Nant-y-Ffrith
Nant-y-Ffrith refers to a stream and the wooded valley through which it flows, forming the border between Denbighshire and Flintshire. The stream begins in moorland to the east of Llandegla. It passes Bwlchgwyn village before entering a rather steep-sided, rocky valley. It passes under the viaduct of a disused railway line before joining the River Cegidog at Ffrith.
The woodlands contain some deciduous trees but are dominated by recent conifer plantations planted by the Forestry Commission after the second world war. They contain a range of flora and fauna including various ferns and mosses and woodland birds such as wood warbler and redstart. During the 1950s, people travelled from miles around to park their cars on the Drofa (or hair-pin bend in English) overlooking Nant-y-Ffrith, and listen to nightingales, whose song echoed in the valley.
There are several abandoned silica quarries and lead mines in the area. Lead mining may have begun as early as Roman times and has left a number of caves.
Nant-y-Ffrith Waterfall
Roughly halfway down the gorge, approximately 100 yds upstream of a small wooden footbridge that crosses the stream, there is a large four-tier cascade waterfall hidden amongst the trees. The waterfall is approximately 50 ft in total height, with the final drop being between 10 to 15 ft high. It is the largest in the area, the nearest other sizeable waterfall being Dyserth falls in Flintshire.
Despite the waterfall's size and significance, access is poor and public information is very limited. Access to the bottom of the falls is from a small path on the south side of the valley accessed about 20m upstream from the wooden footbridge. Access to the top of the falls is from a bend in the forestry track next to a sign warning of steep and dangerous ground. Both paths are steep, uneven and slippery.
During the heyday of Nant-y-Ffrith Hall in the second half of the 19th century steps were built up the rocks on the north side of the falls allowing viewing and access to all parts of the falls. Unfortunately, like the hall, the gardens and these steps fell into disrepair and they are no longer present, except for one section just below Wedding Cave, alongside the artificial section of the waterfall.
Nant-y-Ffrith Reservoir
This is a small reservoir near the source of the stream. It provides water to the villages to the west of Wrexham. Work began on it in October 1868 and it was supplying water by February 1871. It was built by Brymbo Water Company and is now owned by the Hafren Dyfrdwy water company.
Breeding birds on the reservoir include great crested grebe and coot with sedge warbler and reed bunting in the surrounding vegetation and lapwing and curlew in nearby fields.
References
- Clwyd Bird Recording Group (various years) Clwyd Bird Report.
- R. J. Jones (1957) Maes Maelor, Gwasg John Penry, Swansea.
- Raymond Lowe (2002) Lost Houses in and around Wrexham, Landmark Publishing, Ashbourne.
Outside links
- Location of Nant-y-Ffrith reservoir: 53°4’11"N, 3°7’52"W
- www.geograph.co.uk : photos of the Nant-y-Ffrith and surrounding area