Croes Derwen

A weathered stone cross stands in open countryside near Ruthin, marking a spot where medieval Wales and the English border collided. Croes Derwen - the name means Oak Cross - sits alone on a rural track, and there's something properly atmospheric about finding it. This is a genuine historical marker, likely 14th or 15th century, though the exact details are lost to time. The cross itself is quite modest - don't expect grandeur - but that's rather the point. It's the kind of place that rewards walkers willing to leave the main roads.

History enthusiasts and walkers will get the most from this. It's not a destination in itself, but rather something to discover on a longer ramble through the Ruthin area. The countryside around here is decent walking country, with views across Denbighshire's rolling terrain. Allow 30 minutes to reach it from Ruthin on foot, depending on your route, plus time to poke about and take photos.

If you're basing yourself at somewhere like Clwydian Glamping Pods and Campsite just down the road, this makes an easy morning walk. It's free, naturally - it's just standing there in a field. Go on a clear day if possible; grey Welsh drizzle does wonders for atmosphere but bugger all for photographs. The real appeal here is the sense of discovery, not the cross itself. It's the kind of thing that makes rural Wales interesting - not polished, just genuinely old and quietly left alone.