All walks › Clwydian Range and Vale of Clwyd
Clwydian Range and Vale of ClwydAlwen Reservoir Circuit
Full circuit of a reservoir on the Denbigh moors on good tracks, through forestry and open moorland, with almost nobody about.
- Distance
- 6.2 mi / 10 km
- Time
- 3 hr 10
- Ascent
- 120 m
- Difficulty
- Moderate
- Shape
- Circular
Where it is
The circle shows the general area, not the exact start. Use the directions link below to get to the car park itself. Contours and paths shown are OpenTopoMap, drawn from OpenStreetMap data.
The route
The perimeter trail runs right round the water, about six miles, on tracks and boardwalk. Level throughout with no significant climbing.
Worth knowing
- Boardwalk sections cross the boggy inlets and can be slippery.
- Exposed on the northern side with no shelter.
- The Alwen dam was built to supply Birkenhead and is a substantial piece of Edwardian engineering.
What you’ll see
Open water, conifer forest, moorland inlets and the dam.
Background
Completed in 1921 to supply Birkenhead, the Alwen was one of several Welsh reservoirs built for English cities.