Rhewl to Bontuchel

Distance: 6.4 km/4 miles

As walk across fields and along the steep wooded hillside above Afon Clywedog, then along the rocky riverside into Rhewl. It is idyllic in late spring with bluebells and freshly opening leaves or in the dappled shade of summer. It is special too in the colder months when the river is in spate.

Start: Park in the car park by the recreation ground in Rhewl or on the roadside in the village centre.

Grid ref: SJ110 604 (OS Explorer map 264).

The walk

1. From the Drover's Arms pub turn right and walk along the main road over the old stone bridge. Cross the road just after the bridge opposite a small cottage. Take the clearly signed path along a metalled farm drive beside a cottage.

Continue uphill along the farm track through woodland. Ignore the woodland tracks on either side until you reach a clear fork in the main track which is signed with yellow arrows.

Take the right fork and cross into a field. Continue walking on the clear path along the right-hand field edge beside woodland. At the far end of the field turn left in front of a corrugated barn and follow the right-hand fenceline to a stile in the hedgerow ahead.

Continue ahead, gradually climbing uphill through fields, keeping the fenceline on your right and following the waymarkers towards woodland ahead.

There are superb views back to the Clwydians with mixed woodland clothing the valley sides.

Cross a stile into woodland and continue ahead, bearing slightly left, walking through tall conifer woodland along a clearly waymarked path. The woodland floor is almost bare of vegetation here due to the lack of light penetrating through the foliage of the closely packed conifers - only occasional mosses and ferns where a pocket of light strays through. Compare this with the mass of greenery under the

broadleaved trees further on - particularly rich in spring before the full tree canopy is out with bluebells, white stitchwort, and clusters of violets and primroses.

Continue along the woodland path into more open mixed woodland that skirts fields on the right. Continue straight ahead at a signed footpath junction, keeping the field edge to the right. Cross a stile into fields and continue straight ahead, with woodland in the valley on the left and farm buildings on the right. Cross a stile at the end of the field, back onto a narrow woodland path that skirts along the top of a steeply wooded valley, with fields to the right.

It is superb here in spring looking down the hillside when the wild cherry is in blossom with the dark greens of the conifers and paler greens of the freshly opening leaves of the deciduous trees. On the right before the path junction there is a dense carpet of bluebells beneath beech trees - a deep blue haze against the grey beech trunks.

Cross a stile into fields and continue ahead, with woodland in the valley on the left and farm buildings on the right. Cross a stile at the end of the field back onto a narrow woodland path that skirts along the top of a steeply wooded valley, with fields to the right.

2. Bear left down some steps to a path junction. Turn left and follow the woodland path as it gradually descends to the river. Continue beside the river all the way back to Rhewl (approximately 3km), ignoring two footbridges that cross the river.

In spring the smell of the white flowered wild garlic that tumbles down the river banks is almost overpowering.

The river bed is much rockier than the slower flowing Afon Clwyd and is edged by rocky outcrops and crags. The rocks were lid down in a deep ocean 420 million years ago and fossils of sea creatures can occasionally be found. The rock isn't porous so water levels can rise quickly and, in the winter months, the river is a fast flowing torrent.

The Bagot family had a large estate, over 17,500 acres, here in the 18th and 19th century. This riverside path is known as 'Lady Bagot's Drive', as it was a favourite of hers and was once a scenic carriage route up to the Bagot's mansion at Pool Park.

Continue along the riverside path to a kissing gate. Go through the kissing gate and follow the track that leads between two cottages. Continue on the track as it bears right back to the riverside then continue walking along the riverside path.

You may notice a straight smaller stream running alongside the river and some old stonework chanelling it under the path - this may be a leat that drew off water to provide power in the past.

Continue straight ahead along the track, past the farm buildings of Rhydy-Cilgwyn farm, where the track becomes a surfaced road.

Among the modern barns and outbuildings are several much older timber framed buildings. The farm and Rhyd-y-Cilgwyn house itself, were also part of Lord Bagot's estate.

Bear right over the stone bridge and continue to the main road. Cross the road to return to Rhewl.

This walk is taken from the book 'Walking in the Vale of Clwyd & Hiraethog' (ISBN 978-0-9559625-3-0) by Lorna Jenner, published by Alyn Books. Copies can be ordered from local bookshops in Mold and Ruthin, or online at: www.northerneyebooks.co.uk