We’re a little closer to the centre of the county this month as we explore the area around Garth and Trevor a little more. We actually retrace our steps around a couple of previous walks as we put a fresh twist on covering this always rewarding part of Wrexham.
“Pre-Amble”
The walk is fairly easy going. It’s not flat by any stretch of the imagination, but not steep either. You’ll walk across lush meadows, through quiet woodland, down country lanes and along deserted tracks.
The walk covers about 3.5 miles, and you should be able to complete it in about 2-2½ hours.
The very steep ascents and descents mean you will climb nearly 545 feet (166 metres) and reach a high point of over 762 feet (232 metres).
The route seemed reasonably dog-friendly. However, you will probably encounter sheep and cows, so you will have to keep a dog on a lead during those sections.
Starting Point
I started in the car park of Pontcysyllte Chapel Tea Room. It costs £3 to park and is a great excuse to visit the tea room and try a delicious coffee and breakfast. Their address is Bryn Seion Chapel, Station Rd, Trevor, Llangollen LL20 7TP (phone: 01978 812 786; menu: pontcysylltechapeltearoom.com) and the What3Words reference is what3words.com/once.huddled.masterful.
From Wrexham city centre, take the A483 south to junction 1. Head along the A539 towards Ruabon. Move into the right-hand lane and take the third exit off the roundabout towards Plas Madoc, Acrefair and Llangollen. After just under two miles, look for the brown sign on the left for Tower Hill Barns. Turn left down Station Road about 30 seconds later, following the signpost for Pontcysyllte ½ and Froncysyllte 1 B5434.
Follow the road down. The Pontcysyllte Chapel Tea Room car park entrance is on the right as you follow the road round to the right.
Walk Directions
Pontcysyllte Chapel Tea Room
Walk back up Station Road by turning left out of the tea room car park. Walk up to the top of the road and cross over the A539. Go up the path opposite to the right of the old cottage, following the arrow on the public footpath signpost (1).
Cross the bridge and hop over the stile after about two minutes, and through the slightly ajar gate. Go through the left-hand gap in the hedge line ahead of you. Follow the right-hand fence line up to the top of the hill. Exit this field through the metal kissing gate in the top right-hand corner to the right of a large oak tree (2).
Follow the left-hand hedge line. You’ll see a series of farm buildings ahead with a red-brick farmhouse. Ignore the track in the left-hand corner and follow the left-hand hedge line as it bends round to the right.
I found there was an electric fence here. Unclip the red ‘clothes peg’ from the wire and step over. Replace the clip and exit the field through the open gateway on the left (3). The walkers’ gate is blocked on the other side.
Wooded Mound
Walk down into the dip, cross the stream and turn diagonally right. [There’s a wooded mound at the top of the slope.] Exit the field through the metal kissing gate in the right-hand hedge line.
Turn left and hop over the stile. Follow the left-hand hedge, fence and tree line. [There’s a large concrete structure on your right, which is maybe some kind of water treatment tank.]
Walk up to the left-hand corner of the field, with the wooded mound on your left, and hop over the stile onto the old drovers’ trail. Turn left and then almost immediately right up the steps and through another metal walker’s gate.
The Last Oak Tree
Head left once through the gate and go through another metal gate down into the wooded area. [The Gwernydd Reservoir is to your left and the Gronwen Reservoir is to your left.] Head up and out of the woods. You’ll come out into a field.
Follow the line of trees in front of you. Turn left just after the last oak tree and then immediately right. Walk towards the hedge line and go through the metal walker’s gate.
Turn right and follow the right-hand hedge line up through the longish grass towards the houses at the top. The hedge bends to the right as you near the top, and you’ll see that you can exit the field through a metal gate and then left over a stile onto the housing estate.
Gronwen Farm
Turn to the right and walk past the cattle grid and up the drive to Gronwen Farm (4).
Follow the track as it bends round to the left and across the front of the farmhouse. Take the left fork, passing the pile of plastic bags on your right. Walk down the narrowish track with dock leaves, through the gateway and then leave the path to the right as you reach the remains of the circular cattle feeder.
Turn left so you’re heading in the same direction as the path, but slightly above it and to the right. [Up to your right, through the trees, is the King William’s Tower folly built by George Hammond Whalley of Plas Madoc, the MP for Peterborough, as a hunting lodge or summer home.]
Blue Plastic Netting
Head for the far hedge line and exit the field over the stile onto Garth Road. Cross over and walk straight on along the gravel track (5).
Turn left through the gate after about two minutes, just before the cattle grid (6).
Head downhill for a few yards and turn right through the gap. You should be walking across a field that slopes down to your left, and you should be able to see a length of blue plastic netting on a fence ahead of you.
Enter the wooded area next to the large oak tree. Look for the distinctive set of stones on the ground as you walk over the streambed (7).
There’s a longer rectangular one with three smaller ones to its left. Walk along the path beyond until you exit onto the field.
Trevor Hall Road
You’ll see a holly tree in front of you. Walk to the right of it and then past the old piece of farm machinery. Carry on along the line of trees to your left and continue past the farmhouse on your right.
Walk as far as the gap with the silver birch and turn left down the hill, following the path trodden into the grass (8).
Cross the old cattle grid and go through the metal gate. Carry on down the track. You’ll see horses in fields to your left. Go through another gate and carry on down past the farmhouse to Trevor Hall Road (9).
Head down the road for about 10 minutes. As the road bends sharply to the left, turn right just after Gardener’s Lodge. You’ll find yourself on a gravel track leading up to Trevor Church and Trevor Hall. [If you have the time, it’s well worth walking the five minutes up the track to visit the church.]
Willow Tree
Step down to your left after a few yards as you reach the standing stone with ‘Denbighshire Offa’s Dyke Path’ on it. Be careful, as it’s the step down is a little awkward. Walk down the short, narrow path and turn left. Walk to the right around the large willow tree and onto the road that bends around the barn to the right (10).
Go through the gap in the hedgerow to the left that leads you to a track going downhill towards what looks like a small stable in a field (11).
Follow the track as it bends to the right and enter a sloping field through a metal kissing gate to the left.
Follow the left-hand hedge line down to the metal gate. Careful as you head down the short wooden steps cut into the bank as you’re walking onto the busy A539.
Disused Railway Track
Cross over and walk down the lane as far as the railway bridge after about three to four minutes. Walk up the slope on the left and go through the wooden gate onto the disused railway. Turn left.
Continue along the railway track for about 10 minutes. You’ll pass through an inverted-V gateway along the way. Go right through the gap in the trees by the wooden post that says ‘Clinker Path’ and walk past the Garth Trevor Community Centre on your right (12).
Carry on down Heol Penderyst and right onto George Avenue. Turn left at the T-junction with Station Road (B5434), and the tea room car park is just ahead on your left.
Congratulations – you have finished the walk!
Feature image: Trevor Chapel
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