Open to Offas
30 & 21 mile routes
Abbreviations used
R/L=Right/Left; TR/TL=Turn Right/Left; BR/BL=Bear Right/Left; RH/LH=Right/Left Hand
OD=Offas Dyke; All bearings are magnetic and are shown: {305}
TR up road past church and car parking field. After 400 yards, TL up road and continue to crossroads. Ahead on road which shortly becomes a track. Leave token at BUCKET DROP. After a further 400 yards, TR through middle of three gates down tree-line track for 1/2 mile. 40 yards after ruin of metal barn on R, TL over waymarked stile (GR 167667). Keep fenceposts on your R and descend field. Immediately after stone gatepost TL {260} (waymark on tree opposite post). Continue with wire fence and trees on your R to reach stile on R beneath trees. Go over stile and BL down to stream (slippery). Cross stream and up, bank. Curve L with stream on your L before bearing right {305} diagonally up field passing large tree on your R to reach stile. Cross stile and BR {300} up held and under powerlines to cross stile in hedge. TT, on road (GR162670)
In 20 yards, TR over stile and cross field {335} to reach stile in angle of fence. Go over stile and cross field diagonally {310} to hedge corner. Go up field with fence on R. At top, go through LH gate and ahead on path with forest on L and fence on R. In 100 yards, BL on forest track ignoring waymarks. Leave forest via metal gate (GR 156677). Go ahead over field {290} to gate in bottom L corner. Go through gate and continue with fence on R to stile by gate. Continue ahead on {300} for 100 yards and then curve L {260} to go through gate in fence. Turn R and follow track downhill alongside fence. Just before farm, go over stile between two trees in fence on your R and aim for L of converted barn. Go through small gate, down steps, over stile and TR down farm lane to reach T-junction at road (GR 145679).
Cross road and go through RH gate opposite (waymarked). Keep-fence and stream on your L to reach fence corner. TL over stream and, keeping fence on your L, reach stile ahead. Cross stile and go up field with fence on L to next stile. Continue with hawthorn bushes on L to go through gate before top L corner of field: TR and keep fence on R to cross stile ahead (15 yards from corner of field). Continue with fence on R past Pen-y-Bryn Farm and over next stile. Go immediately over further stile and down tree-lined path passing to L of shed. Cross behind shed and over stile. Continue down to cross footbridge and go over stile. TR up field with fence on R and continue tip hill ahead. Go through gap in trees and over stile ahead. Continue up field with fence on L to go through line of old hawthorn trees. BL into next field then BR away from fence to cross stile with prominent yellow circle under tree (GR 136683).
Continue ahead for a few yards and cross old overgrown wall on R. BL on grass parallel with old wall and pass to R of ruin. Go through gate in fence on L and continue in same general direction with old wall and fence now on R. Descend into dip and continue. Go over stile by gate and continue uphill on track Go through a second gate and keep fence and wall on R to go through third gate (please shut). TL on track to reach checkpoint.
CP 1 NORTH END Food & Cold Drinks GR 121690 5.7 miles
TL through gate and double back {155} on broad path with fence on your L. Follow OD waymarks (acorns) on grassy path for 1 mile over the summit of Penycloddiau and descend to cross stile by OD signpost. TL along path to car park (GR 139669). TR to road and along road for 80 yards. TL by OD signpost_ Go over stile and BR up hill, passing OD waymark, to cross two more stiles. 20 yards beyond second stile, leave OD path and BR on narrow path through the heather (200). Follow uphill to the summit. [Note: This path is now overgrown in places with leg-scratching heather and gorse. If you prefer, you will not be penalised for staying on the main OD path to its highest point and turning R up good path to summit. This is about 200 yards longer and involves a short retrace of route on leaving the checkpoint. Whichever route you choose, you must visit the summit].
CP 2 MOEL ARTHUR GR 145660 8.5 miles
TL {30} on grassy path to rejoin OD path at gate. TR and descend to road. TR on road and cross stile in fence immediately to L of gate by cattle grid with ‘Mod Famau Country Park’ sign on other side of fence. TL steeply up hill with wall on your L. At top continue on OD path for 0.8 miles. The 14 mile route comes in here from L. Continue for a further 1.7 miles to reach Jubilee Tower on summit. In bad weather, look for checkpoint on sheltered side of tower.
