The Cross Keys, Llanfynydd

The last time I was in Llanfynydd I think the pub looked very shut.  Today, I fancied a few hills and saw The Cross Keys on Google Maps when hunting for a lunch location.  So, after pouring over maps (I could do that for hours anyway!) I decided a morning coffee at Gwersyllt (or maybe Alyn Waters, if the visitor centre does coffees), and then up to Llanfynydd.

A late notification of the ride meant no-one there when I took my initial photo, but I was set on going anyway - so it was delightful when Chris turned up.  Chris has done a few Summer Evenings with us, until 'work got in the way'!

So, we set off and I checked if he was OK to head along Dukes Drive, as we are well into autumn and the trees are looking particularly glorious!

And it was not too muddy at all.

After heading through Eccleston and the Old Wrexham Road (old A483), I pointed us into the lanes at Rossett, wending our way through Burton to come out halfway up the B5102 road to Llay.  We rode on the pavement as we were turning right again very shortly, but it did not give us any relief from the hill! 

I was kind to Chris and did not take him on the back road and then the steep-down-and-steep-back-up further into Llay, instead we turned in at The Miners Institute and picked up the cycle path, before heading into Alyn Waters.

Alyn Waters was once the estate of Gwersyllt Hall,
now demolished

After asking someone, We agreed to try to find the visitors centre, as yes, it does have a cafe.  Crossing onto the other half of the park (it is split by the road), the tracks were rideable but variable, and did in the end bring us to a marvellous cafe. 

Refreshed, we now needed to peruse the maps (as my original planned route was via Gwersyllt!), and the first thing out of the Country Park was to cross the main A541 (which was quite quiet), and use the footpath until we could turn off into the lanes.  After a short climb, we followed the top end of the Moss Valley, until we hit the B5101 and this in turn brought us to the B5104 - known as 'The Steps' when I was riding in the '80's.

Here I did add a little hill - and chose to drop down to the ford and up to Cymau - there was a bridge but it did then entail a short walk as we could not get going again on the hill!

Nearly there and a lovely descent, just espying the viaduct through the trees (but no photo as we were enjoying a well earned downhill!).  Disappointment at Llanfynydd - the bronze telephone box was no longer bronze, and was red again!  I am not sure why, and the pub staff did not know ("it has always been red")- but no, I was here in 2022, and it was bronze then.

January 2022

November 2024

Chris did not want to stay for lunch so I sent him on his way onward towards Mold, and headed into the pub, for my reduced table from the optimistic 6 to 'just me'. (I had phoned from Alyn Waters, so that was all fine).  Small Sunday lunch, extra gravy (they did offer me extra veg!) and a pint of Guinness, for just over £13 so that is OK!

After lunch I wanted to head to The Stone Zoo (as I call it) - Rhos Uchaf Hall. It did involve a couple of arrows (just for fun, tell that to my lungs as I gasped my way out of Llanfynydd!). I know I looked this up last time - but here is the link of a little background to the stone figures.

These guys are so cute, I remembered seeing them on Sunday runs when I first started riding - and here I am forty years on still hunting them and showing other people (although not today!)

I returned back down the hill with two arrows to Llanfynydd, and crossing the road set off up the back of Hope Mountain. It was quite misty and damp, especially on top, so no views today.

My return home was a steep descent, hanging on my brakes, then more lovely downhill around Kinnerton, and Lache Lane back to Chester. But I did find another new cafe!

Route with Komoot

The Shroppie Fly at Audlem

The clocks went back last weekend; and so a week later we are reaping the benefits of British Summer Time.  I had planned today's route, and at 63 miles a little further than usual, especially for early April.

 13 of us met at Chester Town Hall.  A helpful passer by offered to take our group picture (I was just about to ask when he offered) - he took his time, and ended up right low on the floor (probably not my best angle!) so I will show both of them just because of the effort he went to!

We set off through town and followed the canal out to Christleton, and into the lanes.  I tried to keep a steady but slightly faster pace that I may normally plod at, holding a fairly steady 13 mph, but this dropped as we hit the hills just after Tattenhall (Harthill specifically!).  From here we had a down hill and gentle undulations to pass Cholmondely Castle. I had tried to negotiate using the tea rooms at Chomondely, but the estate manager insisted we would have to pay an entrance fee (£6, reduced by a pound on normal entry).  This is such a shame, as now they have lost out on 13 teas/ coffees, and the chance that people may come back and visit.

So we went to the very friendly and helpful Cholmondely Arms, just a little further on.  Teas, coffees, hot chocolates and a cappuccino revived us a little but five decided to head back (plans for the afternoon).

So, I phoned The Shroppie Fly and booked a table for six, although the landlord was not convinced we needed to and that we were mad riding to Audlem in this weather (what was actually a rather pleasant spring day!); and we set off.

It was a bit of an adventure -  I plot my route at home on the computer; and then follow my little blue line on the GPS.  I should really ride a route in advance but I'm afraid I do not have time for that.  Hence two of the roads were labelled 'closed' on our way - one was not closed at all

but gave us a nice traffic free road from Pinsley Green to near Wrenbury station; the other was the final drop to Audlem on the A525.  Imagine our glee when a motorbike (which had beeped at us as it passed) and a car had to reverse back out and turn around - we just dismounted to cross the bridge (as pedestrians!).  

Lunch was pleasant (if not a little confusing - I had poppadum and naam bread with my Chilli con carne...?!)  and as we finished Tony and friends headed off to get back earlier as he had a rehearsal at Theatr Clwyd.








So that left Bob, Dave and myself.  Heading out of Audlem on the A529 (the correct direction and not towards Market Drayton) we picked up a little lane/ track introduced to the club by Stu a few years ago.  It saves a long detour to Nantwich to cross the River Weaver, and is a delightful and quiet lane through two farms.  The only person we saw was a chap who appeared concerned for our welfare - 

Him "this isn't a cycleway you know"
Me "yes, but it is a lovely cut through and it is a right of way"
Him "But it is a private road"
Me "but it is a public right of way?"
Him "It is dangerous"
Me "Why?"
Him "because of farm traffic"
Me "oh well, thank you we will be careful"

Suffice to say we saw nothing and no-one else.  

Then we met some geese in the lane, lovely to see but they had a good hiss at us!














By this time Dave also had to leave us to get to work, so he left us at Sound, and we continued to Ravensmoor; I then found a little lane Bob had not been down before.  I was feeling weary so I ditched the route over Peckforton, as candle workshops would be closed by now anyway, and we headed round Beeston instead.