Dee Valley Way/North Berwyn Way

Peaks: Moel Fferna, Vivod Mountain
Area: Berwyn
After running the 15 mile North Berwyn Way point-to-point a fortnight ago, it seemed fairly obvious to extend it into a longer 30 mile loop from Llangollen by combining it with the Dee Valley Way. A useful way of keeping the distance work ticking over with a few more long races coming up in this, my ultra year. Jez and I set off in the early morning from Llangollen with light rain falling. Over the Dee then along the canal towards Rhewl. The Dee Valley Way is a tad contrived, as various sections take mini off-road loops north of the minor road through Carrog: more pastoral and gentler than the North Berwyn route. These loops are not always well-marked and we failed to find the route a few times until branching off at the Sun Inn, Rhewl, to take an excellent track over the hills to the west. A few more detours around Glyndyfyrdwy and along to Carrog, before the more logical quiet road down to Corwen, which nestles in its valley attractively from this side of the river. Then, the half way point, crossing the Dee into Corwen, where I purchased chocolate milk and a snickers for a much-needed boost. The return leg was a carbon copy of our traverse two weeks ago - in almost identical weather. The very long climb is, however, a lot harder with 17 miles in the legs! Some mist on top of Moel Fferna, then steady rain and thick clag over Vivod. Jez went ahead for this long section, but I still got back to Llangollen (in heavy rain) in a pleasingly efficient 4.35.