![Bryn-Llwyd above Cyffylliog Denbighshire - geograph](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/9/97/Bryn-Llwyd_above_Cyffylliog_Denbighshire_-_geograph.org.uk_-_1108389.jpg)
Denbigh Moors (
Welsh
Welsh may refer to:
Related to Wales
* Welsh, referring or related to Wales
* Welsh language, a Brittonic Celtic language spoken in Wales
* Welsh people
People
* Welsh (surname)
* Sometimes used as a synonym for the ancient Britons (Celtic peop ...
: Mynydd Hiraethog) is an upland region in
Conwy
Conwy (, ), previously known in English as Conway, is a walled market town, community and the administrative centre of Conwy County Borough in North Wales. The walled town and castle stand on the west bank of the River Conwy, facing Deganwy on ...
and
Denbighshire
Denbighshire ( ; cy, Sir Ddinbych; ) is a county in the north-east of Wales. Its borders differ from the historic county of the same name. This part of Wales contains the country's oldest known evidence of habitation – Pontnewydd (Bontnewy ...
in north-east
Wales
Wales ( cy, Cymru ) is a Countries of the United Kingdom, country that is part of the United Kingdom. It is bordered by England to the Wales–England border, east, the Irish Sea to the north and west, the Celtic Sea to the south west and the ...
, between
Snowdonia
Snowdonia or Eryri (), is a mountainous region in northwestern Wales and a national park of in area. It was the first to be designated of the three national parks in Wales, in 1951.
Name and extent
It was a commonly held belief that the nam ...
and the
Clwydian Range
The Clwydian Range ( cy, Bryniau Clwyd; also known as the Clwydian Hills; or simply the Clwyds) is a series of hills in the north-east of Wales that runs from Llandegla in the south to Prestatyn in the north, the highest point being the pop ...
. It includes the large reservoirs
Llyn Brenig
Llyn Brenig is a reservoir located on Denbigh Moors in North Wales. The artificial lake, which was constructed between 1973 and 1976, was created by building an embankment dam across the ''Afon Brenig'' valley. It lies at above sea level on t ...
and
Llyn Alwen
Llyn Alwen is a small natural upland lake on Mynydd Hiraethog in Conwy County Borough, Wales at SH 898 565.
It lies on the rolling Silurian moorland to the north-west of Mwdwl-eithin and about 10 km to the east of Betws y Coed. The discharge ...
, and the
Clocaenog Forest
The Clocaenog Forest is in west Denbighshire and east Conwy, Wales on Mynydd Hiraethog. It takes its name from the village of Clocaenog, near Ruthin.
History
It is in extent, mostly coniferous softwoods under the control of Natural Resour ...
, which has one of Wales's last populations of
red squirrel
The red squirrel (''Sciurus vulgaris'') is a species of tree squirrel in the genus ''Sciurus'' common throughout Europe and Asia. The red squirrel is an arboreal, primarily herbivorous rodent.
In Great Britain, Ireland, and in Italy numbers ...
s. It also contains the open heath
Hafod Elwy Moor National Nature Reserve
Hafod Elwy Moor National Nature Reserve, located in the moorland above the town of Denbigh in Denbighshire, North Wales, is part of the Mynydd Hiraethog Site of Special Scientific Interest, formerly managed by the Countryside Council for Wales an ...
.
Its highest point is
Mwdwl-eithin
Mwdwl-eithin () is the highest point on the Denbigh Moors (Welsh: Mynydd Hiraethog) of North Wales. This gently rising mountain lies about east of Betws-y-Coed. On its summit is a trig point and a ruined building which still provides shelter ag ...
, at above sea level, making it higher than
Exmoor
Exmoor is loosely defined as an area of hilly open moorland in west Somerset and north Devon in South West England. It is named after the River Exe, the source of which is situated in the centre of the area, two miles north-west of Simonsbath ...
. Another summit is Moel Seisiog, at , which is also the source of the
River Elwy
The River Elwy (''Afon Elwy'' in Welsh) is a river in Wales forming a tributary to the River Clwyd. The source of the river is sometimes said to be on the northern flank of Moel Seisiog, south-east of Llanrwst, at Ordnance Survey grid referenc ...
(). On its western edge, overlooking the
Conwy Valley
, name_etymology =
, image = Boats in River Conwy.jpg
, image_size = 300
, image_caption = Boats in the river estuary at Conwy
, map =
, map_size =
, map_caption =
, push ...
, lies the
Moel Maelogan
Moel Maelogan ''(shown on O.S. maps as 'Maelogen', and also sometimes spelled 'Moelogan' and 'Mælogan')'' is a hill (summit height 424m) on the western edge of Mynydd Hiraethog (also known as the Denbigh Moors) in north Wales, and overlooking ...
wind farm. Three other summits reach over 500 metres – Craig Bron-banog (502 metres), Gorsedd Bran (518 metres), and Foel Goch (Marial Gwyn) (519 metres).
The ruined hunting lodge of Gwylfa Hiraethog (known locally as Plas Pren due to its original timber construction) lies at a height of 498 metres (1633 feet).
Built by the grocery tycoon
Hudson Kearley lies on the moors, and nearby is one of the highest inns in Britain, the Sportsmans Arms. As well as the large reservoirs of
Llyn Brenig
Llyn Brenig is a reservoir located on Denbigh Moors in North Wales. The artificial lake, which was constructed between 1973 and 1976, was created by building an embankment dam across the ''Afon Brenig'' valley. It lies at above sea level on t ...
and
Alwen Reservoir
The Alwen Reservoir or Cronfa Alwen is a long reservoir near Pentre-Llyn-Cymmer in Conwy County Borough, Wales.
History
The reservoir and dam were constructed between 1911 and 1920 bAlexander Binnie, Son and Deacon(Resident Engineer John M. Pa ...
there are two sizeable natural lakes –
Llyn Alwen
Llyn Alwen is a small natural upland lake on Mynydd Hiraethog in Conwy County Borough, Wales at SH 898 565.
It lies on the rolling Silurian moorland to the north-west of Mwdwl-eithin and about 10 km to the east of Betws y Coed. The discharge ...
and
Llyn Aled
Llyn Aled is a lake on Mynydd Hiraethog in the Conwy County Borough. It is situated north of the A543 and to the north-east of the village of Pentrefoelas. It is a natural lake; however, a dam was built at its northern outlet to increase its si ...
, and two small ones, Llyn Bran and Llyn y Foel-frech – as well as another reservoir, Aled Isaf Reservoir (lower Aled Reservoir).
References
External links
Clwyd-Powys Archaeological Trust – Mynydd Hiraethog
Mountains and hills of Conwy County Borough
Mountains and hills of Denbighshire
Moorlands of Wales
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