Prestatyn Hillside - Clwydian Range and Dee Valley National Landscape

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ZXQtYmxvY2tzLWdyaWQ9Ijc3YWRmOTE2MjQ5YzRmM2NkYmRiMzRmMzliNmY4NDAxIl0geyBncmlkLXRlbXBsYXRlLWNvbHVtbnM6IG1pbm1heCgwLCAxZnIpO2dyaWQtYXV0by1mbG93OiByb3cgfSAud3AtYmxvY2stdG9vbHNldC1ibG9ja3MtZ3JpZC50Yi1ncmlkW2RhdGEtdG9vbHNldC1ibG9ja3MtZ3JpZD0iNzdhZGY5MTYyNDljNGYzY2RiZGIzNGYzOWI2Zjg0MDEiXSAgPiAudGItZ3JpZC1jb2x1bW46bnRoLW9mLXR5cGUoMW4rMSkgeyBncmlkLWNvbHVtbjogMSB9IC53cC1ibG9jay10b29sc2V0LWJsb2Nrcy1ncmlkLWNvbHVtbi50Yi1ncmlkLWNvbHVtbltkYXRhLXRvb2xzZXQtYmxvY2tzLWdyaWQtY29sdW1uPSJhYzJhM2NlMWY0ODgwNDQ0NzIyN2JlYThkOGRlNmI4MSJdIHsgZGlzcGxheTogZmxleDsgfSAgLndwLWJsb2NrLXRvb2xzZXQtYmxvY2tzLWdyaWQtY29sdW1uLnRiLWdyaWQtY29sdW1uW2RhdGEtdG9vbHNldC1ibG9ja3MtZ3JpZC1jb2x1bW49IjMwMzRmYmU4ODZjMTEwNTRlOTViNDZiMDlkM2U0MTEyIl0geyBkaXNwbGF5OiBmbGV4OyB9ICAgfSA=

Prestatyn Hillside is located near the Denbighshire coast and consists of wooded slopes and limestone outcrops that rise steeply above the town of Prestatyn and the village of Meliden. The hillside is a dominant and dramatic landscape feature formed of Carboniferous limestone which outcrops at the northern end of the Clwydian Hills.

Due to the nature of the substrate and the lack of agricultural intensification on these steep slopes, semi-natural plant communities are able to thrive. Prestatyn Hillside has been notified by Natural Resourses Wales (NRW) as a Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI) for its nationally important calcareous and acid grassland, calcareous heath and scrub and broadleaved woodland and for its populations of hoary rock-rose, spring cinquefoil, a whitebeam and spring sandwort. Locally important juniper also occurs.

sheep on Prestatyn hillside

Historically, Prestatyn Hillside has been managed and maintained through manual labour or machinery. Since 2023, we have adopted a more sustainable approach by utilizing sheep to graze the hillside during the winter months.

Boasting dramatic views over the North Wales coastline and traversed by the Offa’s Dyke National Trail, Prestatyn Hillside is a truly magnificent destination to explore.

Offa's Dyke Path on Prestatyn hillside

There is a small, free car park at the bottom of the hillside road leading from Gwaenysgor where you can join Offa’s Dyke Path to access Prestatyn Hillside.

Plan a visit.