Recently (Saturday, 17th November 2007) I had the great pleasure of attending the Heather and Hillforts guided walk led by archaeologist Richard Hayman. Richard showed us some of the historical sites spanning the Bronze Age to the 19th century that he investigated last summer during an archaeological survey of the Clwydian Range commissioned by the Heather and Hillforts Project.

Starting at the car park at Bwlch Pen Barras, we took the Moel Famau path before diverting to the remarkable Iron Age hillfort of Moel y Gaer perched on a spur overlooking the Vale of Clwyd. From there we descended to Nant y Ne for a well earned picnic stop. As we ascended again past Moel Dywyll up to Moel Famau, the weather cleared and we were blessed with magnificent views over the Vale from Rhyl and the sea to the north down to the mighty Berwyns to the south.

Looking westwards directly cross the Vale of Clwyd, we could just make out the misty peaks of Snowdonia rising behind the brooding Clocaenog forest and the wild and beautiful Hiraethog. Unfortunately when looking west the eye is drawn to something that looks out of place. The very prominent 25 or so wind turbines at Tir Mostyn and Foel Goch stick out like sore thumbs and remind us that the Welsh Assembly, with their policy on renewable energy with its ill-considered bias towards onshore wind, have decided that another 80 or so even larger wind turbines are to built from Gorsedd Bran to the north to Wern Ddu to the south.

Hmmm, I have a sinking feeling that the stunning view across the Vale from the Clwydian Range in five years time will resemble a hedgehog with spines of horrible white turbines telling visitors to North Wales that the remote and beautiful Hiraethog with its unique landscape, ecology and history has been sacrificed and is closed and is now an industrial site - so stay away. What a nightmare!

Location: Denbighshire, Wales
Grid Ref: SJ149617