“Leave Moel Famau alone” urged one local resident, while another condemned the development plans for a cafe and visitor centre as “shameful”. North Wales Live reported the plans in September, highlighting the application concerning Moel Famau, which at 554 metres is the highest peak in the Clwydian Range. Readers appear to be overwhelmingly against the proposals.
Due to its accessibility from cities such as Chester and Liverpool, Moel Famau has become a favourite destination for walkers and day-trippers.
On any given clear day, especially weekends, it’s common to see the main paths bustling with visitors, with around 300,000 people trekking there annually. Denbighshire County Council has proposed constructing a Nordic-style visitor hub at the upper Bwlch Pen Barras car park area. The new structure promises to offer food and drink facilities, restrooms, a ranger’s office, and outdoor seating for hikers. Sign up for the North Wales Live newsletter sent twice daily to your inbox.
The project, benefiting from “Levelling Up” funds from the last Conservative government, is claimed by TACP Architects to “likely only enhance the visitor experience”, without causing a significant surge in foot traffic.
However, the proposal has been met with considerable resistance, with many objections submitted to Denbighshire council planners. Critics have labelled the planned structure a “blight” on the natural scene, and some are questioning the council’s reasoning behind attracting more visitors to an already busy location during peak times.
Denbighshire council is still reviewing the application, and if it gets the green light, they aim to have the facility operational by later in 2025.
Commenter Rufus2000 says: “I don’t feel this is the right place for a visitor centre. Loggerheads isn’t far and there are pubs locally. A good alternative, where a visitor centre and café would be well used, would be Flint Castle, plans had been discussed years ago and the castle area is beautiful, with lots of people using the coastal path. The local community would support it too.”
Rollonby agrees: “Leave it as it is. There isn’t enough parking and nowhere to build a new carpark without massive work and expense taking away trees, and more disruption for wildlife. People take food with them anyway; it’s part of the experience of hiking. Maybe add more bins for litter.”
Dom Estos adds: “No thanks, it’s like a city centre on any decent day of the year as it is. Most people take something to eat anyway. There’s a café and pub in Loggerheads, leave it as it is.”
Plan for a Nordic-style visitor hub at the upper Bwlch Pen Barras car park on Moel Famau
(Image: No credit)
Glyndyd thinks: “This is money that should be spent elsewhere within the AONB, paying litter pickers would be a good start and keeping toilets open. Or use it to promote local business where people can visit and eat.”
Anothergrumpy likes the plan: “ It looks great, and you can’t use one-off capital funding to pay for activities which have an annual cost. If you want toilets open, litter pickers, or marketing then this needs to be funded by council tax payers, park entry fees or a tourist tax. Which do you prefer?
EnterUsernameHere asks: ““Levelling Up Fund will invest in infrastructure that improves everyday life across the UK, including regenerating town centres” – why is it being used here to cater for the out of area visitors? Use the money for its intended purpose and help the struggling communities in the county.”
Rosalie thinks: “I’d like a little cafe, but something that blends in with Welsh country landscapes please.”
Gelert110 replies: “The National Park isn’t wanted or needed so why do we need a café? Aren’t NRW closing 3 visitor centres in other parts of Wales in March this year due to funding so how does this make sense?”
Dye points out: “Fix the road that leads up to it first or at least have an infrastructure befitting the amount of people that visit. DCC is totally out of touch with what residents require. They have become the pawns of the Welsh government.”
Glyndyd says: “There’s £270k saved by closing public toilets across the county, it’s not hard to see where the £120k could go. 10× increase in funding that will be forced through for the National Park which will have to be funded in part by a council tax increase. The amount of litter in the ANOAB now is a disgrace since the influx of visitors, no additional bins or toilets in the popular areas. Extra parking at the Horseshoe Falls instead of promoting active travel along the canal.”
Jdent thinks: “This is an inappropriate use of levelling up funding which would be far better used for the regeneration of local areas and people. Why does every area have to be developed and commercialised? This will encourage people to the area to sit in the cafe and not enjoy the beauty of the area and clog up the existing car park for true walkers. Moel Fammau has always been a good introduction to walking for families, let’s keep it that way and don’t price people out. Once you have more visitors the price of parking will go up to deter the very people you are trying to attract.”
How do you feel about a visitor’s centre at Moel Famau? Do you think it would enhance the area? Have your say in our comments section