Claudia Smith, Countryside Ranger, Denbighshire Countryside Service
A collaboration between Denbighshire County Council’s Countryside Services, The Clwydian Range and Dee Valley AONB and The National Trust has created improved access to Graig Fawr. Rangers Rich, Brad, Vitor, Jonny and Claudia from Denbighshire Countryside Service teamed up with The National Trust to build and improve steps up to the summit of Graig Fawr, a hillside above Meliden with views of the north Wales coast. The work at Graig Fawr brings together the Nature for Health, Enabling Natural Resources and Wellbeing and Community Miles projects, providing opportunities to enjoy the health and wellbeing benefits of Denbighshire’s countryside.

Denbighshire Countryside’s Nature for Health volunteers, as well as volunteers from The National Trust, were a fantastic help in completing the steps. They also cleared vegetation surrounding the path up to the summit, allowing for better access, and re-installed one of the waymarker posts. It is hoped that improvements to the path will encourage more people to visit Graig Fawr and enjoy the wide-reaching views.

The path, and Graig Fawr itself, lies on the Prestatyn ‘Community Miles’ route. Many settlements throughout Denbighshire and the AONB now have Community Miles routes. Their purpose is to provide communities their own short, circular walking routes, which are clearly waymarked. This initiative aims to encourage residents to get out walking in their local countryside, boosting health and wellbeing, while highlighting points of interest and businesses.
New boards installed at the Graig Fawr car park and the Prestatyn-Dyserth Way will provide more information, including walking distances and times to key locations, funded by the Enabling Natural Resources and Wellbeing project. The Clwydian Range and Dee Valley AONB secured funding from Welsh Government to resurface the car park at Graig Fawr, allowing for better parking for visitors and local people to explore this part of the county.