By John Roberts, Friends of the Clwydian Range and Dee Valley
We all love the best known places in our national landscape, which are so attractive to visitors and locals alike, but there are many other locations in our area which are equally special. Beautifully situated between the Clwydian Range and the Dee Valley, the community of Llandegla is certainly one of these and was the choice for a very enjoyable Friends event in June. A fifteen strong group explored one of the NLs community miles routes before learning all about the village’s splendid community shop and café – as well as sampling the excellent food on offer!
There are two community miles alternatives based on Llandegla and we chose the shorter of the two. On a cool but dry morning we left the village via the Offa’s Dyke Path for a three mile circular. We were surrounded by hills on all sides but our walk was relatively flat, with the River Alun for company much of the way. There were great views in all directions – to the Clwydian Range, to the Llantysilio hills, to Bryn Alyn and to nearby Moel Garegog. The limestone which is such a notable feature of the Llandegla area was a welcome companion on some stretches and we also had a close encounter with an alpaca!
On our return a number of us had time to visit the Community Shop and Café where we were warmly welcomed by Carys and Jasmine and enjoyed some splendid refreshment. Then Trustee Norah Lucas told us the background story of this magnificent community venture. Established in 2015 as a “not for profit” Community Benefit Society, the well-stocked shop – which specialises in local Welsh products – opened the following year in what was formally the village school. The Café followed in 2017 and both ventures have gone from strength to strength.
Norah explained that their paid manager was supported by both part time staff and volunteers. Local schoolchildren had been particularly grateful for the chance to gain experience and supplement their pocket money! Whilst the shop was mainly used by the village, the café was very popular with visitors and walkers on the Offa’s Dyke Path were always keen to take advantage. Both shop and café are open seven days a week.
The village has many other things to offer. St Tecla’s Well, with its legend associated with a cure for epilepsy is a short stroll from the shop and opposite is the church, which is also used as an exhibition venue. A lovely picnic area alongside the river is close at hand. Our grateful thanks to Norah, to Carys and Jasmine too, for helping to make our visit so special. Many of our readers will know the village, it’s shop and café very well. For those of you who don’t it’s highly recommended!
Taith Gerdded o amgylch Llandegla
Gan John Roberts
Rydym oll wrth ein boddau gyda’r lleoedd mwyaf adnabyddus yn ein tirwedd genedlaethol, sy’n atyniadol i ymwelwyr a phobl leol, ond mae yna lawer o leoliadau eraill yn ein hardal sydd yr un mor arbennig. Mae cymuned Llandegla, rhwng Bryniau Clwyd a Dyffryn Dyfrdwy, yn bendant yn un o’r rhain, a dyma’r lleoliad a ddewiswyd ar gyfer digwyddiad difyr iawn y Cyfeillion ym mis Mehefin. Bu grŵp o bymtheg o bobl yn crwydro un o lwybrau milltiroedd cymunedol y dirwedd genedlaethol cyn cael dysgu am siop a chaffi cymunedol ardderchog y pentref – yn ogystal â chael blasu’r bwyd gwych a oedd ar gael!
Mae yna ddau lwybr milltiroedd cymunedol gwahanol yn Llandegla – y fyrraf o’r ddau a ddewiswyd gennym ni. Ar fore claear ond sych gadawsom y pentref ar hyd Llwybr Clawdd Offa am daith gylchol dair milltir. Roedd y bryniau o’n cwmpas ar bob ochr, ond roedd y daith yn weddol wastad, ac Afon Alun yn gwmni am y rhan fwyaf o’r ffordd. Yr oedd golygfeydd godidog i bob cyfeiriad – Bryniau Clwyd, bryniau Llandysilio-yn-Iâl, Bryn Alun a Moel Garegog, gerllaw. Roedd y calchfaen, sy’n nodwedd mor nodedig o ardal Llandegla, yn gydymaith dymunol ar rai rhannau o’r daith, a daethom ar draws alpaca hefyd!
Ar y ffordd yn ôl cafodd nifer ohonom gyfle i ymweld â’r Siop a’r Caffi Cymunedol, lle cawsom groeso cynnes gan Carys a Jasmine, a chafwyd lluniaeth arbennig. Yna, cawsom hanes cefndirol y fenter gymunedol wych hon gan un o’r Ymddiriedolwyr, Norah Lucas. Sefydlwyd y fenter yn 2015 fel Cymdeithas Budd Cymunedol “nid-er-elw”, ac agorodd y siop – sy’n arbenigo mewn cynnyrch Cymreig lleol – yn y flwyddyn ganlynol yn hen ysgol y pentref. Dilynodd y caffi yn 2017, ac mae’r ddwy fenter wedi mynd o nerth i nerth.
Eglurodd Norah fod staff rhan amser a gwirfoddolwyr yn cefnogi’r rheolwr cyflogedig. Roedd plant ysgol lleol wedi bod yn arbennig o ddiolchgar am y cyfle i ennill profiad ac ychwanegu at eu harian poced. Trigolion y pentref sy’n defnyddio’r siop yn bennaf, ond mae’r caffi’n boblogaidd iawn gydag ymwelwyr, ac mae cerddwyr Llwybr Clawdd Offa bob amser yn falch o fanteisio ar y lle. Mae’r siop a’r caffi’n agored saith niwrnod yr wythnos.
Mae gan y pentref lawer o bethau eraill i’w cynnig. Mae Ffynnon Degla – lle ceir iachâd i epilepsi, yn ôl y chwedl – o fewn pellter cerdded byr i’r siop, ac mae’r eglwys gyferbyn, a ddefnyddir hefyd fel lleoliad ar gyfer arddangosfeydd. Mae ardal braf ar gyfer picnic gerllaw wrth ymyl yr afon. Diolch yn fawr i Norah, ac i Carys a Jasmine hefyd, am helpu i wneud ein hymweliad mor arbennig. Bydd llawer o’n darllenwyr yn adnabod y pentref, y siop a’r caffi’n dda iawn. I’r rhai hynny nad ydynt yn gyfarwydd â’r lle, mae’n werth dod!
JR