Denbigh Moors

Last updated

Looking towards the Moors alongside a quarried outcrop Quarried outcrop - geograph.org.uk - 964915.jpg
Looking towards the Moors alongside a quarried outcrop
A ruined house on the Clwydian Way, on the Denbigh Moors south of the village of Cyffylliog in Denbighshire Bryn-Llwyd above Cyffylliog Denbighshire - geograph.org.uk - 1108389.jpg
A ruined house on the Clwydian Way, on the Denbigh Moors south of the village of Cyffylliog in Denbighshire

The Denbigh Moors (Welsh : Mynydd Hiraethog) are an upland region in Conwy and Denbighshire in the north of Wales, between Snowdonia and the Clwydian Range. It includes the large reservoirs Llyn Brenig and Llyn Alwen, and the Clocaenog Forest, which has one of Wales's last populations of red squirrels. It also contains the open heath Hafod Elwy Moor National Nature Reserve.

Its highest point is Mwdwl-eithin, at 532 metres (1,745 ft) above sea level, making it higher than Exmoor. Another summit is Moel Seisiog, at 467 metres (1,532 ft), which is also the source of the River Elwy ( 53°05′N3°42′W / 53.083°N 3.700°W / 53.083; -3.700 ). On its western edge, overlooking the Conwy Valley, lies the Moel Maelogan wind farm. Three other summits reach over 500 metres – Craig Bron-banog (502 metres), Gorsedd Bran (518 metres), and Foel Goch (Marial Gwyn) (519 metres).

The ruined hunting lodge of Gwylfa Hiraethog (known locally as Plas Pren due to its original timber construction) lies at a height of 498 metres (1633 feet). [1] Built by the grocery tycoon Hudson Kearley lies on the moors, and nearby is one of the highest inns in Britain, the Sportsmans Arms. As well as the large reservoirs of Llyn Brenig and Alwen Reservoir there are two sizeable natural lakes – Llyn Alwen and Llyn Aled, and two small ones, Llyn Bran and Llyn y Foel-frech – as well as another reservoir, Aled Isaf Reservoir (lower Aled Reservoir).

View to Moel Llyn from Moel Seisiog Moel seisiog 2.jpg
View to Moel Llyn from Moel Seisiog

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Berwyn range</span> Welsh moorland and hill range

The Berwyn range is an isolated and sparsely populated area of moorland in the northeast of Wales, roughly bounded by Llangollen in the northeast, Corwen in the northwest, Bala in the southwest, and Oswestry in the southeast.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Clocaenog Forest</span> Coniferous plantation in Wales

The Clocaenog Forest is in west Denbighshire and east Conwy, Wales on Mynydd Hiraethog. It takes its name from the village of Clocaenog, near Ruthin.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Conwy County Borough</span> County borough in Wales

Conwy County Borough is a county borough in the north of Wales. It borders Gwynedd to the west and south and Denbighshire to the east. The largest settlement is Colwyn Bay, and Conwy is the administrative centre.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">River Clwyd</span> River in Wales

The River Clwyd is a river in Wales that rises in the Clocaenog Forest 5 mi (8 km) northwest of Corwen. Its total length is 35 mi (56 km).

The Dee regulation scheme is a system of flow balancing and quality management along the River Dee managed by a consortium of the three largest water companies licensed to take water from the river, United Utilities, Welsh Water and Severn Trent Water; together with the regulator, Natural Resources Wales.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Elidir Fawr</span> Mountain in Wales

Elidir Fawr is a mountain in Snowdonia, north Wales, the northernmost peak in the Glyderau. Its name means 'Big Elidir', named after a legendary warrior king of the 6th century also known as Eliffer Gosgorddfawr.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Cadair Berwyn</span> Mountain (832m) in Powys, Wales

Cadair Berwyn, Cader Berwyn or Craig Uchaf is a mountain summit in north-east Wales with a height of 832 metres (2,730 ft) above sea level. It is the highest point in the Berwyn range, the highest in North East Wales and the highest significant summit in Wales outside the National Parks. Cadair Berwyn and Foel Cedig to the west are the two Marilyns that form the Berwyn range. The undulating plateau of the range also includes a large number of other summits above 2,000 feet (610 m), including satellite summits of Cadair Berwyn and many which are classed as Nuttalls.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Foel-fras</span> Mountain in Wales

Foel-fras (944 m) is a mountain in the Carneddau range, about 10 km east of Bethesda in North Wales. It lies on the border between the counties of Gwynedd and Conwy. With a summit elevation of 944 m it is officially the eleventh-highest summit in Wales. Foel-fras is located at the northern end of the main ridge of the Carneddau, between Drum to the north and Foel Grach to the south, with the subsidiary summit of Garnedd Uchaf (925 m) between it and Foel Grach. Due south and 400 m below lies the reservoir of Llyn Dulyn, while the smaller reservoir of Llyn Anafon lies to the north.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Alwen Reservoir</span> Reservoir in Conwy, North Wales

