LOCAL ATTRACTIONS

Walking: There are plenty of routes with scenic and historical interest for the casual or serious walker. Tree Tops overlooks Hope Mountain, which is 400 feet higher at 1000 feet from the country park at the top you can see beyond the Cheshire Plain to the East and the Clwydian range with Moel Fammau, its peak, to the West. A comfortable walk would be from Tree Tops through the edge of Llanfynydd up the slope of the Mountain, along the country park and down calling at the Try Thy craft centre on the way back. The road through the village of Llanfynydd was built on top of Offa's Dyke, which can be reached by road or public footpath. Evidence of the accommodation site for the border guards can be seen opposite Tree Tops (there is only the earth banking left but with a little imagination you can visualise a wooden surround with a roof on it). We have evidence of an even earlier civilisation at Tree Tops i.e. Stone Age. For a longer walk a good one would be up over the hill to the South of Tree Tops and into the Nant y Ffrith valley.

Horse riding: At Rhydtalog approx 3 miles West of Tree Tops is a pony trekking centre, which uses the Llandegla, moors and Llanarmon yn Ial hills as trekking ground. For the beginner lessons are available at a riding school 3 miles away in Pontblyddyn on the edge of Mold.

Golf: There are approximately 15 golf courses in a range of 15 miles, please ask for telephone numbers to check on green fees.

Bird watching: Tree Tops is a haven for birds and birdwatchers as there is unspoilt woodland to attract them over 100 species have been recorded. The kingfishers and the dippers love the fishery and the river, a hide for bird watching and studying the entomology is planned (dragon flies abound in late summer).

Places to visit:

Chester for those who wish to enjoy the delights of shopping especially from the Elizabethan rows of this fantastic Roman city and walk the intact Roman walls, Tree Tops is only 20 minutes away.

Chester zoo is a terrific day out too.

Llangollen (approx. 20 mins away down the magnificent Horse Shoe Pass): - a town with something for everyone, 4 major forms of transport come together e.g. the river, the canal with its trips to Thomas Telford's famous aqua duct at Froncysyllte constructed 1795, 126 feet above the River Dee, 1000 feet long with 19 arches 45 feet each made of cast iron, the Dr Who exhibition, antique shops, the narrow gauge railway with its special Thomas the Tank events and the renowned International Eisteddfod held early July.

Snowdonia For the tourist a 45 minute drive where you may enjoy the scenery or scale the highest peak in England & Wales, a call in at Betws y coed and the Italianate village at Portmeirion could be made the same day. Near Snowdonia the slate mines of Blaenau Ffestiniog where you can ride underground to see this major piece of Welsh industrial heritage would be a good day out combined with an organised trip to see the underground power station at Llanberis.

Llandudno, Conwy, and Bodnant Garden are only 45 minutes away using the A55 expressway. Jodrell Bank with its famous radio telescope and centre is less than an hour away.

Albert Dock Liverpool approx. 30 minutes from Tree Tops is a completely different day out with its restored buildings, art gallery etc., a ferry across the Mersey from Birkenhead would be a good introduction to this splendid port (Gerry & the Pacemakers will serenade you as you sail across!).

Castles at Chirk (15 minutes away), Conwy and Caernarvon (50 minutes away) could give ideas of how North Wales was fortified 700 years ago. There are several National Trust properties close to Llanfynydd, Erddig (15 minutes away) is a stately home with an accent on how the staff lived and worked Ruthin castle (approx. 25 minutes away) specialises in medieval banquets a truly wonderful musical, historical and fun way of having dinner.

This area of Flintshire abounds in excellent inns and restaurants, the Cross Keys in Llanfynydd has a reputation for good food in a 16th century inn. Enquire about the Gold Cape which is 3000 years old found at Bailey Hill in Mold and after being housed at the London British Museum for 60 years is coming to Mold to be displayed.

Theatre Clwyd at Mold (10 minutes away)