Bersham Iron Works, Nant Mill and the Minera Lead Mine Centre 11th February 2026

The first weir seen on the Afon Clywedog today.

(Next to our parking spot on Plas Buckley Road, Bersham)

Part of Bersham Iron Works.

Kings Mill on the Bersham Iron Works.

Kings Mill on the Bersham Iron Works site.

The bank of Snowdrops next to the Kings Mill.

St Mary's Church, Bersham.

Another weir (2) on the Afon Clywedog.  

Seen from the road.

More Snowdrops on Plas Buckley Road.

The ford across the Afon Clywedog in Big Wood.

The stepping-stones across the Afon Clywedog in Big Wood.

Snowdrops next to the road to The Nant.

The ford at The Nant.

Not a notice that I remember seeing before today.

The only owl seen today.

The first of the Gnomes.

"Can it be, a Toffee supporting Gnome in Wales?"

Jacob sheep, a popular breed in this area.

The view from my lunch spot, a deep yellow Crocus in flower.

Trapped debris near Nant Mill.

The Afon Clywedog from the footbridge at Nant Mill.

An information board for both Welsh and English speakers.

The delightful path through Big Wood.

The weir (2) seen from the Big Wood side.

On the leete near Kings Mill.

Distance: 5.9 miles.

Climb: 801’

.Time: 4 hour 2 minutes. On the move walking average: 2.3 m.p.h. Overall walk average: 1.5 m.p.h.
Temperature: 9.6 – 13.7 Celsius.
Beaufort Wind Force: 0-1. Occasionally just enough to make Light air.
Group: Martyn and Mike.
The weather forecast for today was awful, but we decided to risk getting wet. Thankfully the forecast was wrong, although there was a little dampness in the air for the first half an hour.
The most noticeable thing today was the volume of crystal-clear water flowing down the Afon Clywedog, making thunderous noise when going over any weirs.
Even the stepping stones in Plas Power Wood were covered by the fast-flowing Afon Clywedog.
Quite a lot of weeding had been done in the Gnome sanctuary, although I think most of them must still be on holiday!
Route finding after leaving the Gnomes proved too difficult for us, and we made the same mistake as we made last time out, and we ended up at the Minera Lead Mine Centre early, but not too early for lunch.
Next time we do this walk, we complete the Minera section in a clockwise direction, making the walk a figure of eight walk around The Nant.
It was good to see some Snowdrops showing well, particularly on the bank next to the Kings Mill in the grounds of Bersham Iron Works.
At the Mineral Lead Mine Centre, one deep yellow Crocus was showing near the picnic bench area where we had lunch.
Birds seen or heard today included: European robin, Common blackbird, Common pheasant, Woodpigeon, Wood nuthatch, Black billed magpie, Common buzzard, Eurasian jay, Blue tit and Song thrush.
Overall, an enjoyable walk, finishing in warm sunshine. Once again, I was home in time to clean my boots before it started to rain.
After walk drinks, were enjoyed at the Pant yr Ochain, Gresford where the Plum Porter went down well.

Bersham Iron Works, Nant Mill and Around Minera 20th January 2024

The start of our walk near the Bersham Iron Works Car Park.

The first weir on the Afon Clywedog.

The "waterfall" on the Afon Clywedog west of Bersham Iron Works.

The delightful path through Plas Powe Wood.

The road bridge over the Afon Clywedog at Nant Mill.

One of the bilingual information boards at Nant Mill.

No longer a ford at The Nant!

A gnome hiding in the trees.

The Minera information board, east of the quarry.

The lime kilns east of Minera Quarry.

St.Mary's Church, Minera.

Just one eye on passersby!

The Minera Lead Mine Visitor Centre ahead.

On the King's trail through Plas Power Wood.

St.Mary's Church, Bersham.

Walk Stats:
Distance: 8.5 miles. Climb: 1316’
Time: 4 hours 50 minutes.
On the move walking average: 2.3 m.p.h.
Overall walk average: 1.7 m.p.h.
Temperature: 6.1 – 7.4 Celsius.
Beaufort Wind Force: 3/4 just a Gentle to Fresh breeze with a maximum 18.1 m.p.h. gust of 18.1m.p.h.
Group: Martyn and Ed.
This was another walk changed at the last minute in the hope of finding somewhere to walk that avoided us getting wet.
On this occasion, Ed’s suggestion turned out to be a good one as even the odd shower failed to materialise. However we didn’t avoid the strong breezes altogether, but much of the walk through the woods sheltered us to a large extent.
Last year when we did this walk we encountered a large number of gnome (>100 we were informed) but today Ed counted less than half that number! Had they gone on holiday? We thought the best solution was that they had been removed as maintenance was done in their preferred location on the hillside.
Lunch was taken at the picnic site at the Minera Lead Mining Centre where the picnic tables meant we were sheltered from the worst of the blustery conditions.
The surprise of the day was probably the ford at The Nant now in a state that it can no longer be used, but at least for those on foot there is still a footbridge nearby.
On the return route we decided to follow the King’s Trail through the wood back to Bersham Iron Works. Despite the extra climb it was a pleasant alternative route to the main track through the wood we had earlier used.
Birds seen or heard today included: Jackdaw, Carrion crow, Common blackbird, Black billed magpie, Blue tit, European robin, Great tit, Wood nuthatch and Woodpigeon.
An enjoyable walk, despite ending up with muddy boots, but home early enough to being able to clean them outside before it was too dark.
After walk drinks were enjoyed at the Pant-yr-Ochain where Titanic Brewery’s Plum Porter went down well, but there again it always does!

