Bwlch Penbarras (also known as Bwlch Pen Barras, or the Old Bwlch) is a mountain pass in the Clwydian Range and Dee Valley Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty, in north-east Wales. The gap, which is at an altitude of 360 m (1,180 ft), lies between the hills of Moel Famau and Foel Fenlli. An unclassified road between Tafarn-y-Gelyn and Llanbedr-Dyffryn-Clwyd runs from east to west through the pass. Offa's Dyke Path, running broadly south–north, crosses the road at its highest point.
![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/c/ce/View_of_Bwlch_pen_Barras_from_Foel_Fenlli_-_geograph.org.uk_-_1249284.jpg/300px-View_of_Bwlch_pen_Barras_from_Foel_Fenlli_-_geograph.org.uk_-_1249284.jpg)
The alternative name of Old Bwlch references its position on the historic route between Mold and Ruthin via Llanbedr Dyffryn Clwyd. It was superseded by the 18th-century Mold to Denbigh turnpike (now the A494 road), which crosses the Clwydian range several miles to the south, at Bwlch-y-Parc. The eastern side of Bwlch Penbarras is an almost straight ascent with no severe gradients; however, the western side of the pass is characterised by long drops, a narrower road and steep gradients: the road drops 260 m (850 ft) in 1.5 mi (2.4 km) with gradients approaching 25% and a sharp hairpin bend.
Leisure
editThe pass is a popular access point for walkers venturing to Moel Famau, and there are two Natural Resources Wales car parks to meet demand: one at the summit of the pass, and one a mile down the eastern side towards Tafarn-y-Gelyn. Access tracks climb through the forest from both car parks to Moel Famau's summit.
The steep climb on the western approach from Llanbedr-Dyffryn-Clwyd has made the pass popular with cyclists. Cycling Weekly magazine has featured it as a 'Killer Climb', and also listed it in the Dave Lloyd Mega Challenge cyclosportive. Nigel Blackwell of Half Man Half Biscuit mentioned the pass in a 2012 interview when he said: "the biggest achievement for me is creating a situation for myself whereby I can get up of a morning and decide to go and tackle Bwlch Pen Barras on the bike".[1]
References
edit- ^ "Risk It For A Biscuit? – Half Man Half Biscuit Interview". www.thevpme.com. Retrieved 12 December 2019.