Whether you are conquering the heather-clad summits of the Clwydian Range, tracing the ancient footsteps of the Offa’s Dyke Path National Trail, or navigating the dramatic limestone gorges of Loggerheads, Druid Inn Llanferres is your ultimate basecamp.
Perfectly situated at OS Grid Reference SJ152766 on the A494 Ruthin Road in Llanferres, Druid Inn sits right on the picturesque border of Flintshire and Denbighshire. We are located precisely 3.8 miles southwest of Mold town centre and 6.1 miles northeast of the historic market town of Ruthin, making us the most accessible traditional country inn for walkers exploring the Alyn Valley. For generations, we have been a welcoming sanctuary where muddy hiking boots are celebrated, OS maps are spread across tables, and hungry walkers find premium Welsh hospitality.
WALKS & HIKES NEAR DRUID INN LLANFERRES
The Ultimate Walkers' Hub - Hiking the Clwydian Range & Dee Valley
Moel Famau: The Mother Mountain
As the highest point in the Clwydian Range (554m / 1,818ft), Moel Famau is a bucket-list summit. However, savvy hikers avoid the chaotic, overcrowded Bwlch Penbarras car park and ascend via the superior Llanferres paths.
The western trail ascending from Llanferres offers a quieter, stunningly scenic alternative to the crowded tourist tracks on the eastern side of the mountain.
ONE WAY Distance FROM OUR PUB
3.1 miles
ONE WAY Duration
1 hour, 25 minutes
Difficulty
Moderate
ELEVATION
554m at the summit
Moel Famau (meaning Mother Mountain in Welsh) is composed primarily of Silurian mudstones and siltstones, capped by a distinctive blanket of purple heather moorland. The western approach from Druid Inn Llanferres is a hidden gem; unlike the heavily eroded eastern paths, this side offers a gradual, rolling geography. You will pass through quiet sheep pastures, cross the minor bubbling tributaries of the River Alyn, and ascend through managed forestry before emerging onto the open, windswept common land. At the peak sits the ruins of the Jubilee Tower, built in 1810, marking the highest geographic vantage point for miles.
The terrain consists of mixed country lanes, muddy farm bridleways, opening up into wide, gravelled upland tracks and steeper heather paths near the top. Standard walking boots or technical trail running shoes are perfect.
From Druid Inn to Moel Famau Summit:
-
Leave the Druid Inn car park, safety cross the A494 Ruthin Road, and head northwest into the heart of Llanferres village along Rectory Lane.
-
Follow the lane past St. Berres' Church until it crosses the River Alyn over the small stone bridge.
-
Immediately after the bridge, turn right onto the public bridleway signed for Taith Clwyd / Moel Famau.
-
Follow this rising farm track past the open fields of Cae Newydd, continuing steadily uphill through the designated sheep pastures.
-
As the path reaches the edge of the forest canopy, pass through the timber kissing gate onto the open, heather-covered common land.
-
Follow the well-established stone-pitched upland path heading northeast, which leads directly up the mountain spine to the summit ruins of the Jubilee Tower.
From Moel Famau Summit back to Druid Inn:
-
Facing west from the Jubilee Tower (looking down into the wide Vale of Clwyd), locate the distinct bridleway dropping down the mountain's western flank.
-
Descend down the gravel path keeping the forestry treeline to your right, tracking southwest back toward the village of Llanferres.
-
Pass through the boundary gate back onto the lower farm tracks, following the bridleway markers until you rejoin Rectory Lane by the river.
-
Follow the village lane straight back out to the A494 crossing, and you've arrived at Druid Inn Llanferres (OS Grid Reference SJ152766) - where our roaring fire and your favourite drink will be waiting.
Loggerheads Country Park, The Leete Path & Devil’s Gorge
Located just 1.7 miles down the road (a 35-40 minute flat walk) from Druid Inn Llanferres, Loggerheads Country Park is famous for its wooded river valleys and towering limestone cliffs.
An easy, family-friendly valley walk that tracks the scenic gorges and ancient woodlands of the Alyn Valley.
