The Places

On the top of Moel Famau in 1959

It's been a favourite tourist spot for Merseysider's for over 100 years, now recollections and memorabilia from trips to Loggerheads in North Wales are being collected for a new book.

The book, which will explore the strong ties between Liverpool and North Wales, is being compiled by the Clwydian Range Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty to mark Liverpool's year as European Capital of Culture.

People who wish to take part are being asked to attend an event at St George's Hall on Saturday, 8 November, 2008.

Children studying at Colomendy

The Loggerheads area grew in popularity when the Crosville Motor Company started running coach tours from Liverpool in the 1920's and later, thanks to the construction of Colomendy Outdoor Education Centre, became a childhood haunt for many Liverpool schoolchildren.

Trudging the slopes of Moel Famau also became a regular feature of Duke of Edinburgh expeditions and scout camps.

Bob Griffiths visited North Wales from Liverpool as a Scout in the 1950s, "I remember an expedition to Moel Famau in 1958, we walked all day around the hills and villages of the Loggerheads area and camped in a farmer's field not far away.

"We cooked ourselves liver, gravy, peas and potatoes and slept out in the open despite being offered the barn by the farmer.

"The next day after walking to the top of Moel Famau we missed the last bus from Loggerheads and had to walk to Mold to get the next one to Birkenhead, being scouts of course we got back safely."

The Crosville tearooms

In the 1920's Crosville Tearooms was erected opposite the We Three Loggerheads pub by the Crosville Motor Company to serve the large number of sightseers they were bringing across from Liverpool.

Crosville owned the land at Loggerheads until 1974 when it was sold to the local authority and became Loggerheads Country Park.

During World War II many Liverpool children were evacuated to Colomendy and other parts of the surrounding area.

After the war a week under the roofs of the Colomendy's wooden huts was for thousands of schoolchildren their first taste of the countryside.

The memories event is at Liverpool's St George's Hall on Saturday, 8 November, 2008 from 10am to 5pm.