Prestatyn to Bodfari, Offa’s Dyke – Day 3

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We parked one car in Bodfari before making our way to Prestatyn and the car park next to the Nova Centre. Posing for pictures at the start/finish sculpture, a much more notable landmark than the squat stone which dignifies the start/finish point in South Wales.

The distance marker here says the trail is 182 miles to Chepstow. In Sedbury Cliffs, the South Wales starting point states 168 miles. Pick a number!
We window shop along Prestatyn High Street, continuing steadily uphill following the signs.

While we posed to take in the sculpture of a Roman Helmet, and taking our guide book out to check the route, a helpful lady stopped the car and pointed us in the right direction. We love fellow walking enthusiasts.

Across the Bryn Prestatyn Hillside, through bracken and gorse opening up with great views down to Meliden and Prestatyn, eventually through farmland.
A small ruin of a two bedroom cottage called Pant y Fachwen provides a perfect stop for a break. It is hard to believe that 9
children and their parents used to live here in the late 19th century.

Later on we reached an old water mill, and once again were reminded of the busy wooden industry that flourished here.
We reached Rhuallt in a good time, eating our lunch on a bench, we followed the sign uphill out of the village, missing a sign on the right hand side taking us in a slantwise direction.

After half an hour and no recognisable signs, a steep hill we saw a road sign for Disserth and realised we were well off the Offa’s Dyke. Esther sweet talked a van driver to take us back down the hill and we were on our way. The right direction following a footbridge over the A55. We met a gentleman near Cefn Du Hill who was walking his dog, doffing his hat to us, we got into conversation. He had known Esther’s father, and falling into step he led us over the hill and down to the next intersection. Wetold us a number of stories about the residents around the path, which added a bit of zest to our walk. We were sorry to see him go.

This early summer of 2018 has been the driest and hottest in years, and parts of the walk is just scorched earth, looking more like the Australian outback than Wales.

We head through the little hamlet of Sodom, yes Sodom, no spelling error! It doesn’t take long before we are walking downhill, alongside woodland of pine and oak, starting the descent into Bodfari, reaching the road at The Downing Arms where the car is parked.
A great start to the North Wales section of Offa’s Dyke.


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