23rd June 2011: Hendrerwydd, Vale of Clwyd

Eight members met up at the Tudor House Café in Caergwrle in somewhat mixed weather conditions with light drizzle prevalent and sun and showers forecast for later.  Dave & Liz P planned to do their own thing and Jim announced that he wouldn’t be riding but had come along for a chat and to collect outstanding membership subs.  Once we had paid up we got down to planning the ride.  I had come along with a hilly route in mind but I wasn’t at all sure I was up to it.  The route can be summarised as up the steps, down the shelf, along the Vale of Clwyd and back over Moel Arthur.  The others were happy with the challenge however, so everything was agreed.
With that five of us set off (Martin, Alan, George, Ivan and me) to Cefn-y-bedd where we turned right and started the drag up the steps.  At the top we took the Bwlchgwyn road and the back lanes towards Llandegla before joining the A525 for a fast run to the Llandegla turnoff.  Having reached the top of the Clwydian Hills we could now start to look forward to the descent down to the Vale of Clwyd and what a descent it turned out to be.  From a height of 350 metres down to 80 metres in one long continuous sweeping descent: wonderful!
Once in the valley we contoured north above Ruthin through Llanbedr-Dyffryn-Clwyd and on to the White Horse at Hendrerwydd for lunch.  The White Horse proved to be a great choice with real ale and an excellent menu from which the group chose omelettes and battered Llyn Brenig trout.  The food came promptly as we enjoyed the views of Moel Famau and poured scorn on the latest medical pronouncement that all over 65’s should be tested for drug and alcohol abuse!

Photograph by Alan Jeffs

All to soon it was time to leave and we took the back lanes towards the all to prominent Moel Arthur.  Martin had warned that the start of the climb from this side was steep and so it was; not helped by a car and van trying to squeeze by on the narrow road.  Within half a mile the others were out of sight some way ahead as I struggled slowly up.  We regrouped at the top and then enjoyed the fast descent down to the A541.  Martin decided to continue back to Hawarden on the main road while the remaining four of us took the more interesting, (code for hilly) option.  First we negotiated the lanes through to Nant Alyn, up to Gwernaffield-y-Waun, Gwernymynydd, Leeswood Hall and on to Pontybodkin to arrive back in Caergwrle with 40 hilly miles clocked, or 60 plus for those of us riding from Chester.
See route map and/or gpx file download.
BW

PS A completely refurbished SatMap made its reappearance after it's unfortunate 'accident' on the Stone 110 ride when the rear mount sheared off.  Many thanks to SatMap for the fantastic service in repairing and returning the unit free of charge in just three days.