Dyserth Circular Walk Start Point: public car park adjacent to Dyserth Waterfall. Toilets available in car park (seasonal opening). Grid Ref: SJ 056 793, OS Explorer Map 264, Vale of Clwyd. Distance: about 7 miles. Time required: about 4.5 hours Terrain: some steep hills on certain sections so a medium level of fitness is required. 1. Leave car park and turn left, pass waterfall entrance and turn left immediately after Waterfall Shop. Climb the old mill steps, turning left at top at a path junction. Continue then climb more steps, emerging onto end of road on Bryn-y-Felin. Turn left after house and descend steps to cross causeway over River Ffyddion, continue up to pass wooden steps on left… Alternatively, turn left before the shop and after paying a small toll head towards waterfall through metal gates, cross river in front of the falls and climb the stone steps between the huge stone walls. Follow path up the hill, passing view point with bench seats overlooking village. Continue on path over hill, descending some wooden steps… onto a path and turn left walking through trees towards a stile. 2. Cross stile & turn right, climbing a steep bank into an open field where there is a way-marker post. Head across the field towards the corner of a wood where there is a stile to a fenced board-walk along the edge of woodland, towards Pandy Lane. 3. Cross Pandy Lane and climb steps immediately opposite, through a kissing gate to enter an open meadow, Maes Hiraddug - a Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI) owned by The North Wales Wildlife Trust. Cross the field diagonally to the left towards a gate. Cross the old railway bridge and turn sharp right, ignoring kissing gate, and take steps down to join the Dyserth to Prestatyn Walkway turning right towards Prestatyn. On a sweeping bend with magnificent views towards the Ormes and the Carneddau Mountains look out for the low-level caves in the limestone rock on the right (fitted with grilles to prevent unauthorised entry). Follow walkway up to a wooden gate and the old stone-built railway goods shed on the left. 4. Turn right on path opposite the stone building and after a few yards go through a kissing gate, following steep path and steps up Graig Fawr which is open access land owned by the National Trust. Ignore kissing gate on left halfway up this path. At the top of steps, the first of several way marker posts will become visible showing the direction of the route leading to the road at Bryniau. At a split in the path bear right following the sign for Graig Fawr to reach Bryniau. Alternatively, you could deviate from the normal route and climb to the white trig point on top of Craig Fawr (153m/502ft) for spectacular views of Snowdonia, Anglesey and the coast. 5. Leave National Trust land through kissing gate and turn left on road at Mount House. Follow the road and look for some stone steps and a stile on the right - 6 - which is on the Offa’s Dyke Path. Continue on Offa’s Dyke Path crossing stiles in four fields before dropping down a steep bank onto road. 7. Turn left and follow road, looking out for caves on right. After a short distance take first stile on right and cross through two fields towards A5151 Trelawnyd road with Ty Newydd farm on right (this section can be very muddy). 8. Turn right on road and after about 50 yards take stile on other side of road. Continue to next stile and turn right onto a narrow road heading down towards the river. 9. Don’t follow Offa’s Dyke path when reaching the hairpin bend but continue on the road, passing ruined Grove Mill on the left. Continue along the road for about half a mile ignoring all stiles until you reach the T-junction with Hiraddug Road; turn right. 10. After a short distance take path on left at side of white bungalow and follow fenced path to the second driveway and turn right. Just before gate to private house cross stile on right and follow path through gorse bushes to ladder stile and an open field. Cross three fields with ladder stiles until you reach metal gate on farm track. 11. Turn right and follow track until you reach stile on right side before reaching a farm. Cross three fields with stiles and descend steps onto the lane. 12. Opposite is a stile leading into Church Wood, take care downhill on rough ground from this stile (especially when wet) then cross two more stiles before entering a field. You are now approaching the village of Cwm and the stile is located in the left hand corner of the field near church. 13. Turn right on road passing the Blue Lion pub on left. After a short distance take stile on the right towards two more stiles leading to an open field. Walk up middle of steep banked field looking for gate and stile at top of hill. Take time out to admire the wonderful views across the Vale of Clwyd towards Snowdonia. Cross another field and climb over stile onto lane. 14. Opposite is a metal kissing gate with a path leading along the lower western slopes of Moel Hiraddug. Follow path through woodland until you reach end of wood with panoramic display panel and bench on right. 15. Leave the wood on a track which joins Lower Foel Road and continue straight on. Branch right uphill on to Upper Foel Road and pass the lime kiln just before the road rejoins Lower Foel Road. Continue straight on to the A5151 Trelawnyd Road. 16. Turn left at main road and walk through village. Pass Dyserth Garage and road to Bryn-y-Felin on right. After the old school with metal railings look out for footpath sign, on right, before traffic lights - 17. Follow this path until you see some stone steps on the left which will lead you down to the main road near Waterfall Shop. Turn right on the road, and back to car park. If you came up these steps at the start you could carry on past them, then climb some steps, emerging onto end of road on Bryn-y-Felin. Turn left after house and descend steps to cross bridge over River Ffyddion, continue up to wooden steps on left. Climb these steps and arrive at viewpoint with bench seats overlooking the village. Follow fenced path down through huge stone walls and cross river in front of the waterfall, exit falls through metal gate and turn right for car park. Note this gate may be locked in the evenings. Leaflet designed & produced by Peter J Robinson, Dyserth Environmental Group For more information about Dyserth and for hundreds of old photographs visit www.dyserth.com Dyserth Circular Walk was developed as part of a series of walks linking the village with the Clwydian Range AONB. Using a grant provided by the Environment Sustainable Fund and Objective 1 DUNE, Dyserth Environmental Group worked closely with Denbighshire Countryside Services to provide the necessary furniture and way-marking for these attractive and contrasting walks. Printing funded by Dyserth Community Council. v2 August 2014