CP 3 MOEL FAMAU GR 161626 11.8 miles
Leave tower on {150} and cross stile. [Note : There are two stiles visible from the tower. The correct one is the RH one, NOT the one close to the trig point]. Descend on main path for 1 mile ignoring all turns L and R. At cross tracks, stay ahead on descending path and again at tracks crossing at acute angle. At path junction, ignore little-used grassy path ahead and BR down good path leading directly to tarmac.
CP 4 PICNIC SITE Food & Drink GR 171610 13.1 miles
[CP 4 is the split point. Make sure you check out before leaving. For 21-mile route see separate route description at end of these notes].
Leave car park via footbridge and up steps. Pass toilet block ignoring steps to R and go through small car parking area. As driveway bends L, BR on footpath through gap for 10 yards and BL on path signposted ‘Bwlch Pen Baras’. When path emerges into car park, cross road to car park opposite (GR 161605). Go through this car park and take steeply rising path on R (signposted Foel Fenlli). At top of wooden stairway, TL along embankment. After 120 yards, BR off embankment to summit.
CP 5 FOEL FENLLI (May be self-clip) GR 165601 14.2 miles
Leave summit on {175) and, on reaching embankment, descend flank of hill on {140) aiming for RH side of forestry below. Go over two stiles, alongside forest, over third stile and along RH edge of field to gate. Do not go through gate. TL down field edge to go over stile at forest corner. Continue ahead with wall on your L to reach field corner and turn R on grass track (OD signpost on L). In 100 yards, BR away from fence to follow OD waymark with line of trees on your L. Continue ahead on main track to reach A494 road (G4,166582). TR up road. (Take great care on this busy road - the barriers don't offer much protection).
At brow of hill cross road. Ignore first track on L and 80 yards later BL on metalled track. Go over cattle grid and 80 yards later BL. As track bends R, go ahead over stile between two gates. Turn L up field with fence on L. As gradient eases, BR away from fence to stile in fence ahead. Go over stile and ahead over small hillock to stile 10 yards before field corner (OD signpost). Cross stile and ahead on track. After 1/2 mile, at head of valley, BR on narrow footpath by OD signpost. At end, cross stile and TR down wide track (GR 170571). After 400„ yards, immediately after sharp bend, TL over stile. Continue along track with fence on R for‘3/4 mile and cross stile into lane (GR 168558). TL on lane for 10 yards and TR over stile to go up hill with fence on your L. At top, circle head of valley on your R to go over stile and TR with fence on R for 30 yards. TT, downhill following waymarks to cross stile at bottom of hill. Continue ahead to cross stile to L of mast and follow track downhill through gate. Checkpoint is on track leading to road.
CP 6 SOUTH END Food & Cold Drinks GR 171542 19.4 miles
Retrace steps for a few yards and BR to go through gate at signpost for Llanarmon. Go along track passing lake on your L after 1/2 mile. Pass to L of large building and continue for ¾ mile to reach T-junction with road. Go over stile opposite and BL across field following waymarks to cross stile in hedge. Continue ahead with hedge on L over stile by gate and then, before reaching end of next field, look for stile in hedge on your L. Cross and turn R (i.e. hedge now on your R). Go over stile ahead and along path between walls to reach road. Go ahead up to top of cul-de-sac and take footpath to R of pink bungalow to emerge on road opposite church. it and then TR round the church walls.
Take first left along lane immediately before Raven Inn. In 50 yards (footpath sign on L) TR between buildings and over stile. Turn L to cross next stile and BR {010} across field to go over third stile. Cross next field {345) to stile and continue with hedge on L to go over next stile. TR to follow field edge and cross stile on R just beyond caravan. Keep fence on your R and cross footbridge ahead. Go through kissing gate and up track to reach road (GR 191571). Go straight across up lane opposite and continue uphill ignoring all turns for 1 mile. When lane turns sharp R, take lane to L with 'No through road' sign. Lane becomes a track by green-roofed barn on R. (You can fill your water bottle from a container behind a car parked nearby). 10 yards later, BR on track. In about 300 yards watch for old gate on R. Go over gate and keep wall on your R to cross wooden fence/stile with waymark in about 10 yards. For easiest line through gorse, go straight ahead until fence forces you L, then continue to limestone escarpment and top of hill.
