29th June 2023 : Llandegla (Mod+)

The start point for today was the Gallery Cafe in Hawarden, and this would be the first time I had been here since the change of ownership. Access was still allowed via the kitchen and the internal cafe configuration had been changed around a little. With a warm welcome from the staff, it was essentially the same as when Spiros was there.

Only a small group of CER members today though – Dave M, Trevor, and Andy W – who were all out for the ride over and back – with Alan and Steve Hu (in civvies). So just two of us then for a ride. Ken had contacted me to say that he was hoping to be out if the builder arrived and left promptly that morning. I messaged Ken to say that Alan had a ride to the community cafe in Llandegla village; then Ken advised he would would be able to make his way there as well.

So Alan led me out via the usual way to Northop and thence to Sychdyn where we take the drop down via Blackbrook Lane. A left and a right finds us at the bottom of the innocuously looking Gwernaffield Road where there is a 2.5 mile long uphill section. Turning left into Cadole Road, we eventually end up close to Loggerheads. 

A pleasant cycle along this smooth main road takes us left towards Llanarmon yn Lal. Alan’s route would have taken a back road into it, but I persuaded him to take the main road to enter via the old castle. This castle, nestling on a tree covered rocky outcrop, is called “Tomen y Faerdre”  See link here.

Entering Llanarmon via The Raven pub and fine church, who should we espy but Ken, who had arrived a few minutes earlier – immaculate timing. We set off from outside the community shop for the four mile haul up towards Llandegla village. The Llandegla community shop and cafe is a real find (we have been there several times before) and as it is barely 1230, the cafe is not busy so the good food comes quickly.

Taken by a helpful local

Leaving before 1300, we retrace our route back through Llanarmon then turning right and “all up hill now” (according to Ken) bound for Ffrith. The steep down section to Llanfynydd was very pleasant but not so the climb out into Cymau. Alan was dropping off somewhere around here as we three drop down into Hope. So as we don’t need to get back to Hawarden, Ken and I head for Kinnerton with the fast run down into the Higher Kinnerton. Ken turns off right towards Rossett and I continue to Saltney Ferry.

So thanks to Alan for recycling an old route which took us on very quiet roads. It was about 38 miles all round and 3000ft of climb so enough really today. It wasn’t as warm as I had expected but thankfully no rain today.

See route map and/or gpx file download

CA