North East Wales Heritage Trail

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Walking & Trekking

Ways to Travel :

Self-Guided Holidays

Activity :

Walking & Trekking

Activity Levels :

3 out of 7 - Moderate

Group Size :

1 - 6

Ages :

Trip Code :

W06WA

The Clwydian and Berwyn ranges are two of the best known hill ranges in North East Wales, yet you'll feel like you have them all to yourself. Their rolling hills, heather-clad moors and limestone outcrops are iconic of the region.

As you hike these hills you'll discover a region rich in history. The presence of numerous hill forts, castles, old quarries and the UNESCO World Heritage Site of Pontcysyllte Aqueduct and Canal demonstrates the region's importance throughout the Iron, Bronze and Industrial Ages.

Starting from Ruthin you'll stay in a range of accommodation, all offering a warm Welsh welcome along with a hearty breakfast to set you up for the day.

Highlights

Medieval towns, hill forts and castles
Rolling hills, heather-clad moors and limestone outcrops
UNESCO World Heritage Site of Pontcysyllte Aqueduct and Canal

Key Information

6 nights in HHH and 4* hotel accommodation
2 days hotel to hotel walking plus walks on days 2, 4 and 6; averaging 4 hours per day
Walking transfers included

Countries visited: United Kingdom

What's Included

All breakfasts and 2 dinners
All accommodation (see accommodation section)
Walking transfers as described in the itineray
Luggage transfers between hotels
Route directions and maps provided

What's Not Included

Travel insurance
Single accommodation (available on request - compulsory supplement)
Solo traveller supplement (where only one person is travelling on a departure date)

5 Days of Walking & Trekking

Day 2

18 km / 11.2 miles

Day 3

12 km / 7.5 miles

Day 4

20 km / 12.4 miles

Day 5

12 km / 7.5 miles

Day 6

11 km / 6.8 miles

Itinerary

Arrive in the historic town of Ruthin, surrounded by hills.
Stay overnight at Sarum House, Ruthin (Breakfast included)

From Ruthin enjoy a circular walk in the Clwydian range. Head out to the Iron Age site of Foel Fenlli, on to the Jubilee Tower atop Moel Famau and to Gellifor from where you return along the riverside.
Stay overnight at Sarum House, Ruthin (Breakfast included)

Meals Included: Breakfast

In the morning explore the medieval town of Ruthin, including its Pentonville-style gaol and the oldest timbered house in Wales, Nantclwyd Y Dre, restored to share the 7 ages of this 15th Century house and home to the award-winning Lord's Gardens. A transfer (included) will then take you to the top of the scenic Horseshoe Pass. You'll descend down through the valley towards the riverside town of Llangollen and pass through lush green fields, scree slopes and limestone escarpments along the way.
Stay overnight at The Riverbanc, Llangollen (Breakfast included)

Meals Included: Breakfast

Enjoy a circular walk to Horseshoe Falls and the start of the Pontcysyllte Aqueduct & Canal World Heritage Site. Head up to the 13th century Castell Dinas Bran and out along the limestone escarpment to the Pontcysyllte Aqueduct, returning along the Llangollen Canal.
Stay overnight at The Riverbanc, Llangollen (Breakfast included)

Meals Included: Breakfast

Take the steam train from Llangollen to Glyndyfrdwy (included Apr-Oct). Here you'll begin your first hike in the quiet, soft rolling hills of the Berwyns. Hike through sheep-strewn grassland and rolling moorland clad with dense heather. These moors are synonymous with the Berwyns and the purple haze of flowering heather in late summer creates a real spectacle in the evening sunshine. Your next overnight stop is at Llanarmon DC.
Stay overnight at West Arms (Breakfast and evening meal included)

Meals Included: Breakfast, Dinner

Located in the heart of the Berwyns, your guesthouse is perfectly positioned for one of many circular walks today. Heading south from the village, a moderate 11km route will take you up and over Cefn Hir-fynydd hill standing at 464m.
Stay overnight at West Arms (Breakfast and evening meal included)

Meals Included: Breakfast, Dinner

Depart after breakfast

Meals Included: Breakfast

Essential Info

Visa

United Kingdom

Travellers from the US and EU normally do not need a visa to enter the United Kingdom. Please note, visa requirements often change and it is your responsibility to obtain any required visas for this trip. Therefore, we recommend that you check with the nearest embassy or consulate of your chosen destination(s), including any countries you may be transiting or transferring through.

Some local governments provide guidance on what visas their citizens need. To help, we’ve gathered a selection of useful links below.

Vaccination

United Kingdom

There are no required vaccinations. However, you may want to consider vaccinations for polio, tetanus and rabies (bat lyssavirus). Please confirm with your doctor or travel clinic.

Eating and Drinking

Full English/Welsh Breakfasts are included throughout as well as the evening meals on days 5 and 6 in Llanarmon DC.

Try out traditional local country pubs for lunch or enjoy a picnic in the countryside. Please note, if you order a picnic from the hotel, please do so the evening before.

Weather

Summers in North Wales tend to be slightly cooler than you might expect and winters can be milder, especially on the coast, while higher, upland areas have more chance of harsher (and colder) weather conditions. The warmest months to visit are from June through to August, although temperatures start to warm up around April and remain pleasant until October time. We advise you take waterproofs as rain / showers can occur at any time of year.

Is this trip for you?

The walks on this holiday highlight the very best of the Clwydian and Berwyn hill ranges with walking across heather-clad moors and over rolling hills. There is nothing overly strenuous but some of the longer routes can take up to 5 hours to complete.

This is a self-guided tour, as such there will be no group or tour leader and you are free to complete the walks at your own pace. We have suggested that 8yrs is the minimum age for this trip, but as it is self-guided and you will be leading your own family we will ultimately leave this decision up to you.

For those wanting to travel on their own there is a single supplement for the accommodation and where there is only one "solo" traveller on a particular departure there is also a solo traveller supplement.

Covid-19 refund commitment

You will get a refund if you have to cancel your trip due to COVID-19.

Availability

This departure is guaranteed to go ahead and is now fully booked, although we may have people holding spaces without payment. Please contact our Sales team for further information.

North East Wales Heritage Trail

The Clwydian and Berwyn ranges are two of the best known hill ranges in North East Wales, yet you'll feel like you have them all to yourself. Their rolling hills, heather-clad moors and limestone outcrops are iconic of the region.

5 Days of Walking & Trekking

Itinerary

Essential Info

Visa

United Kingdom

Vaccination

United Kingdom

Eating and Drinking

Weather

Is this trip for you?

W06WA: Hotels

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North East Wales Heritage Trail