Imagine being able to walk or ride along a traffic free, steep hill free, route all the way from Wrexham to Barmouth. That was the dream back in 2011, and according to the Sustrans website, Route 85 still has the aim of achieving that vision,
“National Route 85 of the National Cycle Network in North Wales will run south from Chester to Wrexham and then head west towards Llangollen, Corwen and Bala to pick up Lon Mawddach at Dolgallau”
Sustrans website, January 2020, https://www.sustrans.org.uk/find-a-route-on-the-national-cycle-network/route-85/
Back in 2011 a report was produced to identify a traffic free route between Trevor Basin near Ruabon and Carrog near Corwen. A route was proposed and the first section up to Berwyn was completed, but since then no progress appears to have been made.
Trevor – Berwyn
Between Trevor and Berwyn the study identified the old railway route and the towpath route. For this first section these were the only contenders. After discussion of the benefits of both routes, the route proposed followed the canal towpath.
In 2011 work started on resurfacing the towpath alongside the Llangollen canal, from Trevor to Berwyn. Once completed this towpath became National Cycle Network Route 85.
Since then it has been well used by walkers and cyclists. However it is not considered suitable for equestrians, and most cyclists, especially those with children, say it can be difficult to use at times. There are many stories about close shaves and actual canal dunkings for some unfortunate children. Regardless of the difficulties, it is the start of the route, and safer than either the A5 or A525 which travel up the valley.
This section was always seen as the first section in a route that would go all the way to Barmouth. Here is a news article from 2011 describing the work and the eventual vision.
Berwyn – Carrog
Over the past 10 years, there has been little mention made of extending the route beyond the Horseshoe Falls. This is possibly due to the existence of the minor road North of the river, which is relatively quiet, and runs the distance between Berwyn and Carrog. However, it is not traffic free, and the undulating climbs along the way are hard going. It’s unappealing to families or casual leisure users.
The 2011 feasibility study considered various routes between Berwyn and Carrog. The route proposed included a new bridge over the Dee below the horseshoe falls, and after that largely followed the route of the railway line. It took a significant, but picturesque, detour to avoid the railway tunnel.
If you would like more detail on the route options considered between Berwyn and Carrog, and the proposed route, I’ve plotted them here. The routes are theoretical, and many engineering challenges were highlighted by the study. Many questions would need to be answered about access and cooperating with the railway. However running so close to the railway would mean gentle inclines for people using the path, and fantastic opportunities to combine using the path with using the railway.
The feasibility study was carried out in 2011 by Richard Broun Associates. They estimated the total cost of the path would be £2.9m (approximately £3.7m in 2020). The majority of this, about £2.4m (£3.1m in 2020), was apportioned to the cost of the path between Berwyn and Carrog.
Beyond Carrog
Corwen is the main town approximately two miles on from Carrog. From Corwen the original vision was for a traffic free route to Barmouth. The first two miles from Corwen to Cynwyd already have public access on foot. The last 10 miles between Dolgellau to Barmouth is already serving as a well known multi user path. There is much potential along between the two.
An alternative vision is one that brings us to the coast a few miles sooner; If the Denbigh Ruthin and Corwen Railway and the Vale of Clwyd railway line (Rhyl-Denbigh) can brought to life as a multi-user path, then we would have a traffic free route between the Dee Valley, the Vale of Clwyd, NCN 5 and the seaside!
A traffic free route, suitable for walkers, cyclists and equestrians from Trevor to Barmouth, or Trevor to Rhyl – remains a dream. Let’s hope one day all of these routes become a reality.
Making it happen?
Of course it will take more than hope to make any of these traffic free routes happen. What is needed…
- A good understanding of the barriers to progress – why has this route not been progressed in the past 10 years? How can the issues be overcome? If you have any information, please let me know!
- A lead organisation – The obvious organisation would be Denbighshire County Council. But the Clwydian Range AONB team may also be able to take a project of this sort on. It could be that a number of town and community councils along the route get together to lead the project. Whoever takes the project on needs to be committed to delivery, and be sure that that is what Denbighshire residents, businesses and visitors want to see happen.
- Funding – The Dee Valley path is a leisure route. Active Travel funds are not available for leisure routes. So we’d be looking for grant funding, crowd funding or a mixture of the two. Initially funding would be required to update the feasibility study – an approximate cost of £5k-£10k. But, as described, we’ve been here before – before spending this money, we need to see a very strong appetite to complete the project if shown to be feasible.
- Landowner and other stakeholder agreement – Speaking to all stakeholders including residents, businesses and landowners early on, and keeping them informed throughout would be key to success. Landowner buy in, and benefits for land owners must be obtained.
- Planning permission – Good design and local buy-in to the benefits of the route would help ease any planning application through.
- Pressure to get started and to complete the job – this is where campaign groups, town councils, businesses and individuals can help. They help by engaging with a lead organisation through democratic means to ask for progress on traffic free leisure routes. Although the two can overlap at times, this is different to asking for progress on Active Travel.
Blog Beicio 