This month, we take you on a loop north of Llangollen, with a short detour up to the top of Dinas Bran. The walk is very steep in parts and will have you breathing heavily, but the views are worth it!
Overview
You will cover about 5¼ miles and pass through flat fields, rolling countryside and hilltops. There are some stiles you would have to lift a dog over and several fields containing sheep.
We started the walk at the car park on Market Street, Llangollen. It cost us £2.60 for three hours.
Market Street
Exit the car park onto Market Street, turn right, and then left at the T-junction onto Castle Street. Cross the bridge over the River Dee (1), turn right, and immediately left onto Wharf Hill. Climb the winding steepish road over the canal, across the next street, up the steps, and onto the narrow footpath that runs along the right of Ysgol Dinas Bran.
Walk up the path. You can already see the castle ruins ahead of you at the top of the hill. Go through the wooden kissing gate after about five minutes. Follow the “To The Castle” sign. Carry on up the steep slope through the field.
Go through another wooden kissing gate. Walk up the grass and stone path as far as the white house at the four-way crosspaths (2). You’ll see a sign that says right to Trefor Uchaf, but carry straight on following the directions to Castell Dinas Bran.
Walk along the path to the left of the white house. Go through the wooden kissing gate in the metal frame. Go straight on, ignoring the right diagonal track. Walk straight ahead, following the left-hand fence line, again ignoring the path to the right at the wooden carving of the crow.
Wobbly Steps
Follow the fence line around to the right, following the signs for the panorama. Presently, you’ll see a stile in the wooden fence on your left. Hop over it and make your way down the short slope to the stream. Take care, as this can be muddy and slippery.
Turn diagonally right and make for the far corner of the field. Go through the metal cattle gate. Follow the track as it turns left up the hill and then right (3). Go through another metal cattle gate and turn left in front of the large barn. Turn immediately right and follow the path round to the left. You’ll see a stile on your right up a short slope. The step is wobbly, so take care.
Hop over the stile and continue the rest of the short distance up to the tarmacked road. Turn right and walk along this road for a couple of minutes. Turn right over the cattle grid and then through the metal gate on your right after a few yards.
Dinas Bran
Walk over the stone flags and take the track up the hill to the top of Dinas Bran (4). This slope is quite steep, although some steps do make it a little easier. Come back down the same way and turn right when you reach the metal gate again at the bottom of the hill after the stone flags.
Turn right when you are back on the single-track road and walk down the slope until you reach a stile on your left, just after the yellow grit bin. Head diagonally left and walk to the right of the rectangular wooden enclosure. Exit the field over the stile beyond.
Head diagonally right up the slope along the track made by walkers. Use the stile to exit the field. Walk around to the left of the copse of trees in front of you.
Run your eye along to the right of the far fence line as you reach the brow of the hill. You’ll see a stile which you use to leave the field. You’ll find yourself on the same road as before.
The Magnolia House
Walk along the road for a few minutes and take the right fork. Take a right after about five minutes when you reach the brook running underneath the road just before the house on the left (5). Follow this path over the rubber mats and past the magnolia house on your left.
Walk down the single-track road until you reach a stile on your right after a minute or so. Hop over it and go through the metal walker’s gate to your right. Walk along the well-defined path in the grass so you’re traversing a steepish slope with a row of trees immediately to your left.
The path bends left after a few minutes, and you’ll see a short wooden waymarker. Follow the arrow and continue along the track. Go through the black metal walker’s gate next to the wooden cattle gate. Turn left past the large black water butt and blasted stump.
Continue along the path and through another black metal walker’s gate. Head down to the road between the buildings and turn right after the stile standing on its own (6). Hop over another stile into a field and exit using a third black metal walker’s gate.
Fallen Holly Tree
Walk along the barbed wire-topped fence to your left. Follow the waymarker arrow and turn left at the end of the fence. Follow the fence up the slope, still keeping it on your left. Go through another black metal walking gate.
You need to take the stile immediately to your right but be careful to avoid the fallen holly tree branch (7). Walk up the two concrete steps and cross the field using the path clearly visible in the grass. Exit the field between the collapsed wooden gateposts.
Follow the left-hand hedge and garden fence line past the dilapidated green shed on your left. Hop over the stile and join the tarmacked drive. Exit the drive almost immediately by following the arrow on the gatepost and go through the green wooden double gate (8).
The Sagging Gate
Follow the track and walk past the old brick bunker-type building on your left. Go through the silver-coloured metal walker’s gate and follow the fence line to your right. Go through the large black metal gate with a waymarker arrow on a wooden gatepost. The gate has sagged a bit, so use your foot to lift it slightly as you slide the bolt across.
Carry on along the path. Walk past the stone house with the solar panels on the roof. Follow the track for about 15 minutes. You’ll eventually reach the crosspaths with the white house and the sign for Trefor Uchaf and Castell Dinas Bran you saw earlier.
Turn left and follow the same path you took at the start of the walk to return to the Market Street car park.
Congratulations! You have completed the walk.
I hope you’ve enjoyed reading “A Walk Around Dinas Bran and Its Surrounding Countryside”. Click here for more of our local walks.
