21st July 2011: Whittington

Four elements combined to make the ride from Holt to Whittington and back a CER classic – good company, weather, comestible venues and unspoilt country lanes within the borderlands of Offa’s Dyke country.  There were eight of us (Bryan, Brian, Alan, Ivan, Trevor, Janet, Ray and myself) assembled at Hildegard’s new café in Holt.  This has recently opened and at Martin’s suggestion last week, we decided to try it out instead of Bellis.  A very warm welcome was evident both at the start of the ride and at the end.  Janet (Two Mills group) was out with us for the first time, and Dave M made a brief appearance before saving himself for the upcoming Audax “extreme” ride into Wales.

Chirk Castle gates

Photograph by Ivan Davenport

The route out circumvented Wrexham via Sontley and Gyfelia thence onto Ruabon.  The run down past Cefn Mawr is always exhilarating despite the road surface, and, the gradual climb out to the A5 seemed easier than before.  A left and right on the A5 found us riding past the Chirk golf course and the back entrance to Chirk Castle.  A short stop here allowed me to check the shortcut route through the side of the caravan park and onto the Glyn Ceiriog road.  The planned left turn was blocked by road works so a hastily re-routing took place as we headed up the valley.  Next left took us up a single chevroned hill right on the line of Offa’s Dyke and back into England.  A steady climb took us around the eastern side of Selattyn and then down to Gobowen and Park Hall Camp to Whittington.  

There are three pubs in Whittington and the “Ye Old Boote Inn”, a 16C coaching inn, opposite the 13C community-run castle was certainly the right choice.  They promptly set a table for us and drink and food came swiftly.  Excellent value and tasty food pleasantly presented and served.  A return visit sometime is on the cards. 

The return route was “all downhill” and we were soon diving down the pretty lanes of Hindford, Crickett (old and new), Seven Sisters and Trench onto the broad lane to Penley.  Back across the border once more at Bangor-on-Dee, Brian and Janet left us to push on to Wrexham railway station, while the rest of us made the familiar way back via Bowling Bank to Holt and Hildegard’s. 

The weather had behaved itself all day and, as three of us rode back to Chester, the wind freshened and rain could be seen over the Welsh hills.  A 50 mile, moderately taxing, circular ride from Holt, and 70+ miles for those Chester bound.

See route map and/or gpx file download.

CA