May Walk - Moel Famau

Only three walkers turned up for the walk to the top of Moel Famau which is on the Denbighshire/Flintshire border and the highest point in the Clwydian hills in NE Wales. The leader was on home territory having been brought up in nearby Wrexham.

We kept our options open about going to the top as the weather look did not look very kind and it can be very windy at the Jubilee Tower on the summit. We started from the small village of Cilcain, with its Church and pub and after walking round Frith Mountain, which is really only a hill, we were still about 40 minutes from the top of Moel Famau. There was not going to be much of a view, as the top, though visible, was cold grey and wet looking so we abandoned the ascent and crossed two fords and used Clwyd Forest tracks before dropping down to Loggerheads. We had lunched in the forest in lovely sunshine but five minutes later we were walking through hailstones.

After coffee at the Loggerheads cafe we returned to Cilcain NNW along the river. We road tested the pub which was very good and drove home.

This was a 'good walk' in an area superbly organised for walkers. We were lucky enough to see lots of beautiful spring flowers. This really was a high spot. Primrose, cowslip and false oxlip were found growing very near to each other. Sadly, the photos of the flowers, the spotted piglets and sheep with 'curly perms' are on a mobile ‘phone which, unfortunately, has been lost.

Map reading was done 'by committee'. Suffice it to say that Helen thinks she will go on a map reading course sometime soon!

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