APR25: Halkyn Mountain and Brynford Pet Cemetery
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#GetOutMore this April!
This event is one of loads of events taking place over the same weekend! Check out all the events over the weekend of 4-6 April 2025: OutdoorLads.events/APR25. Great for new and regular members!
The market town of Holywell is known for St Winefride's Well (literally a holy well!) and has been a pilgrimage site for over a thousand years. The well is still there and is now surrounded by a chapel which can be seen from the nearby road.
The walk through Holywell will take us past Basingwerk Abbey, which are extensive ruins of a 12th century Cistercian monastery founded in 1131AD
Looming behind the town is a large upland area that supplies water to the nearby towns. The summit of this region is Halkyn Mountain (a mountain in name only), a site of special scientific interest and an area that has been known for hundreds of years for lead and limestone mining. Multiple limestone quarries are dominating the landscape here.
The journey up the mountain passes by Brynford Pet Cemetery and Crematorium. We will stop here, have a chance to visit the café and an opportunity to look around the grounds. The cemetery is well known for being where many of North Wales pets have taken their final journey to and is visible from the nearby A55.
After visiting the cemetery and working our way around Halkyn mountain, the descent back to Holywell is gradual and stays mainly to road.
In total, the walk is around 11 miles and the course is undulating with a short moderately steep ascent up to the pet cemetery. This is the only major climb of the walk
Well-behaved dogs are welcome. However, this is livestock country and you should know how to handle your pet around sheep, horses and cattle. There are also some stiles (of both the step and ladder variety) for your dog to negotiate.
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Image / photo credits: All leader's own images - with permission for OutdoorLads to use and reuse.
What to bring
The terrain that we will be covering is on and off-road, occasionally very muddy and stony, I would strongly suggest the kit list below for all lowland and hill walks for OutdoorLads.
- Water: bring at least two litres
- Medicines: if you have hay fever, diabetes, minor ailments etc.
- Day rucksack: typically 20-30 litres, they are comfortable to wear and allow you to use your arms freely
- Boots: waterproof (or waterproof socks...) and breathable and designed for hiking. If you wear your best trainers they may get ruined.
- Socks: proper walking socks will keep your feet dry and help prevent blisters, I would recommend waterproof socks.
- Layered clothing:
- A base layer (thermal/t-shirt) to keep you warm in all conditions
- A mid layer (fleece/jumper) that keeps you warm but can be removed if necessary
- Trousers: No jeans (weather dependent) as they become heavy and cold in the rain, breathable fabrics are more comfortable and dry and if it is warm, shorts are OK.
- We are in a wildlife area, so ticks are a problem and they can carry lymes disease. I would suggest a full check for ticks after the walk.
- There may also be stinging nettles
- Gaiters: These are optional but can keep mud off your trousers and water out of your boots. These should be worn over your trousers
- Waterproof jacket: essential when hiking in all but the calmest of weather, breathable fabrics are more comfortable and dry
- Waterproof trousers: essential. You should be able to put these on over your boots should the weather become poor
- Headtorch: The walk should finish before dark but given the time of year, a fully charged headtorch should be taken
- Hat or cap: to provide some shade from the sun
- Gloves: to keep your hands warm
- Sunglasses: so you're not squinting in the sun
- Sun cream: Yes, essential even if overcast (Get a SFP30+ with UVA 5*, most supermarket own brands are good here)
- Snacks: bring biscuits, energy bars, gels, bananas, chocolate or dried fruit for example and put them somewhere easy to get hold of
- Lunch: bring a packed lunch
Food & drink
Please bring a packed lunch and a drink. You may want to bring some snacks to keep you going on the route
Bring enough water to keep yourself hydrated on what could be a hot or cool day. A flask works well!