Scot's Pines are a feature that can cause curious thoughts to the walker interested in terrain and those before us, who had to make long distant journeys. They are not an indigenous species in England and Wales and their planting had a particular use. Because of their unique shape and colour they were used as markers for the 'Drover's Ways' that were used to get cattle and sheep out of Wales and down to the London, to feed the growing population.
The western edge of Nescliffe gives a great view of the Welsh border, recently erected info. boards describe how one of the aristocratic landowners landscaped the hill for picnic parties, but I wonder if the planting of Scot's Pines on such a noticeable location was a legacy of the Drover's route from Anglesea, which started by the cattle being driven over the northern end of the Menai Straights on a Low spring tide. This drive came down over the Clywydian Hills.
This photo is looking directly into the Llynclys gap, the visual break in the Welsh for-hills of the Tanat valley. On our walk this last weekend I became aware of some clusters of SP's that suggested a line of travel passing through Llansilin.