This trail takes you through glorious woodland, across the countryside and to Moel Famau, the highest peak in the Clwydian Range. We loved this rewarding walk; here’s more information about the Loggerheads and Moel Famau Circular walk.
We fancied a more challenging walk in Wales and settled on the Loggerheads and Moel Famau Circular Walk. It seemed perfect, with good parking at Loggerheads Country Park. There are facilities at the start and midway and plenty of gorgeous views to stop and take in along the way. Although strenuous in parts and very steep in sections, we thoroughly enjoyed this route. There is even a proper country pub at the end to rest up, what more could you want?
Loggerheads and Moel Famau Circular Walk
13 km | 4 hours to complete | Moderately challenging route
This 13km circular trail near Mold, Flintshire, is considered a moderately challenging route. There are steep climbs gates to navigate, and you may come across cows and sheep grazing in the fields. Wear sturdy footwear, pack layers as Moel Famau can be windy and cold, and keep dogs on leads. Here is our review of this trail and further information about the walking route.
Where can I park for this walk?
We began this 13km circular trail at Loggerheads Country Park. There is plenty of parking here and an overflow car park. Opening times vary in Summer and Winter. Winter is 8 am to 6 pm, and Summer is 8 am to 9 pm. All-day parking here is £5.00, up to 2 hours: £1.00 and Up to 4 hours: £2.00. The trail is open year-round and is beautiful to visit anytime.
Begin your walk from Loggerheads Country Park
Loggerheads Country Park is really special with its wooded river valley, backed by limestone cliffs and outcrops. It is perfect for a leisurely walk or an excellent starting point for exploring the Clwydian Range. For those interested in learning more about the area of outstanding natural beauty, the Clwydian Range Centre here has plenty of information. It is open every day except Christmas Eve and Christmas Day. The park is rich in history as it was once an important lead mining area, and remnants of its industrial past can still be seen in the woodland.
A well-marked discovery trail, many pathways and cycle trails provide easy access to the hills and valleys beyond. An array of activities is available for visitors, including abseiling in Devil’s Gorge, family activities, and guided walks.
We warmed up with a coffee from Caffi Florence. A lovely cafe offering fair trade drinks, homemade soups, lunches, and traditional afternoon teas. It is open every day from 10 am to 5 pm. Perfect for a pre-walk snack or drink; just be aware it can get hectic at peak times!
Head through the woodland
The trail took us left into Loggerheads woodland, across the river via a bridge, and then left again, where we continued through the forest. It can get very muddy here, so dress appropriately, or your walk will be uncomfortable!
Once we reached the kennels, we crossed over the road and continued straight until we reached a sharp left, which took us down into more woodland. Watch out for this, as we nearly missed it! There is a signpost here, but we found it easily overlooked. You follow this path, cross another bridge and then head through a gate into an open field.
From here, the route up to the summit of Moel Famau is straightforward and well-signposted. It’s all uphill from here; we found it tiring but doable. There is a short section along a country road before it’s all uphill to the summit. Be aware there are fields on the ascent with sheep, so be cautious and keep dogs on a lead.
While exploring the park, you may notice strange shapes cut into the heather. This is part of the ongoing management that’s taken place in the uplands for generations, which is a combination of burning and cutting that encourages new heather to grow and provides fresh grazing for sheep.
As you reach the summit, the last section is particularly steep and tricky, with lots of loose stone. We just took our time and took little breaks to enjoy the views! It can be very slippery here in bad weather, so keep that in mind when setting out.
Moel Famau
Moel Famau means ‘Mother Mountain’ in Welsh and is the highest summit in the Clwydian Range at 554m (1818ft). It is aptly named as it sits in the centre of the Range, surrounded by hills covered in heather moorland and offers incredible views of the Vale of Clwyd to Snowdonia and the North Wales coast.
At the top of Moel Famau, you can find the remarkable remains of The Jubilee Tower. It was built to commemorate the golden jubilee of George III in 1810 and was designed by Thomas Harrison of Chester. It is a Grade II listed building. Climbing to this spot provides a few extra feet of elevation, which offers a spectacular view. These remains are at the park’s highest point, towering 1818ft (554m) above sea level.
From here, begin your descent
From here, the walk is much easier. Be careful as you descend, as the loose stone can be harder to navigate as you go down. We saw a few near slips! There are plenty of signposts down to the car park, so this section is straightforward to navigate. The route took us down to the car park at Moel Famau, where we took a slight detour to use the public toilets nearby. We have included the location here.
The trail from here is much more leisurely; you follow it through more woodland, a field and a short road section before returning to Loggerheads car park.
Rest up at We Three Loggerheads
The We Three Loggerheads pub is just across the road from the Loggerheads car park. It’s a cosy country pub with a relaxed atmosphere. There’s plenty of outdoor seating and an indoor restaurant and bar area. After our walk, we warmed up with steak and ale pies, seasonal veg and homemade chips; it was much needed! The food was fantastic, and the menu had many hearty options and lighter lunch bites. Knowing a great pub sits at the end of this walk makes it even sweeter! It’s dog-friendly too.
Overall, we loved participating in the Loggerheads and Moel Famau Circular Walk. The trail itself is well-maintained and easy to follow; it was the perfect way to spend a Saturday! We will undoubtedly retake this trail. Let us know if you complete it too, and what you thought in the comments.
