Ruabon Moors form a roughly 35 square kilometre expanse of relatively dry, heather-dominated moorland at between 350 and 600 metres above sea level, to the west of Ruabon and Penycae. The land is part of a shooting estate, but is also protected as a Site of Special Scientific Interest, a Special Protection Area and a Special Area of Conservation, with Natural Resources Wales and the RSPB among the organisations with an interest in its management.
Covering some 7,125 acres, the moor is classified chiefly as dry heath, of the type dominated by heather and bilberry, with some areas of blanket bog and wet flushes that support a different, richer range of plant and insect life than the drier heath around them.
The moors support a genuinely notable range of upland wildlife: red and black grouse, hen harrier, sky lark, meadow pipit, cuckoo, adder and brown hare are all recorded here, alongside occasional sightings of osprey. Where limestone outcrops reach the surface, scarcer plants such as mountain pansy, prickly sedge and dark red helleborine can also be found, adding a layer of botanical interest to the moor's more obvious heather cover.
Ruabon Moors are managed partly as a shooting estate, so access is generally via specific public rights of way rather than open access at all times; check current local signage before venturing off marked paths, particularly during the shooting season. The moors are best reached from Penycae or the western edge of Ruabon.
Search hotels, B&Bs, guesthouses and self-catering — powered by Booking.com.
Search Accommodation on Booking.com →Powered by Booking.com — our affiliate partner
Day trips