12 ramblers met this morning at Loggerheads Country Park. Depending on which weather forecast app you used, the day would be bright and sunny or overcast and raining. Just before we set off we found it was going to be the latter, so wet weather gear was donned and off we set. The planned route was an 8 mile circuit along the Leete pathway to Pantymwyn, on to Cilcain and then around the shoulder of the Frith mountain returning to Loggerheads.
Within 15 minutes of walking the weather took a turn for the better, and coats were stuffed back into rucksacks, hats and sunglasses were donned and off we set again in bright sunshine! The Leete path had a couple of steep climbs, which had there been much rainfall would have been very slippery, however with all the recent dry weather we had no problems. We had a lovely walk through the Millenium woods, past the openings of the old mine entrances hewn into the rocks and paused at the Devils Gorge. Here we met a large school party from Manchester who were watching their braver classmates scaling the vertical wall of the Gorge and abseiling back down to the base. Suggestions that this could be a new U3A group fell on deaf ears! We then followed the path onto Trail Hill, crossing the bridge over a non existent river and then upwards to Pantymwym. We paused here for a quick snack stop and admired the Badgers hewn out of wooden logs. From here we walked into the pretty village of Cilcain, at the foot of Moel Famau, although this was not our chosen destination today. The repurposed village hall is now a community shop. Housed within the former school house which was built in 1842, this is now open on several days a week, run by volunteers, and provides a focal point for the village as it is the only shop! They have a very pleasant community garden which, having purchased hot drinks from the shop, we put to good use as our lunch stop. Suitably refreshed we admired Moel Famau looming over us in the distance, but today took the lower route around the base of the Frith Mountain. As is usual on our rambles we encountered several stiles, some more accessible than others, This route around the base of the mountain took us on a gentle 3.6 mile stroll though some lovely countryside before we started to descend back down into Loggerheads Country park, past many dry riverbeds and finally back to our start point. Reunited with cars and boots stowed away we drove a little further into Llanferres, where the delights of the Druids Inn beckoned us into the beer garden for a quick drink in the sunshine before we set off home. Thanks to Dave for leading a lovely walk, not as strenuous as the last couple but definitely a good one!