Clywedog Valley

Situated 4 miles west of Wrexham near the village of Coedpoeth the Clywedog Valley Trail follows the River Clywedog through the Plas Power Woods that once thrived with activity at the height of the Industrial Revolution. Some heritage remains today at the Minera Lead Mines Country Park. Nant Mill Wood, part of Plas Power Woods, is a great place for woodland photography and home to the beautiful Plas Power waterfall.

How To Get Here

Minera Lead Mines Visitors Centre

Minera Lead Mines Visitors Centre is located 4 miles west of junction 4 on the main A483 west of Wrexham, near the village of Coedpoeth. From junction 4 on the A483 take the A525/Ruthin Road heading west. Continue 2.4 miles to drive through the village of Coedpoeth and turn left up Minera Hall Road at the Five Crosses Inn up the B5426, signposted Minera/Worlds End/Lead Mines. Follow this road for 1.4 miles to the signed parking area/visitors centre on the right hand side. Parking is free.

  • Parking Lat/Long: 53.050991, -3.081279
  • Parking Postcode: LL11 3DU
  • OS Map grid ref: SJ 276 509
  • Map: OS Explorer 256 Wrexham and Llangollen

Nant Mill Wood Visitors Centre

Nant Mill Wood Visitors Centre is located 2 miles west of junction 4 on the main A483 west of Wrexham, near the village of Coedpoeth. From junction 4 on the A483 take the A525/Ruthin Road heading west for 1.3 miles and just as you enter the village of Coedpoeth take the signed left turn (Rhos Berse Road) to Nant Mill. Follow this for 0.8 miles where after a sharp right hand bend you reach a small T-junction with the entrance to the visitors centre signposted to the left. Drive downhill to the parking area and visitor centre. Parking is free.

  • Parking Lat/Long: 53.043371, -3.061951
  • Parking Postcode: LL11 3TL
  • OS Map grid ref: SJ 289 500

What To Shoot and Viewpoints

Viewpoint 1 – Minera Lead Mines

A restored 19th centre engine house and chimney is the main interest at the visitors centre in Minera. Try wide angle shots from the east side of the engine house framing the main structure and winding gear or from behind the chimney and engine house facing east at sunrise. The engine house, which used to pump water out of the mines, is also open at certain times of year with replica working gear on display inside.

Viewpoint 2 – Nant Mill Wood

This is a beautiful section of woodland stretching 1.5 miles along the River Clywedog. It is home to a restored weir that forms an extremely photogenic waterfall. You will find a narrow gorge below the waterfall and a woodland rich with flowers, there are snowdrops here in February.

From the car park walk up the road passing the Nant Mill Visitor Centre and turn right. Just before the bridge is the footpath. It is about 20 minutes walk from here along the path to the weir/waterfall. You can stay high on the broad path (ok for wheelchairs) or take a smaller path down by the river. The weir is just beyond a small plantation of tall pines with plenty of interest along the way. You can photograph the waterfall from above but bring wellingtons if you plan to go down to stream level.

Accessibility

Both of these locations are suitable for all including wheelchair users.

Best Time of Year/Day

Minera Lead Mines are best visited during early morning/sunrise between April and October when the warm sunlight adds more contrast and detail to the engine house and surrounding structures.

Plas Power Woods are best visited during autumn when they’re at their most colourful. The River Clywedog and waterfall are better following recent rainfall as ow levels are usually relatively small. For snowdrops, early February is the time to visit. Good shots are possible any time of day, the woods are quite dense so sunrise/ sunset light isn’t quite as significant here.

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