Liberty Hall and Llangar Church

From the centre of Corwen, walk along the main road towards the Post Office.

Walk up the lane by the Post office, sign posted Pen Y Pigyn.

Stone circle which was constructed in 1919 for the druid opening ceremony of the National Victory Eisteddfod in Corwen following the first World War.

Breathtaking views from the lookout surrounding the monument at the top of the woodland. Built in 1863 to commemorate the marriage of the then Prince of Wales, later Edward VII, and restored in 1911 for the investiture of his grandson.

Follow the forestry roads through the woodland. Red squirrel are known to be living in Cynwyd Forest.

Cross the stile (signposted) and follow the path with the fence on your left hand side. You will soon find yourself in open moorland, with magnificent views across the Dee Valley, Caer Drewyn and the lower peaks of the Berwyns

Take in the scenery. You are quite likely to see Buzzards and Red Kites, but also be on the lookout for Hen Harriers, Merlin and Peregrine.

The remains of a well-built drystone building surviving up to two metres high. It was a (late-19ct?)shooting lodge, sited for its glorious views of the moors. During WW11 it was used by spotters looking for German bombers on their run-in towards Liverpool and Birkenhead.

Enter the woods following the track. Since Libert Hall you will have been headed downhill. A relief after the climbs up to Pen Y Pigyn and the hall. Did you see any strange animals up on the moorland. I forgot to tell you to look out for Llamas, believe it!

At the bottom of the hill turn right following the forest road. But look out for the footpath marking on your right.

The signposts lead you on a windy path through the woods this is part of the (North) Berwyn Way.

Cross the open field and re-enter the woods.

Make sure you walk down all the way to the farm. Look for footpath sign on your right opposite the farm which takes you uphill. This is the shorter route back to Corwen. If you wish you could continue on the (North) Berwyn Way.

When you meet the wall turn right keeping the wall on your left. This looks like an ancient drovers road, with the occasional gateway of big old stones and moss covered boulders. The again that's the romantic in me, I always imagine these wide tracks with stone walls on either side as drover's roads.

You will enter a small open plateau with man made ponds, gravel walkways, and little stream. The grass is kept short and it feels like your intruding on someone's private garden. Rest assured this is the right way.

From here you can follow the forestry roads back towards Pen Y Pigyn. If you have more time you can follow the path down to the road and cross over to visit the ancient church at Llangar.

The church can be dated from the late 13ct though it could possibly be as old as the 11ct Its original name of 'Llan Garw Gwyn' (The Church of The White Deer) possibly alludes to a legend dating back its initial erection. At the original site chosen for the church the builders discovered each morning that their previous days work had been destroyed. A Holy Man came to their aid saying that a new site would be revealed to them when they saw a white stag which would mark the location. Therefore the church was built on its current site as this is where a white stag was apparently seen.

Return to Corwen via the old railway line. The line, closed in the 1960s ran from Corwen to Bala and onwards to Barmouth on the coast.