Well I thought I’d get up early and get out for a run. This was harder than the average run as I identified a previous run I had completed before with my sister in law husband, Bryn Williams. The run was to accomplish the climb up foel famau, Ruthin, Clwyd. The run is to get to the top via Offa’s Dyke path on a final steep walk to the summit. At the summit you are met by a strange structure at the top of the hill; this is the Jubilee Tower. It was built in the 1800′s to commemorate the jubilee of George III. The tower was originally much taller than the remains, but a storm in 1862 reduced the impressive monument to the ‘stump’ that’s all that’s left now. On reaching the summit the reward is (if the weather allows) the fantastic vista that’s all around. There’s a display at the top of the tower indicating landmarks that can be seen and their distance. On a good day you can see that of one of the tallest mountains in Wales, Cadair Idris; forty miles away! Liverpool and the Dee Estuary can be seen easily as well as the startlingly white church at Bodelwyddan. It’s an amazing feeling to think I was 1818ft up; higher than anywhere else in the region, really on top of the world!
A bit foggy at the summit of Foel Famau, Clwyd
It’s a beautifull scenic run but today was a bit foggy and to be honest I couldn’t see a thing on the run. I managed to beat my previous to the top even though the route was partly covered by snow. It was a 1,800 ft climb and was very challenging. I wasn’t so quick on the way down and was about 40 secs slower than my previous best. My time was 1hr 21min 47 secs for a 9.85 mile run.
