Clwydian Range and Dee Valley AONB

The Clwydian Range is a 35 km long chain of undulating hills, rising between the Vale of Clwyd to the west and the Dee Estuary to the east. Often known as the northeastern rampart of Wales, the steep western escarpment and switchback skyline of the range contrast with the lush green vales at its feet.

Varied geology, from the Silurian rocks of the ridge to the carboniferous limestone of the Alun Valley, gives the AONB several distinct landscapes within its compact area. The open heather moorland of the high ridge dominates the small, hedged fields and coppice woodland of the lower slopes. In places, the limestone rocks are exposed in attractive wooded escarpments and on the AONB fringes highly fertile farmland gives soft pastoral foreground to the hills.

The Clwydian Range is of high archaeological interest and a fine series of Iron Age hill-forts crown its summits. Part of the Range is listed in the Register of Landscapes of Outstanding Historic Interest in Wales. In terms of natural habitat, the AONB's heather moorland and 'ffrith' are protected as a diminishing habitat resource.

Most of the AONB is in private agricultural hands although its high moorland is largely publicly owned. Its land use ranges from hill sheep farming to the prosperous mixed dairy, cattle and arable economy on the edge of the vales. Limestone, sand and gravel extraction is of considerable importance in the rural economy and two-thirds of the AONB's woodland is commercial forest. Many of AONBs attractive stone villages are conservation areas. There are no towns in the AONB and many residents commute to towns such as Mold, Ruthin and Prestatyn, just beyond its border.

Its northern tip almost reaching Prestatyn and traditionally a day-trip destination from the Dee and Wirral towns, the AONB receives large numbers of visitors, particularly at its two country parks. The Offa's Dyke National Trail follows almost the entire length of the ridge crest.