Waun y Llyn Country Park: – Flintshire.
Height:
925 feet or 282 metres
Distance to summit:
1.3 miles or 2.06 kilometres
Time to summit:
1 hour to 1.5 hours
Difficulty:
Moderate: this is a steady ascent through fields.
Getting there:
Follow the A541 from Mold to Wrexham. After passing through Pontblyddyn, you will travel along a dual carriageway with a 50 mph speed limit. Just before the road reduces to one lane, you will see a small road to your left. Take this and drive to the end and park at the crash barriers.
Parking:
Parking is free in the lay-by.
The Area
The Country Park is a former industrial site where silica sandstone was extracted during the 18th and 19th centuries. For more information on the area go to this URL which takes you to a walk published by The Daily Post in 2007:
http://www.dailypost.co.uk/leisure/walks-in-north-wales/2007/04/30/coed-talon-and-waun-y-llyn-country-park-55578-18988434/
Directions.
Leave the lay-by and walk towards Caergwrle along the footpath.
Cross to top of Fagl Lane and cross the road (A541) opposite the red post box.
Walk up the lane until you get to a gate with a stile at the right hand side.
Climb the stile and bear to your right where you will see a double stile that crosses a stream. Turn left after crossing the stream and continue through a number of fields, always keeping the stream to your left.
All the stiles are in the top left hand side of the fields.
Your next landmark is stone farm buildings which you will keep to your right.
Keep straight on following the direction of the arrows.
You will cross a stile and then a hardcore road and then another stile. Keep the fence and stream to your left and continue upwards. At the next stile, you will see a house. Follow the path to the left of the house and climb over the next stile.
At the gate, turn right along the tarmac road to the junction. Follow the bridle path immediately in front of you.
Walk as far as the cattle grid and turn left and then back on yourself.
Follow the footpath around to the right and up the hill and at the brow you will see a marker post. This marker post shows the direction of the “circular walk” which you will now follow.
Bear left and drop down the slope, keeping the stone built buildings to your left. Climb over the stiles that cross a small open ditch and enter the country park.
Your path to the summit stretches out in front of you.
At the summit:
You will have some stunning views of the surrounding area. Your panorama will take in Moel Famau, The Wirral, Cheshire Plain, Broughton aircraft factory, Beeston Castle, Hope Mountain and Cryn y Brian.
Take time out to explore the industrial heritage. Perhaps do some research before you visit?
Return walk.
You may return to the lay-by by retracing your ascent.
Here are some questions for you:
What is the name of the house at the end of the lane before you enter the first field?
How do you think that the cliffs have been formed at the summit?
Refreshments.
There are several pubs in Caergwrle as well as a cafe and take-aways.