19th May 2011: Llanasa

A fine day in prospect and so it was with plenty of sunshine to illuminate the Clwydian range of hills.  At the Gallery café, Jim suggested the Red Lion in Llanasa, so a route was quickly plotted and off went the nine of us (Dave and Liz, George, Dave M, Jim, Dave H, Alan J, Norman and I).  Plotting the usual route to Northop via the back lanes of Ewloe Green, we took it steady up to Halkyn and Pentre Halkyn and across the Brynford golf course.
Fine views of the Dee estuary and the Clwydians were in prospect.  Crossing the A55 at Calcoed we idled through Gorsedd before dipping down through Whitford.  The small lane on the left took us on NCN 5 around the base of the hill with the site on top of the supposed Roman watchtower or lighthouse now replaced by a folly-type tower.  From the top of the tower you can get panoramic views across the water to Liverpool.  At the bottom of this lane behind the hedge hides the “Maen Achwyfaen” Celtic cross that is supposed to be around 1000 years old.  After a brief stop to view this scheduled ancient monument, we “ancient relics” got back on our bikes bound for Llanasa.
What a pretty village this is; and the Red Lion has an elevated position in the village centre. Food and drinks were quickly ordered and we sat outside in the sunshine, and after a decent wait the decent food arrived.  As only 19 miles was under our belt, a longer return journey was soon plotted over the hill towards Trelawnyd.  After a short diversion in the village centre, we were soon down the lanes towards the A55 bridge crossing.  Dave M recognised the lanes as part of the Clwydian Audax route.  So the map reading was back on track.
I wanted to take the pretty lanes at the top of the hill above Tremeirchion since this gives three miles of delightful “flat” countryside to cycle through before turning right on to the road to Babel.  This road dips and rises over 400ft for 5 miles before you arrive at Pentre Halkyn Windmill at 900ft. Dave M suggested that we take the usual run down the back lanes towards Northop but bear right towards Alltami and Buckley and then into Hawarden.  The “Two Daves” set off down the lanes at a pace but were nowhere to be seen at the right turn lane towards Alltami.  George peels off to Northop and the rest of us make our way back via the Buckley suburbia.  Only Jim and I are bike-bound to Chester as the rest reflect on 44 miles of peaceful lanes and pretty Welsh villages.  Norman did extremely well on his first outing so we may see him again!
See route map and/or gpx file download.
CA