A Bersham, Nant Mill and Minera Quarry Round 3rd September 2022

St.Mary's Church, Bersham.

Ed emerging from the first part of Plas Power Wood.

Do they know something we don't?

It must be Gnome Trail.

Not just gnomes, even the Queen is here.

We missed the sign at the other end of the path.

A local informed us that there were 147 at sthe lst count!

A good sign to see on any footpath.

Crossing a footbridge constructed by Denbighshire County Council in 1948.

Foals and mares at Ty Hir Farm.

Minera Quarry seen from the south side.

The northern skyline seen from near our lunch spot on Esclusham Mountain / Minera Mountain Road.

Jacob Sheep grazing in fields near Minera Lead Mine Heritage Centre.

Sculpure / art work in Big Wood near the Clywedog Trail between The Nant and Bersham.

The man made waterfall on the Afon Clywedog near Bersham.

Water pipes at the Bersham Iron Works Heritage Museum.

Water pipes identical to those made at Bersham for the Mayor Paris (Perrier).

Walk stats: 

Distance: 11.6 miles. Climb: 1545.

Tme: 5 hours 56 minutes. On the move walking average: 2.3 m.p.h. Overall walk average: 1.9 m.p.h.

Temperature: 21.2 Celsius at the start. 19.2 Celsius at lunch near the on Esclusham Mountain / Minera Mountain Road.

Beaufrt Wind Force: 0 - 3 Mainly calm and occasionally gusting to a light breeze and a gentle 11.2 m.p.h. breeze near Ty Hir Farm.

Group: Martyn and Ed.

This was a walk that Ed said he wanted to do, particularly in the Clywedog Valley between Bersham and the Minera Lead Mine Centre.

In order to make the walk around 10 miles he devised an extension around the Minera Quarries.  Path finding around the southern side of the quarries wasn't easy and even when on them underfoot was that easy. I was glad to be wearing my 3-4 season walking boots and not just walking shoes.

On the way through Plas Power Wood, two women approached uus and as they went past, Ed said " they have been for a wild water swim"- was probably right as we soon came to a spot on the Afon Clywdog that was deep enough to at least bathe in.

The most surprising part of today's walk was the number of gnomes in the woods from The Nant towards The Smelt. The more we saw the more it made us smile. We didn't count them, but a local dog walker we spoke to informed us that the last time she counted them it was 147!

After lunch we decided to avoid any more of the difficult to locate paths around the edge of the quarries and tok a more direct route back to the Mineral Lead Mine Centre.

We didn't see many real walkers on our route today, but plenty of families were at Nant Mill and lots of dog walkers using the path from Nant Mill to Bersham, 

At the end of the walk I encouraged Ed to extend the walk a little to visit the Bersham Iron Works Museum to see the "Perrier" Water Pipes - don't thin he was impressed!

Birs seen or heard today included: European robin, Common blackbird, Winter wren, Barn swallow, Meadow pipit, Common buzzard, Chiffchaff and Red grouse.

Overall a good walk, muggy at times, but at least it didn't rain.

Titanic Plum Porter was enjoyed at the Pant yr Ochain on the way home.

 

Harris Hikers Annual Meal 11th March 2020

The start of the leete path West of Bersham Ironworks.

One of the weirs on the afon Clywedog.

A phot opportunity in Big Wood.

A waterfall on the Afon Clywedog in Big Wood.

Wood Sculpture in the woods South east of Nant Bridge.

"Is the grass better on your side of the river?

"You haven't answered my question!"

The first catkins seen this year.

Crossing the river on the way to Nant Mill and elevenses.

Boys will play!

Crossing the meadow South of Plas Power wood.

The church West of Bersham Ironworks.

Meal time at the Pant-yr-Ochain.

Meal time at the Pant-yr-Ochain.

Meal time at the Pant-yr-Ochain.

Walk Stats: Distance: 4.1 miles. Climb: 574'.

Time: 2 hours 14 minutes. On the move walking average: 2.4 m.p.h. Overall walk average: 1.8 m.p.h.

Group: Martyn, Sue and Michel, Roger, Ian and Wendy, Nigel and Fran.

Everyone walking arrived early at the start, so we were able to set off before 10-00. It was a Good day for walking, a bit blustery at times and also pretty warm too. In facy after our drinks break at The Nant Mill we walked in glorious warm sunshine all the way back tothe car.

 Plenty of birds could be heard, but trying to recognise them proved a little more difficult. Those we did recognise included: Common balckbird, Common buzzard, Common chaffinch, Woodpigeon, Winter wren, Dunnock and European robin.

 As we enjoyed elevenses drinks at The Nant Mill, Michel discovered a home made bow and set off willowing a branch / twig to make an "arrow". After that it became a challenge as to who could make the "arrow" fly best. Thankfully we had the place to ourselves!

We arrived back at the cars in good time, having had a very pleasant stroll, but with boots a little more muddy than we liked!

 At this point Roger left for home and we set off to meet the rest of the group at the Pant-yr-Ochain.

Those able to stay for the meal were: Martyn, Sue and Michel, Ian, Wendy, Nigel, Fran, Jim, Pauline, Denise, Anne and David S., Sue and Dave P, Celia and Paul.

Hopefully Naomi, Mike, Dave and Sylvia, Roger and Margaret will be able to joins for our annual meal next year.

 As usual everything went like clockwork and as far as I know everyone enjoyed their meals and drinks.

 Thanks to everyone that wrote kind comments in the card and contributed to my printing fund.