Clwydian Range

The Clwydian Range (Welsh: Bryniau Clwyd; also known as the Clwydian Hills; or simply the Clwyds[1]) is a series of hills in the north-east of Wales that runs from Llandegla in the south to Prestatyn in the north; the highest point is 554 m (1,818 ft) Moel Famau. The range forms the north-western part of the Clwydian Range and Dee Valley Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty.

Clwydian Range
Clwydian Hills
Northern section of the Clwydian Range towards Liverpool Bay
Highest point
PeakMoel Famau
Elevation554 m (1,818 ft)
Coordinates53.1544°N 3.25602°W / 53.1544; -3.25602
Dimensions
Length20 mi (32 km)
Width4 mi (6.4 km)
Naming
NicknameClwyds
Native nameBryniau Clwyd (Welsh)
Geography
LocationWales (Great Britain)
RegionNorth Wales
Geology
Formed byupstanding block of deep sea sediments
Age of rock~ 443.8 million years ago
Type of rockdebris slurries laid down during the Silurian period

Geology

The summit of Moel Famau is strewn with Turbidite

The Clwydian Hills are formed from an upstanding block of deep sea sediments formed during the Silurian period as debris slurries originating on the nearby continental shelf. The older mudstones and siltstones of the Nantglyn Flags Formation form parts of the west-facing scarp slope and the overlying Elwy Formation, which consists of mudstones and siltstones deposited in deep marine conditions with numerous sandstone beds, forms most of the higher ground.[2] Both formations are of Ludlovian age. The range's rocks are intensely faulted; the major Vale of Clwyd Fault is responsible for the impressive west-facing scarp of the Clwydian Range. It downthrows the rocks to the west and separates the younger Carboniferous and Permo-Triassic rocks of the Vale of Clwyd from those of the hills.[3]

Ice from the Welsh ice-sheet moved eastwards over the Clwydian Hills during the last ice age, impinging on the Irish Sea Ice to the east of the range. Numerous glacial meltwater channels occur around the range whilst the valley of the River Wheeler which cuts the range in two was a significant drainage channel.[4]

Geography

The hills in the Clwydian Range provide extensive views across northern Wales, to the high peaks of Snowdonia, eastwards across the Cheshire Plain to the Peak District, and towards Manchester and Liverpool in England to the northeast. The Offa's Dyke National Trail traverses the range's high ground from Llandegla to Prestatyn.[5]

Moel Arthur from Moel Llys-y-Coed

The hills, which are mainly heather-clad upland above pastures, have six Iron Age hillforts including Y Foel (Moel Hiraddug), Moel-y-gaer, Penycloddiau, Moel Arthur, a second Moel y Gaer and Foel Fenlli. There are several tumuli and cairns on the hills.[6]

Summits

Clwydian Range from Abergele showing from left to right: Prestatyn Hillside, Gop Hill, Moel Hiraddug and Mynydd y Cwm
# Peak Elevation (m) Grid reference
1 Bryn Coed yr Esgob 211 SJ068812
2 Moel Hiraddug 265 SJ063785
3 Mynydd y Cwm 300 SJ073768
4 Moel Maenefa 290 SJ085745
5 Moel y Gaer 206 SJ095708
6 Moel y Parc 398 SJ114703
7 Penycloddiau 440 SJ127678
8 Moel Plas-yw 420 SJ152669
9 Moel Arthur 456 SJ145661
10 Moel Llys-y-coed 465 SJ145655
11 Moel Dywyll 475 SJ151632
12 Moel Famau 554 SJ161626
13 Moel y Gaer 339 SJ148617
14 Moel Fenlli 511 SJ162600
15 Moel Eithinen 434 SJ168592
16 Gyrn 384 SJ165586
17 Moel Gyw 467 SJ171575
18 Moel Llanfair 447 SJ169566
19 Moel y Plâs 440 SJ170554
20 Moel y Gelli 361 SJ166545
21 Moel y Waun 412 SJ168534
22 Moel yr Acre 400 SJ169525

Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty

The Clwydian Range was designated as an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty in 1985, one of only five in Wales. The original area was 167 square kilometres (64 sq mi), but in 2011 the area was extended southwards by a further 229 square kilometres (88 sq mi) to include the Dee Valley, Moel y Gamelin, the Horseshoe Pass and Castell Dinas Bran, the towns of Llangollen and Corwen, the Pontcysyllte Aqueduct, Chirk Castle and Valle Crucis Abbey.[7] The AONB now extends to 389 square kilometres (150 sq mi).[8]

A wide range of wildlife thrives in the range, including red kites and red foxes, which both prey on rabbits and voles. There is also one of the few Welsh populations of black grouse and there is a project to conserve the European water vole, which is suffering a large decline in numbers across the United Kingdom. Another project is trying to get rid of the non-native Himalayan balsam which has invaded the Alyn Valley area.[9]

Image showing the Clwydian Range from Moel Morfydd Site of Special Scientific Interest and Special Areas of Conservation (Llantysilio Mountains in Wales)
The Clwydian Range from Moel Morfydd

Recreation

The Offa's Dyke Path follows the Clwydian Range, although Offa's Dyke itself was not constructed on it. The Clwydian Way long distance footpath passes through the Clwydian Range, and the North Wales Path follows the foot of the scarp between Prestatyn and Dyserth.[10]

References

  1. "A bird's eye view of Clwyds". 4 March 2010. Retrieved 20 September 2021.
  2. "BGS: Geology of Britain". Geology of Britain Viewer. British Geological Survey. Retrieved 29 December 2019.
  3. 1:50K map sheets 107 Denbigh & 108 Flint. Keyworth, Nottingham: British Geological Survey.
  4. Map sheet (England and Wales) 108 Flint (Solid and Drift Geology ed.). Keyworth, Nottingham: British Geological Survey. 1999.
  5. "Exploring the Clwydian Range and Dee Valley". Explore Wales. Welsh Government. Retrieved 25 April 2016.
  6. 265 Clwydian Range/Bryniau Clwyd (Map). 1:25000. Explorer. Ordnance Survey.
  7. "Clwydian Range and Dee Valley Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty". Denbighshire Countryside Services. Retrieved 25 April 2016.
  8. "Clwydian Range and Dee Valley AONB". ClwydianRangeandDeeValleyaonb.org.uk. Retrieved 4 November 2014.
  9. "Wildlife projects". Clwydian Range and Dee Valley AONB. Retrieved 25 April 2016.
  10. "Clwydian Way". North Wales Area of The Ramblers Association. Retrieved 25 April 2016.

53°11′N 3°15′W

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