Hill Forts and Drovers' Roads

Situated in the northern part of the beautiful North Clwydian Range, this route is less than 35 minutes from Chester.

Ride past Iron Age hill forts on bridleways which have been ridden and walked since these structures were built two and a half thousand years ago. Enjoy wonderful views of the Clwyd Valley, the coast, and Snowdonia in the distance and explore the oddly named areas of Sodom and Ysceifiog (Is-cave-iog).

This route follows the sides of the Clwydian Range crossing it near Moel Famau before heading north across Halkyn Mountain towards the quiet lanes and drovers’ roads around Caerwys and Babell. It uses small tarmac lanes and off-road bridleways which range from open grassland to stony tracks. At certain times of the year these can become slightly muddy and occasionally rutted but they remain sound and are never boggy. We are actively looking to upgrade this route to provide as much off road riding as possible but most of the route is gently hilly with one or two steep ascents. Unsurprisingly in a sheep-farming area, there are several sets of gates but these are often left open, according to the season, and many can be opened and closed without having to dismount.

Typically each day’s ride is 15 to 16 miles long with the potential for short cuts and diversions to places of interest. By reducing the daily mileage and extending the holiday to 3 days this route would make an ideal introduction to trail riding. It provides spectacular views but is never very far away from villages and country pubs! You and your horse need to be able to cope with this sort of mileage; if you are unsure of what this entails please speak to Deborah who will be more than willing to explain.

(posted/updated 18/02/2010)