Dates and Walks November 2007

Updated 27th November 2007.

Thursday 1st November 2007

Thurstaston Common, Stapleton Woods, Caldy, the Dungeon, Heswall Dales and the shore.

Distance: 10 miles; Climb: 500' at a guess!
Start: At Thursaston Country Park car park; Grid ref: SJ239835.
Leave Chester at 9-00 a.m. and meet at the car park at Thirstaston (use the parking area nearest to the steps leading to the visitors centre)
This walk combines two of Raymond Roberts' walks from his "Wirral Six". High tide is at 9-53 a.m.( 29.2'), so we will need to do the Thurstaton Common part of the walk first and leave any walk along the shore to the afternoon. This shore is always a good area for winter birds, so it should be worthwhile bringing a pair of binoculars with you.
After walk refreshments for those that can make it, will probably be at the Dee View at Heswall, although there is a choice of going to the Wheatsheaf at Willaston, if someone knows how to get there!

Saturday 3rd November 2007

Bollington and the Bowstones.

Distance: 10-11 miles; Climb: Unknown.
Start: A car park just north of Bollington, just off the B5090. Public convenience also there. Grid ref: SJ931782.
Leave Chester 8-00 a.m.

This walk is taken from Graham Beech's book "East Cheshire Walks", and is the second walk from this book that we will undertake. He describes this walk as an exhilarating walk to the Bowstones, and is a popular walk. It includes a fair portion of Lyme Park and sections of the Gritstone Trail. He describes the walk as strenuous, but I think we will cope.

Thursday 8th November 2007

Coed Bell and Voelnant, Golden Groves and Sea Views.

Distance: 10-11 miles; Climb: 1500+'.
Leave Chester 9-00 a.m.
Start: Llanasa Village car park. Grid ref: SJ106815
I have decided to change the start of the walk from Gronant to Llanasa. Llanasa is easier to get to than Gronant, and it's nearer the Britannia Inn too!To get to Llanasa, take the A55, and take the second junction after the Britannia junction, signposted to Trelawnyd and Prestatyn. This is the A5151. Follow the A5151 as far as Trelawnyd. In the centre of Trelawnyd turn right. This road is signposted Llanasa. Ignore the first minor crossroads, and follow the road to the next T-junction. Turn right to Llanasa. The car park is on the right opposite the church.
This combines two walks, one from Dave Berry's book "Walks on the North Wales Coast" and the other from his book "More Walks on the Clwydian Hills". We have done both walks before, but not together. On a good day Blackpool Tower can be seen from one viewpoint. You may not want to see Blackpool Tower, but the views towards the Irish Sea northwards are still good.

Saturday 10th November 2007
Beneath Cregiau Llwyn-Gwern and Castell Carndochan.

Distance: 10-11 miles; Climb: unknown!
Leave Chester 8-00 a.m.
Start: Layby near Pont Rhyd-Sarn on the A494, about 1.5 miles past the turning for Llanuwchlan, just before a chapel on the right. Grid ref: SH859288.

This walk is taken from Dave Berry's booklet "Walks Around Y Bala and Penllyn". He describes this walk as a walk exploring a little known area of stunning and varied scenery. The route visits a beautiful river valley and goes through forests and skirts impressive rocky hills.

Thursday 15th November 2007

The West Kirby Round and the Old Village of Caldy.

Distance: 11 miles; Climb: Not a lot!
Leave Chester 9-00 a.m.

Start: Thurstaston Visitor Centre Car Park. Grid ref: SJ238835.

This combines another two walks from Raymond Roberts' booklet "The Wirral Six". It involves walking along the shore. High tide is at 13-45 p.m., so we will need to do that part of the walk first. It should be good for bird watching, so bring your binoculars with you.

Saturday 17th November 2007

Ingersey Vale, Rainow, Swanscoe Hall and White Nancy.

Distance: 8-9 miles; Climb: Unknown but probably about 1500'.
Leave Chester 8-00 a.m.

Start: A car park at the north end of Bollington, just off the B5090. If you go under the aquaduct and the sign for Clarence Mill you've gone too far. The car park is on Adlington Road. Public convenience also there. Grid ref: SJ931782.

This is another walk taken from Graham Beech's book "East Cheshire Walks". This walk includes a there and back section, if we wish to visit White Nancy along the Kerridge Ridge. A visit to White Nancy was one of my main reasons for putting this route on the list. The route is described as being mainly on paths with a short section on quiet lanes. Part of the route follows the Gritstone Trail.
After walk refreshments will be at the Vale Inn on Adlington Road. It is described a place of character and serves mainly locally brewed beers. Sounds good to me!

Thursday 22nd November 2007

The Clwyd Estuary and Rhuddlan.

Distance: 11 miles; Climb: Not a lot!
Leave Chester 9-00 a.m.

this low level walk combines two walks, one from Dave Berry's book "Walks on the North Wales Coast", and the other from Lorna Jenner's book "Walking in the Vale of Clwyd and Denbigh Moors." This walk could be good for bird watching, so bring your binoculars with you.

Start: Car park at the Marine Lake, Rhyl (close to the Foryd Bridge (a blue bridge over the Clwyd)). SH995996

Saturday 24th November 2007

Mynydd Mynyllod

Distance: 7.5+ miles; Climb: Unknown - 1500+' at a guess.
Start: Village of Llanderfel - by the river opposite the old chapel. Toilets nearby. Grid ref: SH982371.
There is very limited parking, so we will need to take as few cars as possible.

Leave Chester at 8-00 a.m. and meet at Love Lane car park, Mold.

This walk is taken from Dave Berry's booklet "Walks Around Y Bala and Penllyn". He describes the walk as visiting the delightful hidden upland pastures with its rocky outcrops, scattered trees and former farms and moorland north of Llanderfel.

Thursday 29th November 2007

A Walk around Llansanan.

Distance: 8 miles; Climb: 1500'.
Start: Car park in Llansanan; Grid ref: SH933658.
Leave Chester at 9-00 a.m., and meet at the car park in the centre of Llansanan, or meet at the Britannia Inn, Pentre Halkyn and go in convoy. (we had problems getting to the start last time, when flood at Llanfair Talhaiarn prevented us following the planned route to the start). It may be worth while going via Denbigh and Henlan, rather than Abergele, our chosen route last time!

This walk is taken from Lorna Jenner's book " Walks in the Vale of Clwyd and the Denbigh Moors". The last time that we did this walk, only two of us completed the walk as described, but we both thought that it would be well worth doing again.