18th June 2026: Llandegla

 Gathering today was at The Gallery, my second closest start point. Even with a good little climb up Hawarden hill, I'm somehow still improving my PB time. Despite being the usual last one to arrive, I had time for a coffee. There were still a half decent turn out, but not quite into double figures, surprisingly the weather was half decent compared to last week. Today's weather promised drizzle, but we somehow avoided it. 

Last week I was happy to embrace the rain, but I only got as far as Guilden Sutton where I had gained a puncture, which in turn removed my efforts to get to last week's start point. 

Conversations were hard to hear with the poor acoustics. With not many, if at all, the normal ride leaders, choices seemed slim. Most wanting to follow Neil back to Tattenhall, but back along the Greenway which Ray S and I had travelled in from. Shane's birthday plans were to return via visiting family members whilst keeping his terrain relatively flat due to a slight mechanical issue. 

So, with Ray wanting a punchy ride and wanting to be back mid-afternoon, which suited me, we opted for a hilly ride to Llandegla. This seems to be the most common choice for a hilly ride from Hawarden and I am not complaining - I feel obliged to tackle some elevation from this start point. 

Once Ray had managed to load a route from the archives, we set off West into the wind, uphill. The two of us make it to Northop but continue across the crossroads to avoid as much of the main road as possible. We take the second left up green lane and crisscross our way back onto the route, to follow around Mold. The usual route we normally take after crossing the old road where we turn left over the bridge, instead of following the signs right, was closed due to a housing development, so we skirt closer to Mold, and once again find our way back on route. 

We follow the route finding our way back onto the main road to Ruthin, which then directs us off, towards a good old climb past Moel Famau, but then weaves us off to follow the main road again. Onto Llanarmon and before we knew it we were approaching Llandegla community cafe in good time.

We look at the menu and Ray opts for the bacon and egg bap, which reminds me that they are the best that I can recall to date. Conversations revolve around bike maintenance, fitness and yesterday's game. Some kind of world cup game where the score ended in 4-2. 

Back to more interesting things, we saddle back up to head back to Chester, reminiscing about the old days of motorcycling. We weave on and off main roads, balancing the quiet roads with the necessity of progression. 

Thanks Ray for the enjoyable ride, certainly relieved some of my youth bombing back the country lanes. Discs would be a welcomed upgrade 😅

See route map and/or gpx file download