The terrain consists of flat, well-paved gravel paths within the main park, transitioning to rocky, root-lined dirt tracks, wooden boardwalks, and exposed limestone steps along the Leete Path. Comfortable walking shoes or sturdy all-weather trainers are sufficient.
ONE WAY Distance FROM OUR PUB
1.7 miles
ONE WAY Duration
35-40 minutes
Difficulty
Gentle
ELEVATION
(flat) 115 - 140m
The landscape of Loggerheads is dominated by a dramatic Carboniferous Limestone gorge, carved out thousands of years ago by glacial meltwater. The River Alyn flows directly through this steep-sided valley, slicing through high white cliffs. A Unique Geological Phenomenon: Because limestone is highly porous, a fascinating geographic event occurs during dry summer months. The river entirely disappears down deep underground swallow holes (fissures in the riverbed), leaving a completely dry, rocky river channel behind the pub and through the park, only to reemerge further down the valley at Cilcain.
From Loggerheads Visitor Centre to Druid Inn:
-
From the main Loggerheads Country Park visitor center, head south along the main riverside path keeping the River Alyn on your left-hand side.
-
Follow the well-marked gravel track through the shaded ash woods, passing the dramatic towering limestone cliffs on your right.
-
Where the main park boundary ends, continue straight onto the historic Leete Path (an old lead-mining trail).
-
Follow the wooden boardwalk segments and packed-earth paths as they roll gently along the lower valley basin.
-
The trail emerges directly onto the country lanes on the eastern edge of Llanferres village.
-
Turn left onto the main village pathway, following it safely alongside the A494 straight to Druid Inn LLanferres (OS Grid Reference SJ152766).
From Druid Inn to Loggerheads Country Park:
-
From Druid Inn head northeast on the pedestrian footpath running alongside the A494 Ruthin Road.
-
Turn right down the first marked public footpath lane, dropping off the main road into the quiet countryside tracks.
-
Join the clearly signposted Leete Path heading north, tracking the natural flow of the River Alyn downstream.
-
Follow the easy-to-navigate woodland trails for just under two miles until the limestone gorge opens up directly into the magical landscape of Loggerheads Country Park.
Bryn Alyn: The Hidden Limestone Pavement
For a quiet, mystical hike that rivals Yorkshire's Malham Cove, the dramatic cliffs of Bryn Alyn sit directly above our village.
A short, exhilaratingly steep trek leading to a rare geological wonderscape with the best views in Denbighshire.
ONE WAY Distance FROM OUR PUB
1.5 miles
ONE WAY Duration
30-45 minutes
Difficulty
Moderate
ELEVATION
up to 408m
Bryn Alyn is a dream destination for geologists. It represents one of the finest examples of a carboniferous limestone pavement in Wales. The summit plateau consists of "clints" (the flat blocks of exposed limestone rock) and "grikes" (the deep, narrow fissures slicing between them). These deep cracks create a microclimate that shields rare, shade-loving alpine ferns and wild flowers from the harsh upland winds. The western face of Bryn Alyn features a sheer, vertical cliff drop that provides an incredible, uninterrupted cross-valley view directly looking at the eastern profile of Moel Famau.
Bryn Alyn has a short, sharp incline. Starting at 140m, climbing up to the plateau summit at 408m.
The terrain consists of steep woodland dirt tracks, slippery moss-covered stiles, and highly uneven, jagged rock formations at the top. High-traction hiking boots with excellent ankle support are essential due to deep crevices in the rock.
From Druid Inn to Bryn Alyn Plateau:
-
Leave Druid Inn and take the quiet public footpath heading southeast directly out from the rear lanes of the village.
-
Look for the distinct wooden signpost pointing toward Pant-y-Ffrith and the Bryn Alyn nature reserve.
-
Enter the ancient woodland canopy and begin a sharp, steep zigzag ascent up the dirt and root-lined forest trail.
-
Watch your footing as you cross two timber stiles where the woodland begins to thin out.
