Castell Dinas Brân

The Vale of Llangollen offers some of the most fascinating and varied walking in Wales as this short but steep ramble shows nicely. In just 7 miles it goes from the busy streets of Llangollen itself, up to the ruined ramparts of Castell Dinas Brân – surely one of the most spectacular and atmospheric of Wales’ many castle ruins and an amazing viewpoint – before tracking easily along the spectacular limestone escarpment of Trevor Rocks. The drop back down to the River Dee is wooded and pleasantly painless on a carpet of pine needles, and this leads via a couple of short road sections onto the tranquil banks of the Llangollen Canal, with fine views over the river and the rest of the valley. The final leg cruises along the towpath with just narrow boats and ducks for company. And then there’s a chance for refreshments in the Wharf Tearoom before dropping back down to cross the river.

Wherever you park in Llangollen, locate the Dee Bridge on Heol Castell and cross it. Turn right on the other side and walk down the road for a few paces before turning right onto a path signed to the canal. Follow this up to the canal and turn right, past the tearoom, to the road. Turn left across the bridge and then climb the steps opposite to follow signs steeply uphill towards Castell Dinas Brân. At the top, go through a gate and keep straight ahead with a drive and gate to your right. And then follow the path up, along the side of sheep pasture to join a track. Follow this up to a crossroads.

Keep straight ahead, signed to the Castell, and continue up to a gate on your right, with a sign inside it. Go through and follow the path past an interpretation board and up a series of zigzags to the ruins at the top, which is a truly spectacular viewpoint. Enjoy a rest, and a look around, and then descend by continuing in the same direction as you approached and you’ll locate another path that leads steeply down towards the road. This drops to a gate, which you go through, and then continues through another field and up to the road. Turn left to the junction at the top and then right onto the escarpment road.

Now follow this along, ignoring a turning to the right and enjoying amazing views. You’ll go around a sharp right-hand bend and later pass a drive and footpath descending to the right before eventually running along the top of Trevor Hall Woods. Continue to a stile on the right and a welcome sign. Cross this and follow the path down through the woods, ignoring all paths to the right and left. This eventually leaves the woods, runs alongside a paddock and then drops to a major track junction.

Turn right (not through the gates but adjacent to them) and follow this track past the entrance to Trevor Church to a high wall on the left. Here, bear left to a gate and cross the stile next to it to drop rightwards on a good track that leads to the road. Turn right for a few paces and then take the first left. Follow this past the hotel entrance and continue down to a right turn, which you take. This climbs over a bridge where you can gain access to the canal. Turn right onto the canal towpath and now follow this easily along all the way back to Llangollen Wharf. Retrace your earlier steps back into town.

Words & Images: Tom Hutton