29th October 2015: Gronant (brisk)

The rain caught me just before arriving at the Gallery where six of us (Brian M, George, Ken, Tom, Martin and myself) ended up in the warm but a bit wet. Liz D was also out “breaking in” her healing fractured foot on the bike. I proposed a ride over the Halkyns to Gronant via St Asaph, 51 miles around. So we set off under leaden skies with the rain clearing going the usual way towards Northop. Down Magazine Lane, we espy an enormous waste lorry slowly making its way down the very narrow lane towards us. After we managed to get past via the stinging nettles in the verge, we find out why the lorry was going slowly. It was acting as a branch slayer. We had to stop many times to remove broken branches off the roadway. Out through Northop, I elect to take The Green up towards the Bluebell pub. We sensibly agree to go at our own pace and further agree to meet at the Bluebell pub. Ken, Martin and I arrive to find Tom already there! He had been at the back and hadn’t heard the routing instructions, but nonetheless had figured out where we would be. We wait for 15 minutes or more, and Ken goes back down the lane (twice) to try to find George and Brian whilst I send George an explanatory text. After 20 minutes, we four decide to ride on to Rhuallt via Babell.

Photographs by Clive Albany

The sun is out now and the visibility is extensive. At Pant, I decide to go off-piste by taking the lane to Sodom. This lane is almost level with a kick up to the top of the hill outside Tremierchion. A few more turns takes down the tiny dead-end lane to overfly the A51 and down into Rhuallt proper. Running parallel to the A51 we fly down to ride the wide footbridge over the A51 and up into St Asaph. Here we follow cycle route 84 northwest towards Rhyl, before going through Rhuddlan bound for the “Bells of St Mary” at Gronant. The castle built by Edward I in 1277 is magnificent in the sunshine as are the “Three Knights of the Road” posing by the Medieval homage sculpture at the bridge over the Clwyd river. 

The pub is heaving as it is Half Term week but service is brisk as we tuck in after 32 miles. The return is along the coast road with a few shimmies to get us running parallel but not actually on the road. Coffee and cake is at the cafe behind Sainsburys. A few more wiggles and we are in Connah’s Quay where we four go our separate ways home. So, not a spectacular routing, a mystery as to where George and Brian got to, but nonetheless an enjoyable, almost dry, bright day over the Halkyns to 900ft and back.

CA

2nd June 2011: Abergele to Shotton (short)

The weather forecast had promised the hottest day of the week as we assembled on Shotton lower station waiting for the 10:04 train to all points west. The four of us, Brian Mac, Trevor, Norman and Jim were well covered in the necessary lotion but had some misgivings about Arriva Wales's intentions to accommodate us.  The web site declared their support for cyclists as long as there weren't more than two per train.  A plan was hatched and we stood in pairs at the opposite ends of the platform as the train arrived.  Not wishing to show any signs of hesitation we pushed on board before anyone could say “you can't bring that on here”.  In no time we were rattling along past the fleshpots of Prestatyn and Rhyl to arrive at Abergele half an hour later.  No sign of the promised sun though!  Only a cool breeze and the hilltops covered in cloud.  We set off' uphill of course (this is Wales after all) along the A548 towards Llangernwy (no I don't know where it is either).  After about 2 miles we turned left (more uphill) onto the lanes traversing the north side of the Afon Elwy valley.
If you are ever tempted to scoot down these narrow lanes without a care in the world-don't.  Round the next corner lurked a road sweeper, filling the whole road.  Hardly had we squeezed past him before a local farmer roared up behind us with a silage trailer, and then came his mate in the other direction.  At last they turned into a field and we were safe, but no, the dustbin wagon.  We were beginning to think that there was some sort of conspiracy taking place but eventually we were left alone to make our way to Trefnant just south of St Asaph.  From there we crossed the Clwyd Valley and climbed up the other side to Treheirchion and lunch at the Salusbury Arms.  The specially brewed local ale was well recommended by Don in his personal chair by the bar but all too soon we had to set off, uphill of course, towards Babell and Halkyn.
From there we swept down to Northop and finally Connahs Quay.  By now the sun was out and so were the local young mums with their muffin tops.  A quick coffee at Weatherspoons and Brian and Norman left to collect their vehicles leaving Trevor and Jim to set off along the fortunately flat Greenway back to Guilden Sutton.  A good ride of 34 hilly miles, or 55 for those from the wrong side of the tracks.

JD