-
Step out of the treeline onto the sudden, dramatic open-air plateau of the carboniferous Limestone Pavement.
-
6. Navigate carefully across the rocky blocks (clints) to reach the sheer western crag edge for unmatched views across the valley to Moel Famau.
From Bryn Alyn back down to Druid Inn:
-
From the limestone plateau, locate the main woodland entry gate tracking northwest.
-
Follow the steep, shaded forest path downward, taking care on any wet limestone steps or exposed tree roots.
-
Follow the downward trajectory of the track as it flattens out into the peaceful country lanes bordering the village.
-
Follow the lane straight back around to the front of Druid Inn Llanferres (OS Grid Reference SJ152766) to drop your heavy backpacks and rest your feet!
Moel Fenlli: The Iron Fort
Moel Fenlli (also known as Foel Fenlli) is the second-highest peak in the Clwydian Range of North Wales, standing at an elevation of 511 meters. The summit is famously crowned by a massive, 2,500-year-old Iron Age hillfort that uniquely features an internal natural spring and was the site of a spectacular discovery of 1,500 Roman coins in 1816. Standing as the immediate southern neighbour to Moel Famau, Moel Fenlli rises directly above the Bwlch Penbarras pass.
The terrain consists of very steep, grassy switchbacks and loose scree paths. Requires walking boots with deep tread.
ONE WAY Distance FROM OUR PUB
5 miles
ONE WAY Duration
1.5 - 2.5 hours
Difficulty
Moderate
ELEVATION
511m at summit
Moel Fenlli is a steep, conical hill that stands as the second-highest peak in the chain. Geographically, it is most famous for its immense Iron Age Hillfort, which dates back to 500 BC. As you climb the steep slopes, you will physically walk through the massive, deeply excavated earth ramparts and ditches built by the Celtic Deceangli tribe. Because of its isolated, sharp shape, the summit offers an unobstructed 360-degree view that looks straight down into the narrowest parts of the Alyn Valley, making it easy to see exactly why it was chosen as a strategic military lookout thousands of years ago.
From MOEL FENLLI to Druid Inn:
-
From the hillfort summit of Moel Fenlli, take the clear path heading south / south-west and intercept the main Offa’s Dyke Path trail near the southern shoulder of the hill (Bwlch Crug-glas).
-
Instead of continuing along the ridge on the Offa's Dyke Path, look for the public right-of-way footpath branching off to the east / north-east across the lower slopes of Fron Hen. Follow this waymarked path as it descends into open sheep pastures.
-
Continue following the yellow footpath arrows through the fields, keeping the fence lines on your left.
-
You will pass just above Fron-heulog farm. Head through the designated walkers' gates, arcing around the hillside to enjoy some great views over the Alun Valley.
-
The grassy track eventually exits the fields and merges onto a paved country lane (near the Forestry Road area). Turn left onto this lane. Follow the lane as it winds steadily downhill. You will pass a few holiday cottages and a yellow grit bin on your left.
-
Keep following this lane straight down until it hits the main A494 road. As you reach the junction, Druid Inn Llanferres (OS Grid Reference SJ152766) will be directly on your right.
From Druid Inn to MOEL FENLLI:
-
Standing outside Druid Inn, look for the quiet country lane that joins the main A494 road right next to the pub (heading west/southwest, away from the main road). Begin walking up this lane.
-
Follow the lane uphill for roughly half a mile. Look out for a public footpath signpost on your right. Leave the paved lane here and pass through the walkers' gate into the open fields, heading west across the lower slopes.
-
Follow the waymarked path across the fields, contouring around the hillside. You will pass just above Fron-heulog farm. Keep climbing through the gates, keeping the fence lines on your right.
-
The field paths will eventually lead you up to intercept the southern shoulder of Moel Fenlli, where the path connects with the broader, well-trodden Offa’s Dyke Path.
-
Look up to your right—you will see the massive, steep southern ramparts of the Moel Fenlli hillfort.
-
Take the clear, steep path heading north / north-east straight up the bank.
-
Push through the ancient earthworks to reach the summit plateau.