17th March 2011: Brynford

Overcast with light rain at lunchtime - the forecast for Caergwrle was exactly right as four of us (Martin and Liz, George and myself) set off bound for a pub (yet to be determined) in Holywell. Paraphrasing the Daniel Day-Lewis film title “There will be hills” and hills aplenty there were. A short ride around the back of Hope warmed up George’s legs, and then we were off up the hill to Pontybodkin. Across the main road we took the twin single chevroned lane towards Trueddyn only to stop suddenly as Martin had picked up a glass puncture. Whilst this was being repaired, there followed a long story from George about a discussion at Cheshire Oaks Cycles re the choice of tyres for his end-to-end ride. Martin favours Gators whilst I favour Armadillos – yet both are a bit heavy. A comic interlude distracted us as the rubbish collection lorry arrived and proceeded to destroy part of the entrance to the house it was collecting the weekly rubbish from. Just as we were leaving the householder returned but we decided we had tarried long enough! Onwards and upwards towards Nercwys we took the mercifully short double chevroned lane to Gwernymynydd. Taking a left at the main road, we battled up the hill as the wind was picking up and the clouds started to look like the rain-bearing variety. Taking the lane at Loggerheads and then the right towards Cilcain, we might have thought we were on a motorway for all the traffic on this small lane. Taking the direct route to Rhys-y-Cae and yet another chevroned lane, we discussed a possible lunch stop before Holywell given the supposed dearth of decent eateries.
As the drizzle started we found that each pub we passed was firmly closed: a familiar story in this part of Wales. At the crossroads in Brynford, George was almost certain the pub in the hamlet had closed down (he was right) but the one just up the hill may be opened at lunchtime. Executive decision time: based upon L&M’s expert local knowledge, we went to the only café in town, that being at the Pet Cemetery (see the review at http://www.northwales.co.uk/cafes/the-pet-cemetery-brynford/). What a good place for lunch: good and inexpensive food on floral china and friendly service combined to give it a Michael Winner “historic” cache. After lunch, the drizzle had stopped and, passing the pub that might have been open (it looked firmly closed down), we sped back to Pentre Halkyn and the back lanes towards Northop before turning towards Altami. George and I peeled off to get back to Caergwrle whilst L&M turned towards Hawarden. Only a 38 mile ride but 750ft of height difference and 2500ft of total ascent.
See route map and/or gpx file download.
CA