Loggerheads - The walk of caves

[Ian A]

Walk
Loggerheads to Cilcain

Distance
6 Miles Approx. (there and back again)

Elevation
Mostly flat

Time
4 Hours approx
(Less 30 minutes if you do not detour to see Devil’s Gorge)
(Less another 30 minutes if you do not detour to see the caves)

Parking
Paid parking at the Loggerheads country park on the Mold to Ruthin Road

Walk Description
A mostly flat walk along the River Alyn from Loggerheads to Cilcain.

The whole area is know for it’s mines and caves and this is a special walk alongside the river which is mainly fry in the summer due to the number of sinkholes in the riverbed. It is believed that the water sinks into a vast cave system underneath the Alyn valley â€" some of which has been found and explored and some of which remains undiscovered. Additionally, the valley was extensively mined for Galena (lead sulphide) from the 1800’s and the water from the river repeatedly flooded the mines. Efforts to “plug” the sinkholes failed and a tunnel was driven from the coastline 15 kilometres away to this very area to drain the mine workings whilst they were active. This tunnel is known as the Milwr tunnel.

The walk takes you past many sinkholes in the Alyn as well as some obvious mines as well as many hidden mine entrances. There are also caves scattered around, mostly small but with two substantial systems running below.

Devil’s Gorge is a feature of the walk which sports a huge mine entrance (that does not actually go too far once inside) and also a “gorge” for climbing and abseiling.

The views are very good in winter when the foliage of the trees is damped with a great view of the Clwydian Range and Moel Famau.

Of course, there is a short video here;

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IqxMCnHLg24














The dry river Alyn




A sinkhole â€" the water disappearing into a cave or a mine under the riverbed



A gated mine I did not go in




The passage inside the mine I did not go in




A collapsed chamber around 30 feet into the mine which I did not go in







Devil’s Gorge as seen from the bridge which crosses it.




A pseudo cave




Moel Famau in the distance