Jubilee Monument, Moel Fammau

Jubilee Monument on Moel Fammau (the Jubilee Tower) stands on the summit of Moel Famau, the highest hill in the Clwydian Range in north-east Wales, on the border of Denbighshire and Flintshire. What remains today is a stone base topped by a viewing platform, and the summit is one of the most popular walking destinations in the region.

Why was it built?

The monument was planned to mark the fiftieth year of George III's reign in 1810. Local landowners funded it through a subscription. Thomas Harrison of Chester designed an Egyptian-style structure of three tiers crowned by an obelisk. Arguments over money and workmanship slowed the project, and local accounts say it was only finished, in a simpler form, around 1817.

It did not last. One corner had collapsed by the mid-1800s, and the obelisk came down in a gale in 1862. Sources differ on the exact dates of the earlier damage, but agree on 1862 for the obelisk. Cadw listed the site as a Grade II building in 1995. In 1970 the remains were consolidated and a viewing platform added, and later the Denbighshire and Flintshire councils secured Heritage Lottery Fund money for better access and conservation.

What will you see?

A solid stone base with four corner bastions carries the platform. The summit sits at roughly 554 to 555 metres above sea level. On a clear day the views reach Snowdonia, the Cheshire plain and often the coast towards Liverpool. Around you lie heather moorland and the smooth, grassy ridges of the Clwydian Range, part of the Clwydian Range and Dee Valley National Landscape (formerly an AONB).

How do you get there?

There is no road to the monument; you walk up. Most visitors follow well-marked paths from a car park at the foot of the hill. The Offa's Dyke National Trail also crosses the ridge and is one of the popular ways up. The climb needs no mountaineering gear, but paths can be steep, muddy and exposed, so wear sturdy footwear and bring a warm layer. The site is not suited to wheelchair users or visitors with limited mobility.

When should you visit?

Visibility is best on clear days from spring to early autumn. The summit is usually windier than the valleys, and cloud can hide the panorama entirely, so check the forecast first. Allow roughly one to two hours to reach the top, depending on the route and starting point.

Frequently asked questions

Is there an entry fee? No. The monument stands on an open hilltop and you can walk up without a ticket.

Can I drive to the top? No. The final stretch is on foot, along a trail from a car park below.

Why is so little of the tower left? The structure suffered damage for years, and the obelisk fell in a gale in 1862. The surviving base was secured in 1970, when the viewing platform was added.

What can I see from the summit? On a clear day, Snowdonia, the Cheshire plain and stretches of coast. In mist, very little.