The walk starts at Nant Mill, Coedpoeth. The village is on the A525 between Wrexham and Ruthin. Nant Mill is signposted from the A525 at the eastern (lower) end of the village.
Grid ref: SJ 289501. Ordnance Survey Explorer map 256 covers the area but the extract supplied here should be all you need.
Cars: Plenty of parking is available at Nant Mill.
Buses: There are regular services to Coedpoeth from Wrexham. Alight as soon as the bus reaches Coedpoeth at Heol Offa and join the walk at the asterisk * below. Travel information: 01978 266166.
Nant Mill has a public car park and picnic site (always open) with a small shop and visitor centre (open Easter to September daily 10.30am- 4.30pm; October to Easter weekends only).
Halfway along, the route passes a public house.
It should be noted that this route may be muddy in places and suitable footwear is recommended.
l The route is not suitable for wheelchairs, buggies or small children.
The area covered by this route bears the marks of a long association with industry although, as can be seen in the river valleys of the Gwenfro and the Clywedog, nature has mellowed the industrial scars to produce a rich and varied landscape.
4 miles/2 hours
The walk:
From the car park at Nant Mill, take the steep access road up to the junction.
Climb over the stone stile opposite, one of the few remaining in the area, and walk straight ahead through the field.
Cross the drive and then walk towards an old stone gatepost at the end of the hedgerow across the field.
From the stone, look to your left where you will see a protruding field corner, with an oak tree close by. Your route goes directly to this point, from where you should follow the fence and hedgerow to a stile in the corner.
Continue in the same direction across three more fields to join a residential road. At the main road look across to the left where you will see the entrance to Lloft Wen.
Turn right and a few metres further on, fork left into New Road.
Walk down the hill and turn left onto Heol Offa to pass Tyn-y-coed.
* Those arriving by bus join the walk here. Head north along Heol Offa, (with houses on your left, fields on your right.)
At the T-junction turn right and immediately left beside Llidiart Fanny.
Walk along the road to the bridge, from which Offa’s Dyke can be seen to your right. Continue uphill and cross the stile on your left, opposite a farm entrance. Vron Colliery, one of the many coal mines in the area, lay just uphill on the right.
Take the path diagonally across the field. From here there is a good view of the bridge over the River Gwenfro, and the modern tower silo at Llidiart Fanny.
Continue over two footbridges and the stile to the right of the buildings at Hafod Farm. Go over the stile in the right hand corner of the yard, crossing directly over the track to a stile. Follow the slope down to a footbridge.
Cross the River Gwenfro and look for a path heading up the hillside through the gorse. At the top of the bank head uphill in the same field, along the hedge, to cross a stile at the corner.
Turn half-right to find the next stile and continue to the road. From here Minera Mountain can be seen to the right and there is a good view of Coedpoeth ahead, with Earl’s Hill, Shropshire, on the horizon above Bathafarn Chapel.
The Wrekin’s unmistakable bulk rises in the southeast while most of Wrexham is visible to the left.
Turn left and after 200 metres leave the road to pass alongside the first building, Laburnum Cottage, and pass to the left of the garage.
This path merges with a track and passes a house, eventually reaching a footbridge on the left. Cross it and go straight up the lane to the road junction.
The site of Grosvenor Colliery lies a short distance to the southeast, close to Talwrn Road. Continue in the same direction along Gwern-y-gaseg Road to the Five Crosses Inn.
Follow the road directly opposite for about 150 metres, and then turn left into the driveway leading to Minera Hall, taking the bridleway on the left.
Follow the path for a short distance taking the first path on the left before reaching the bridge.
Veer left where it forks (the right fork takes you to a pleasant spot by the river). Follow the path uphill along the hedgerow and cross the open field to a lane.
Turn right and, at the gates of the haulage company’s depot, turn left, following the fence. Bear right where the path meets a driveway and join a narrow road.
At the T-junction turn right and then right again. Immediately turn left, to find the signed start of a narrow enclosed path leading to the open hillside high above the River Clywedog.
After some distance turn left onto a tarmac path and climb for 100 metres, ignoring the first gateway, to a stile on your right. Follow the path across the field and into the wood.
Just before the opening to a field turn uphill for a few metres and cross the stile. Continue over two more stiles above Nant Farm. Descend to the lane, turn left and continue to the ford.
On the opposite bank there is a path forming part of the Clywedog Valley Trail, which follows the river to Nant Mill. You may wish to return that way. However, on this walk we suggest you follow two pleasant quiet lanes.
Do not cross the river but follow the road ahead to the junction. Turn right, passing the remains of 17th century Rhos-berse Farm on the bank above.
Opposite, and before you go under the power lines, take the unmarked path on the right back to Nant Mill.