Moel Arthur North Circular

Published on 22 July 2025 at 15:52

So we did the South Circular in March, then did this North Circular in April 2025 but got really bad at sharing my walks so am trying to get back on it! I decided both times, to walk over Moel Arthur first, as the first section up the really steep grassy bank makes me feel anxious, so coming down it would be really anxiety provoking! Convinced I would definitely fall and break my leg! As we have walked Moel Arthur before, we followed the path that skirts around and didn't add the short hike to the top.

The picture to the right doesn't do justice on how steep this bit is!haha. I do reckon that I was better going up it compared to March, so some improvement in my fitness! Still had to stop a couple of times though, also, the walking pole helps my confidence as well as apparently helping with some of the load transfer from legs to arms!

 

Above is the top of Moel Arthur, so not too far from the pathway. This is the section that belongs to the Offa's Dyke Path. We know this bit, and knew what to expect, so that always helps with pushing through. 

As predicted, we got to the bottom of Moel Arthur and took a left instead of right, I did take a photo of a group having a very windy picnic, they offered some snacks but we declined and carried on! We took the left, and headed up a farm track through a field, unlike the other trail, this one went straight back up haha. No rest for the wicked! Beautiful views straight away, day was clear but windy, as it always seems to be around this area!

 

The route seemed to double back but alongside where we had just come from, so you can see Penycloddiau again in the below picture, already we both agreed the other path seemed a bit nicer on the old legs! Flora was happy enough!

The ground is really variable, as above, we had rocky tracks, gravel tracks, grass and fields, only a couple of tiny sections on roads, mostly this walk is through fields. We only came across sheep, but were mindful that you can often see cows around Penycloddiau. Still trying to wear my boots in, put the good insoles from Amazon in, and trying different socks thickness. I find the ball on my right foot burns quickly regardless when I am walking which is frustrating, and the toe on the left foot can be sore as well. Got to about 4miles in, and I could feel them playing up already!

I do love a ruin, what a fab place this would be! We also came across a glamping type site up here, no one seemed to be present whilst we were there and we wondered if it is some outdoor adventure type thing. We did take a wrong turn around here, I do find it annoying that alltrails doesn't vibrate or anything to let you know about upcoming turns, but we quickly realised and turned. In the picture to the right above, we carried on and should have taken that left! Only added a few mins on anyway. 

We followed the path through the fields, undulating but thankfully quite dry. A steep descent saw us skimming alongside a very beautiful house, and the path takes you down some steps past the outbuilding and then onto a lane. We had a wander, was pleased to be off the fields for a bit, give my feet a few mins, they especially seem to struggle downhill!

Then would you believe it, we ended up back in the fields! Flora had a nice time in the stream alongside the lane, having a little swim around. Then we were back to going uphill, again took a slight detour- I saw a stile and figured it was ours, but it wasn't! The stiles were plentiful on this section, but really nice metal ones so no issues getting over them, nice and stable! I am not kidding when I say it felt like all we did was go up and down, there was no flat at all! Well, maybe a little flat, but not enough for any recovery or making up of time. It felt so much more uphill than the other direction, yet is very similar, shows it is about how the terrain rises and falls rather than the actual height you are walking. 

This bit was ridiculously steep, again the image doesn't do it justice! Cute little bridge though, and my slightly manic looking face was a good reference for the fact I was tired and frustrated at this point, just a bit of flat would be fine, any flat! I was definitely feeling this in my legs and feet. Flora was having a great time, poor Aran was tired after being up early for work, then I made him come walking! He is a good sport. 

There was a slightly more flat area coming up, but it was very boggy, even though it had been so dry, so the ground was uneven and bumpy. We had a snack break and Aran dropped his babybell which Flora devoured in seconds, wax and all! No ill effects, just to reassure you all, she was fine! We recognised we were starting to come up alongside Penycloddiau from the opposite side- expected due to walking in the opposite direction! Though, we were so much lower, which seemed impossible as we kept walking upwards????

Flora has gotten fancy, and has been drinking out of the water bottle from the bottle instead of her foldable bowl! She gets very well looked after on walks, we bring her her own snacks too. We did cut across a field and through a fence rather than walk all around, very naughty but my feet were sore so not too naughty right?! Back on Penycloddiau, wind loves this hill.

Straight forward once you get to the top- see other walks for pictures at the top, didn't take the same ones again, though views may be similar! Very glad to get back to the car, pleased once we had finished, don't think I would pick to do this circular anytime soon though to be honest, would definitely go the other way though. Enjoyed that walk a lot more! But glad to have done it, good experience and exercise for my marathon (I have taken so long to write this one up!). Stats for this walk: 7.09 miles, 3 hours, 35 minutes, 1353 feet of elevation.

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