Llangollen and Dinas Bran

Welcome to Freshwalks. This event is part of our vibrant Merseyside business community programme delivered in collaboration with Haines Watts, Bathgate Business Finance and Cummins Financial Advisers. Everyone is welcome to join us for a day of hiking and networking in the great outdoors. Feel free to come alone - most Freshwalkers do - and you'll be warmly welcomed or invite a colleague or client along for company.

Route description

The small town of Llangollen in North East Wales is steeped in myth and legend. It's location on the River Dee makes for a perfect base to explore the surrounding hills and in particular the ruins of Castell Dinas Bran which occupies a prominent hilltop site above the town.

The stone castle, now in ruins, was likely built in the 1260s by Gruffydd Maelor II, a prince of Powys Fadog, on the site of several earlier structures, including an Iron Age hillfort. Its name loosely translates as ‘Crow Castle’ which explains the crow moulding and wood carvings found on the trail.

This circular route loops outwards along Offa Dyke's Path before returning via the dramatic rock formations and unspoiled historic landscape of Eglwyseg escarpment and Trevor Rocks.

Route: Llangollen - Dinas Bran - Offa Dyke's Path - Eglwyseg Mountain - Trevor Rocks - Llangollen

Distance: 16km

Grade: Hard (more info on grading here)

Max elevation: 456m / Total ascent: 693m

Proposed schedule:

09:45 - Meeting, Market St Car Park, Llangollen
10:00 - Walk starts
12:30 - Picnic (please bring a packed lunch)
15:30 - Walk finishes, The Corn Mill, Llangollen (estimated return time)

Walk leaders: Martin Murphy & Luke Weaver

Meeting location: Market St Car Park, Market Street, Llangollen LL20 8NB
https://w3w.co/leaky.averages.chat

Parking: Long stay car park. 147 spaces, 8 disabled spaces. EV charging point available.

£8 all day. You can pay for your stay in this car park at the ticket machine or by using your mobile phone. PayByPhone 804268. More info here.

Public transport: Challenging but possible. Please take the 08:22 train from Liverpool Central to arrive in Ruabon 09:45 (changing at Chester). Then take the 09:51 Arriva Number 5 bus service which arrives in Llangollen at 10:09.

Toilets: There are public toilets at our meeting location

Pre-walk: m'Eating Point, Berwyn St, Llangollen LL20 8NF (open from 9am for anyone wanting to grab some breakfast) https://www.m-eatingpoint.com/

Post-walk: The Corn Mill, Dee Lane, Llangollen LL20 8PN

Photos by Catrin Ellis and Sebastian Herrmann on Unsplash