While many will be touting the benefits of a winter walk to blow the cobwebs away, sometimes you just want a little road trip. And there is a stunning mountain pass here in the UK that is perfect for a December drive.

The Horseshoe Pass in Denbighshire, Wales, is a beautiful, winding A-road that stretches out and reveals the valley below. Lodged between the Llantysilio Mountain to the west and Marilyn Cyrn-y-Brain to the east, the A542 road takes awestruck drivers from Llangollen to Llandegla. It is a well-known route popular with motorcyclists and those seeking to take in the 417-metre views.

History and heritage website Llangollen.co.uk said: “The Horseshoe Pass (A542), known in Welsh as Bwlch yr Oernant (pass of the cold stream), dates from 1811 and was one of a series of turnpike roads.

“Before then, the main route between Llangollen and Ruthin ran through Pentredŵr and was described by a traveller in 1808 as, ‘prodigiously steep and continues so for a mile and a half’.

“The name probably comes from the horseshoe shape it forms round the sides of the valley. It rises to 1367 feet (417 metres) and can be closed by snow in the winter months.”

When snowfall hasn’t closed it off, the pass is a wonderful drive with many points where you can park and admire the scene before you: evergreen trees, rolling green hills, and the ever-changing skies.

Up until last year, the Ponderosa Café was a popular rest stop; however, the owners have since closed the establishment and put it up for sale after years of it being a beacon for many travellers, including the biker community.

North Wales Live reported that the spot initially saw a shack open back in the 1930s and this was followed by a cafe in the 1950s and that building has been extended a number of times.

The cafe closed in November 2024 for annual maintenance. But customers were left gutted when the owners announced in March that they don’t plan to reopen at this time – thanking staff and customers for their years of support.

Simon and Sam Clemence announced on Facebook: “It is with a heavy heart we announce that the Ponderosa shall not be re-opening at this present moment in time. We would like to take this opportunity and thank our loyal customers.

“There are many other cafes you could have chosen but you chose us and for that we are deeply grateful.

“A big heartfelt thank you goes out to the biking community for their unflinching support through many ups and downs during the years that we have been at the Ponderosa.”

Now the cafe has been placed on the market with St Davids Commercial and it is hoped someone will snap it up and reopen this piece of Pass history. 

But even with the cafe closed, there are still plenty of spaces to stop and eat lunch with breathtaking scenery. 

And you can make a real day of it by visiting many of the surrounding areas, such as Llangollen itself, which has its own vintage steam railway.

Or visit the town of Ruthin, nestled in the hills and filled with independent shops.

Always check the weather before heading out along the Pass, as occasionally it is closed due to poor conditions, and always follow the signs in case of diversions.