| Highlights of the Clwyds
 The Clwydian Range was designated an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty on 24th July 1985. This gives the Range national recognition as an area of high landscape quality. It is one of 5 AONB's in Wales.
Varied geology gives the AONB several distinct landscapes within its compact area. The open heather moorland of the high ridge dominates the small, hedged fields and coppice woodland of the lower slopes. In places, the limestone rocks are exposed in attractive wooded escarpments and river valleys, all making for a unique and varied mountain biking experience.
 |
 |
Moel Famau and Jubilee Tower from Cilcain Green Lane
|
|
The area is a traditional day-trip destination from Merseyside, with Loggerheads and Moel Famau Country Parks attracting thousands of visitors each year.
The Clwydian Range is also of high archaeological interest and a series of Iron Age hillforts crown its summits.
In terms of natural habitat, the AONB's heather moorland and 'ffrith' are protected as a diminishing habitat resource.
The Offa’s Dyke National Trail follows almost the entire length of the ridge crest. The Path runs for 177 miles from Sedbury Cliffs on the Severn Estuary near Chepstow to the North Wales resort of Prestatyn.
Most of the AONB is in private agricultural hands although its high moorland is largely publicly owned. Its land use ranges from hill sheep farming to the prosperous mixed dairy, cattle and arable economy on the edge of the vale. Limestone, sand and gravel extraction is of considerable importance in the rural economy and two-thirds of the AONB's woodland is commercial forest. Many of AONB's attractive stone villages are conservation areas.
The Clwydian Range AONB is managed by Denbighshire Countryside Service from its offices at Loggerheads Country Park.
|
