The Bluebell Wood Walk

Date: 3rd May 2007

Coed Allt-y-tywod (The Bluebell Wood)

Walk stats:

Distance: 9.4 miles; Climb: 835'; Time: 4 hours 30 minutes; walking average: 2.5 m.p.h.

Group: Martyn, Celia, Gordon, Michel and Richard.

This was a walk that displayed Bluebells in their full glory, particularly in Coed allt-y-tywod, the first of the three woods on this walk. We did well to visit the woods a couple of weeks earlier than usual to catch the Bluebells at their best. Other flowers of note were the Early Purple Orchid, again in the same location they were last year. The shock of the day was the forest devastation around the Watch Tower. This now exposed location of the tower should have given us the views for which the tower was built. Alas the sunny hazy conditions meant that distant views were unclear and left much to the imagination, giving us an excuse to revisit the place in the future. On route several birds were heard or seen including Greenfinch, Buzzard, Grey heron, Mallard, Greylag Goose, Canada Goose, Blackbird, Carrion crow, Rook, Robin, Song thrush, Dunnock, House sparrow, Swallow, Jackdaw, Moorhen, but he star birds of the day were two House martins skimming the edge of a pond for mud. Rabbits were in abundance and one Brown hare was seen. Two Badger latrines were encountered on paths. Overall this was a very pleasant walk, even the locals encountered were helpful!