The Alwen Reservoir is a 5 kilometres (3 mi) long reservoir near Pentre-Llyn-Cymmer in Conwy County Borough, Wales.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Cerrigydrudion</span> Village in north Wales

Cerrigydrudion, sometimes spelt Cerrig-y-drudion, is a village and community in Conwy, Wales. Until 1974 it was part of the historic county Denbighshire, when it became part of the newly formed county of Clwyd. When the county of Clwyd was abolished in 1996, the village was transferred to the new Conwy County Borough. The village formerly lay on the A5, but a short by-pass now takes the road along the south-western edge of the village. Prior to the by-pass being built, Cerrigydrudion was the highest village on the A5 between London and Holyhead. The community includes the hamlets of Cefn Brith, Glasfryn and Pentre-Llyn-Cymmer with the village having a population of around 289. The community is sparsely populated and covers over 60 square kilometres.

The Clwydian Way is a waymarked long-distance footpath in north-east Wales, mostly running through Denbighshire.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Llansannan</span> Human settlement in Wales

Llansannan is a rural village and community in Conwy County Borough, Wales. It lies on the bank of the River Aled and is about 8 miles to the south of Abergele and 9 miles (14 km) to the west of Denbigh. The population was 1,291 in 2001, with 67% able to speak Welsh. The figures for the 2011 census were: population 1,335 with 63% able to speak Welsh. The community includes the hamlets of Bylchau, Rhydgaled and Y Groes, and the lake Llyn Aled and reservoir Aled Isaf on Mynydd Hiraethog. Llansannan is in the traditional county of Denbighshire.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Llyn Alwen</span> Lake in Conwy County Borough, Wales

Llyn Alwen is a small natural upland lake on Mynydd Hiraethog in Conwy County Borough, Wales at SH 898 565. It lies on the rolling Silurian moorland to the north-west of Mwdwl-eithin and about 10 km to the east of Betws y Coed. The discharge from the lake flows under the A543 road to form the headwater of Alwen Reservoir. The area was used as a special stage during the 2015 Wales Rally GB.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Mwdwl-eithin</span> Hill in Conwy County Borough, Wales

Mwdwl-eithin is the highest point on the Denbigh Moors of North Wales. This gently rising mountain lies about 10 miles (16 km) east of Betws-y-Coed. On its summit is a trig point and a ruined building which still provides shelter against a storm. A few metres away is a large raised stone cairn.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Hafod Elwy Moor National Nature Reserve</span> Nature reserve in Wales

Hafod Elwy Moor National Nature Reserve, located in the moorland above the town of Denbigh in Denbighshire, North Wales, is part of the Mynydd Hiraethog Site of Special Scientific Interest, formerly managed by the Countryside Council for Wales and now under the jurisdiction of Natural Resources Wales. Established in 1999, it comprises an 82-hectare (200-acre) patch of upland moor lying between the lakes of Llyn Brenig and Llyn Alwen. A conifer forest planted by the Forestry Commission borders the moor to the south and east.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Pentrefoelas</span> Human settlement in Wales

Pentrefoelas is a village and community in Conwy County Borough, Wales. The village lies on the A5 road between Betws-y-Coed to the west and Cerrigydrudion to the east. The Afon Merddwr river, a tributary of the River Conwy, flows through it. The community had a population of 356 at the time of the 2011 census, 70% were able to speak Welsh. It has an area of 53.86 km2 and covers a large region around the village including part of Mynydd Hiraethog, Llyn Alwen and part of Alwen Reservoir. It is in the electoral ward of Llangernyw. The community includes the small settlement of Rhydlydan.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">River Aled</span> Small river in Conwy County Borough, Wales

The River Aled, a small river near Conwy County Borough, flows into River Elwy.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Llyn Aled</span> Lake in Conwy County Borough, Wales

Llyn Aled is a lake on Mynydd Hiraethog in the Conwy County Borough. It is situated north of the A543 and 7 kilometres (4.3 mi) to the north-east of the village of Pentrefoelas. It is a natural lake; however, a dam was built at its northern outlet to increase its size. It has an area of 112.7 ares (1.127 ha) and is 1,227 feet (374 m) above sea level. One can reach the lake via the A543. There are a number of varieties of fish in the lake, including pike. The lake was used by the Llyn Aled Sailing Club, but the club closed down due to a dwindling membership and the proximity of the much larger Llyn Brenig.

References

  1. "Bryn Trillyn". hill-bagging.co.uk. Retrieved 19 September 2020.

53°05′N3°35′W / 53.09°N 3.58°W / 53.09; -3.58