time to go back, they found that there were no trains that evening! The lady at the railway station was able to find overnight accommodation for them…in an army barracks in Burgas!

Photo MG

Having taken a group photo outside the pub, we set off back.  By this time, the sun had come out and we were feeling a little warmer. The route took us through Bangor so that we could get back onto the A525 without going the ‘wrong way’ over the old bridge. We were soon off the main road and on to Creamery Road and then on to the tiny roads which run roughly parallel to Holt Roa. These have very little traffic on them and in the winter they are often get flooded or are very muddy. Today they were dry and dusty and completely free of traffic of any kind. At the end of the lanes it was warm enough for me to take off my waterproof.

Emerging from the lanes, we crossed the A534 and headed into Holt. At this point, Trevor left us to get some extra miles in before heading home. Leaving Holt along Borras Road and then up the B5102 towards Lavister, we pressed on through Dodleston and Lower Kinnerton to Higher Kinnerton.

That just left the last four miles for us to get back to Hawarden, but what a tough four miles it is. Although not very steep, a long climb is the last thing you need when you’re tired at the end of a ride. Having got to the top, the bonus is the plunge down Tinkersdale from the Dobshill roundabout.

40 miles covered on a day which started out cold, but wound up being pleasantly warm.

ST

See route map and/or gpx file download