Holywell Common, Racecourse, Pantasaph, Pen-y-Ball Top and Monument 30th September 2026.

Things to look out for as we cross Holywell Common.

The main path to Holywell Common.

Tracks through the old mine workings.

Looking across Holywell Common towards the Clwydian Hills.

A closer look at Moel Famau from Holywell Common.

Power lines to guide us?

Blue skies above Holywell Common.

The waning Harvest Moon, seen from Brynford.

Not the flag we expected to see flying in this area.

The Flag of Aquitaine flying near Brynford.

The Welsh Flag flying as it should in Wales.

Part of Holywell Racecourse.

"Is he asleep?

Relaxing on the bench with a good view towards Pantasaph.

The view from the bench that would have made a good lunch spot for three.

The quarry near Pantasaph.

At the Pen-y-Ball trig point.

The Pen-y-Ball Monument.

Moel Famau from the Pen-y-Ball Monument.

St. Michael's Church, Brynford.

Distance: 8.5 miles. Climb: 656’.
Time: 4 hours 44 minutes. On the move walking average: 2.5 m.p.h.
Overall walking average: 1.8 m.p.h.
Temperature: 17-8 Celsius at the start, rising to 21.8 Celsius after lunch.
Beaufort Wind Force: 2-3 Mainly a Light breeze, with a maximum 8.2 m.p.h. Gentle breeze on Holywell Common.
Group: Martyn, Mike and Nigel.
The weather today was perfect for walking, pleasantly warm and no more than a Gentle breeze. Not quite wall to wall blue skies, with only the occasional small white cloud appearing briefly.
Our path across Holywell Common took us through the hollows of earlier mine workings tracks created by off-road mountain bikers.
Once on the main plateau, we had good views of the Clwydian Hills, including Moel Famau.
Perhaps the surprise of the day was seeing a flag flying that had a yellow dragon with a blue tongue and claws. Apparently, it was a flag of Aquitaine in France.
Thankfully, a little further on we saw a much more appropriate flag flying – the Welsh flag.
We only went around the eastern section of the racecourse, now cleared of the gorse that once hindered your progress.
Our planned lunch spot was a bench in grounds of the Pantasaph Friary / Retreat, but when e arrived there the bench had been removed. We ended up sitting on a low wall, not as comfortable as a bench, but served he purpose.
After lunch we headed for Pen-y-Ball top, and chose a route above the quarries, and to our surprise we came across a bench that would have been a good place to stop for lunch, with its good views towards the Clwydians and Pantasaph.
The usual paths to Pen-y-Ball Top were blocked by a fence protecting a crop, but thankfully, we were able to reach the trig point using the there and back path, part of the path we would take to the Pen-y-Ball Monument.
The Dee estuary and the Wirral were clearly seen from the vantage of the trig point on Pen-y-Ball Top.
The Pen-y-Ball Monument also gave good views of Moel Famau and the Clwydian Hills.
Not many birds were seen or heard today, but those we did see included: Carrion crow, Rook, European robin, Woodpigeon and Common starling.
We arrived back at the car, having had a really enjoyable walk and looking forward to a pint of Lees bitter at the Blue Bell in Halkyn before heading home.