Bwlch Penbarras facts for kids
Bwlch Penbarras (also known as Bwlch Pen Barras, or the Old Bwlch) is a mountain pass in the Clwydian Range 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 through the pass. Offa's Dyke Path also crosses the summit of Bwlch Penbarras.
The alternative name of 'Old Bwlch' refers to it once being a historic route between Mold and Ruthin via Llanbedr Dyffryn Clwyd. It was superseded by the 18th-century Mold to Denbigh turnpike (which is now the A494 road) that crosses the Clwydian Range several miles south of Bwlch Penbarras, at Bwlch-y-Parc. The eastern side of the pass is almost a straight ascent with no severe gradients, however, the western side of the summit is categorised with steep drops, a narrower road and sheer gradients: the height of the pass changes 260 m (850 ft) in 1.5 mi (2.4 km) with a gradients approaching 25% and a sharp hairpin bend.
Leisure
The pass is a popular access point for walkers venturing to Moel Famau, and as such there are two Natural Resources Wales car parks: one at the summit of the pass, and one a mile down the eastern side of the pass towards Tafarn-y-Gelyn. Access tracks climb through the forest from both car parks to Moel Famau's summit.
The steep climb on its western approach from Llanbedr-Dyffryn-Clwy has made the pass very 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".
