Melin-y-Wig and Derwen 8th October 2025

Our starting point today.

The view south from our stating point.

A delightful avenue of Beech trees.

The stile leading into the notorious forest!

The is OK so far!

Still OK.

The start of the nightmare!

Bracket fungi 1

Fungi 2  - possibly Yellow staghorn.

The stile that ked to freedom from the notorious forest.

Looking back to the notorious forest on the skyline.

Distant views of Moel Famau.

The sheep with the golden fleece.

Leaves changing colour.

Good to see the chapel in Melin-y-Wig still has Sunday services.

The Afon Clwyd near Melin-y-Wig where I saw the Dipper.

Badger sheep and a Jacob's sheep.

More Jacob's sheep with the black sheep of the family.

Tentative steps over the acorns on the riverside path.

Acorns on the path.

Fungus 3.

Fungus 4 - possibly Shaggy inkcap.

The Afon Clwyd from our lunch spot.

At our lunch spot next to the Afon Clwyd.

The Afon Clwyd from our lunch spot.

Is it a fungus or a lichen?

God's House - the gate is always open.

The War Memorial at Derwen.

Dinas (hillfort) on the skyline?

Derwen chapel.

The road to Ffynnon Sara.

Our only sighting of a Buzzard.

Parasol mushrooms. 

Ffynnon Sara.

Distant view of the hills (Llantysilio Mountains) from the Ruthin road near our start point.

Distance: 8.3 miles. Climb:1024. Time: 5 hours 20 minutes
On the move walking average: 2.4 m.p.h.
Overall wall average: 1.6 m.p.h.
Temperature: 17-21 Celsius.
BWF: No noticeable wind.
Birds seen or heard today included: Common blackbird, Blue tit, Dipper, Grey heron, Woodpigeon, Carrion crow, Jackdaw, Grey wagtail, Rook and Common buzzard.
This walk always presents a challenge trying to keep to the path as we go through the forest south Glan-y-gorse farm. Despite our efforts and two maps on our GPS devices, we failed again. The huge number of fallen trees blocked the way, every time we tried to keep on the path. Eventually we arrived at the stile at the southern end of the forest, but I suffered many scratches on my legs going through the vegetation In addition I managed to get one foot wet when I stepped into a boggy section and the water went over the top of m boot.
The only other problem we had was along the river path, where so many acorns covered the path, and rolled as we put our feet on them.
We had lunch next to the Afon Clwyd, where a fallen tree provided suitable perching.
The weather today was almost perfect for walking, not too hot or cold, very little wind, no rain and good spells of warm sunshine.
This was day that could have been call the “Acorn walk” or alternatively the “fungi Walk”, as thy seemed to be everywhere we went.
One unexpected encounter was made at Glyn-bach, where we had to wait by the side of the garage until the owner rounded up his three dogs before we could go through the yard.
Glyn-bach had been impressively renovated since the last time we did this walk.
Overall, a very enjoyable walk apart from the tricky forest section.
After walk drinks were enjoyed at the Ruthin Castle Hotel (a Wetherspoon), where there was a Beer Festival taking place. I managed to taste four different beers, while Nigel drank is Pepsi and ate a packet of crisps.