CP 8 POTHOLE CRAGS GR 197588 23.5 miles
Drop off crest to R and continue ahead {010} to pick up faint path. Follow it in same general direction to reach track. TL down track. When track starts to TL and disappear on level ground, go through gap/gate in fence ahead and down narrow path through birch trees. At bottom, go over stile and TR on lane for 100 yards. it down track beyond house on L. In 40 yards, TR on footpath, narrow at first, uphill through trees {340} (GR 195594).
(21 & 14 mile routes rejoin here).
At top, the path widens to become a broad track Continue, ignoring all turns, for nearly 3/4 mile to reach stile by gate. Cross stile and BR on wide track to reach road. TL downhill. In 100 yards, BR on track signposted Loggerheads on half-fallen sign. In 200 yards, shortly after second cottage on R, BR on track. After 1/2 mile, when path enters open field at triple stile, BR to go past overgrown second triple stile. Follow path to cross stile alongside gate. Continue with buildings on L and playing fields on R to merge L on main school drive. BR at next two junctions (by lampposts 35 and 29 respectively). Go straight on past buildings and over stile into woodlands. Keep ahead to reach main road (GR 204626). Cross and go through gate opposite. In 100 yards, BL on track and go gently uphill and then steeply down wooden steps. At bottom TL over bridge to reach buildings.
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CP 9 LOGGERHEADS Food & Drink GR 198626 26.5 miles 21 mile route : 17.8 miles |
Retrace steps over bridge and TL. Keep on main path for '/2 mile to go between stone-built pillars (signposted Leete Path, Devil's Gorge). In a further 600 yards, immediately after white metal posts, BL across lane through gap in trees signposted ‘Leete Path & Cilcain'. After ½ mile, just beyond waymark post, where path ahead rises and narrows, fork L on wider path. Continue to road (GR 189654) and TL downhill. Go over bridge and continue on road uphill. At sharp RH bend go straight ahead on footpath. Continue ahead over three stiles to reach steps in field corner. Go up steps and over two stiles. TL along field edge to cross next stile and continue to pass through gap in fence on L. Continue ahead to reach lane. TR uphill to reach village. TL to Village Hall.
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FINISH CILCAIN Food & Drink GR 176652 30.0 miles 21 mile route : 21.3 miles |
That's it! We hope you enjoyed it.
21 MLLE ROUTE
(From CP 4 to between CP 8 and CP 9)
Go L down road for '/4 mile and turn R into lane. Stay on lane for ¼ mile round bend, past cottage to second cottage. Immediately beyond cottage, go R over stile with footpath sign (NOT along bridleway through adjoining gate). Go up field on {115) and aim for R of farm when it comes into view ahead. Continue on level track past farm buildings on your L through five gates. Ignore farm track curving up to R. Continue up slight rise and, at next gate (trees on R), continue ahead with fence on R. At next fence, go over stile by gate and take path slightly R uphill. Follow waymark on post along shallow groove. At end of field, drop down L, through gate and immediately R over stile. Go down LH field edge, over stile and diagonally R down next field {150). Go over stile, cross road (care!) and TR along grass verge for 200 yards to stile on L (GR 187599).
Cross field {145), over footbridge and go diagonally R {155} to pick up main track down R side of field. Cross stile and continue on narrowing path over metal fence with spring on L, past old quarry on L, to reach old metal gate on R.
SELF-CLIP (SC on tally) GR 195594 15.4 miles
Continue on track for 100 yards to pass through another gateway. 10 yards beyond, opposite cottage, double back L on footpath uphill through trees {340}.
You have now rejoined the 30-mile route. Continue from last paragraph on previous page.