Llanymynech Rocks
Built and natural history in a spectacular setting
Rising dramatically from the Severn-Vyrnwy plain, Llanymynech hill marks the southern end of a carboniferous limestone outcrop that stretches north to the coast at Llandudno.
Like Llanymynech village, the hill is bisected by the border between Wales and England. It’s home to Llanymynech Rocks nature reserve, the Welsh side managed by Montgomeryshire Wildlife Trust and the English side by Shropshire Wildlife Trust. A visit in spring or summer will reveal a stunning display of flowering plants, a vocal array of breeding birds and, on a sunny day, you are likely to spot butterflies galore and may even find Common Lizards basking. Although the colder months are quieter, winter thrushes join our resident birds to feast on the abundant berries and seed-heads.
Whenever you visit, a walk up the hill on a clear day will be rewarded by magnificent views! A toposcope (at SJ26442159 on the Montgomeryshire side of the reserve) will help you get your bearings.
Offa’s Dyke trail passes through the reserves and is criss-crossed with a network of public footpaths which can be combined to create an almost limitless variety of walks.
Llanymynech Golf Club is spectacularly sited at the top of the hill, where a second toposcope (at SJ26092175) offers even more far-reaching views. The golf course encompasses several archaeological sites, including part of Offa’s Dyke, and is fringed by public footpaths. Walkers in search of refreshment are welcomed at the Club House.
Llanymynech hill was used for mining and quarrying for over 2,000 years, with activity finally ceasing in the early 20th century. Limestone was transported from the quarry down to the canal wharf along two steep trackways, now used as footpaths, and you can see the ruins of the winding house at the head of each incline. Interpretation boards and sculptures give insights into this very different era in the Rocks’ history.
Access
Reach Llanymynech Rocks by walking up Pen Y Foel from Llanymynech village (off the A483 at the county boundary, then follow Offa’s Dyke waymarkers), or from the Shropshire Wildlife Trust car park at Underhill Lane, Pant (a narrow lane signposted off the A483). The site can also be reached by public footpaths from Llanymynech Golf Club.