Description

A return trip from Pen Barras lodge - between Ruthin and Mold - to the Jubilee Tower (which was begun in 1810 to mark the golden jubilee of George III but never completed) on the summit of Moel Famau, this is one of the most popular day walks in North Wales.

The hike is easily accessed from Manchester, Liverpool, Birmingham and many smaller towns, so if you're planning on climbing Moel Famau on a sunny weekend, get to the parking area early! The trails up to and down from the 554m summit are good, so unless it's been really wet recently you should manage to keep your feet dry.

The trail itself is clear and well-maintained so it can be followed in any conditions, but is obviously most enjoyable in good weather.

The initial section of the path is the steepest and it gradually mellows as you approach the summit tower.

The tower itself was previously far bigger but it was severely damaged in 1862 by a storm so what you see now is merely the base of what used to be the tower.

The view from the top is amazing, with the peaks of Snowdonia on one side contrasting starkly with the urban centres of north-west England.

You can easily descend the same way but it's much nicer to turn this into a loop walk by descending the Offa's Dyke Path.

Either follow it to the road and walk back to the carpark along this, or (as shown here) branch off left halfway down the descent and follow a good path through trees back to the carpark.