Ride to Rhug

Sometimes an outing is about the destination and sometimes it's about just sitting in the car and not doing much when you get there.... As the temperatures lower and the trees show increasing signs of winter's approach, our outings need to be carefully thought out. Do we shop or do we drive?

But today's destination was a bit of both, although it has to be said that we probably would not drive for the 22 miles there and the 26 miles back were it not for the beautiful sights to be seen along the way. Rhug Estate is worth a visit, but if you are not interested in good food and organic meats you may just arrive and wonder what to do.... (Just to set things off on the right footing - and not to upset our Welsh speakers it's pronounced 'R-Heeg'.)

Take the A525 out of Wrexham and turn left at Llandgela onto the A5104 for about 12 miles and turn right onto the A5 which passes Rhug. 

 It used to be a place that we passed on the road on day trips to the very popular Bala Lake - Wales' largest expanse of water. Selling large bison burgers to the hoards of motor cyclists who used it as a meet (or should that be meat?) up place. It still has a rather beautiful stainless steel bison which has been abandoned where this action used to take place. For now, the other end of the car park has gone trendy...  

Apparently the Rhug Estate itself covers 12,500 acres from Gwyddelwern to Carrog to the east and encompasses a 2,500 acre organic farm. The estate also has let farms, forestry and cottages. Traditional sporting includes shooting and fishing and modern such as rally car driving, gorge walking, mountain biking and canoing. So, the handsome new organic farm shop is, as you may expect, well designed and built with all that the passing cars of crumblies who pass on a Sunday afternoon may desire.

We can't resist the wonderful meat and try not to screw up our faces at the eye watering prices of our wares. But the tea in the Bison Grill helped us revive and the service was delightful.

The route home is back onto the A5 and through Corwen. Again, the route is lined with trees and autumnal colour growing more intense as the dusk gathers. Now that the clocks have gone back, our Sunday afternoons are somewhat shorter. This route has the added interest of having strong associations with that Welsh anti hero Owain Glyndwr. But I am sure we will meet him again on these pages and we must get home as it is getting dark.....