Dates and Walks August 2008

Updated 25th August 2008

Saturday 2nd August 2008 Arenig Fawr

Distance:11-12 miles; Climb:3300'. Start: Roadside parking just off the A4212 on a minor road to Arrenig Village. Grid ref:SH823392. This walk is taken Nuttalls "The Mountains of England and Wales Volume 1". If completed in its entirety this route visits six peaks including Moel Llyfnant, Foel Berth and Gallt y Darren as well as the three peaks on Arrenig Fawr. Some of the group attempted this walk earlier in the year, but abandoned it as the weather closed in. Hopefully it won't happen again this time! Leave Chester at 8-30 a.m.

Thursday 7th August 2008 The Great Orme

Distance: 8-9 miles. Climb: 1575'. Start at Southern end of West Parade. Grid ref: SH774815. Roadside parking adjacent to the boating lake.

Always a good walk, and we should be OK starting from this less popular side of Llandudno. I suggest that we take the route up the steps first and come back along the road. It will give all of those with boy's toys to test them out against the road markings.

Leave Chester at 9-00 a.m.

Saturday 9th August 2008 Snowdon

Distance:7 miles; Climb:3100'. Start Rhyd Ddu car park (Pay and display £3) Grid ref:SH571525 This walk uses the Rhyd Ddu path and the South Ridge (Bwch Maen Paths). It is a walk we have done several times before and is one of my favourite routes to the summit of T Wyddfa. The summit hotel is so far from being finished, it will be lucky if it is finished for next summer. In addition the construction around the working area isn't that easy to negotiate. However the paths to the summit trig point have been completed and have been well done. One surprise to me was the fact that all of the stiles on the Rhyd Ddu path have been replaced by bridleway style gates. I haven't decided which way round to do the walk yet, we can decide when we get there. Leave Chester at 8-30 a.m.

Thursday 14th August 2008

The Southern Clwyds

Distance:8-9 miles; Climb:2000' (Last time we did it!) Start: A small parking area at Pentre Celyn just outside Craig Fechan and the Three Pigeons pub. Grid ref: SJ150534. This walk is taken from Carl Roger's book "Walks in the Clwydian Hills". We have haven't done this walk since March 2006, and that time there was snow on the ground. Most of us enjoy this walk, so I thought it would be a good local walk to put on again. Leave Chester at 9-00 a.m.

Saturday 16th August 2008 Mynydd Garmym, Dinas Mawr, Conwy and Machno Falls

and the Fairy Glen.

Distance:11-12 miles; Climb:2000+'. Start: Main car park in Betws-y-coed. Grid ref:SH7956565 I think I am the only one in the group that hasn't done this walk before, so I thought it was only fair if the rest of the group guided me round. The walk uses two walks from Dave Berry's book "Walks Around Betws-y-Coed and the Conwy Valley", although you informed me that another author also has one of the walks in their guide book. Dave Berry describes one walk as following delightful tracks across attractive upland country adjoining the dominant crag of Dinas Mawr, and offers extensive views. It also gives us the opportunity to visit the Machno and Conwy falls (smal fee required) and the famous "Fairy Glen" (small fee required). The route also goes to the Capel Garmon Burial Chamber. Leave Chester 8-30 a.m.

Thursday 21st August 2008

Around the Alwen Reservor

Distance: 6-7; Climb:1500'. Start: Car park adjacent to the Alwen Reservoir. Grid ref:SH956530

This is a relatively new walk in that it has only been open since July 2006. It is a good walk for woodland birds, although we didn't see many on the reservoir the last time w did the walk.

There is no guide for this walk, although we could call in at the visitor centre at Brenig to see if they have any yet. Otherwise it will a case of following the marker posts as we did last time. OS maps will still be useful.

We could possibly extend the walk by calling in at the Sportsman's Arms and walking out to the "haunted house", something that I've wanted to do for a long time. Leave Chester 9-00 a.m.

Saturday 23rd August 2008 Holy Island

Distance: 11 miles according to Carl Rogers, but it seemed longer than this (13.5 using a wheel measurer).

Climb:1100'. Start Holyhead. Opposite toilet block by the harbour before the turn to South Stacks. Grid ref: SH245833. This walk is taken from Carl Rogers book "Walks Around Abglesey Volume 2". This is a superb walk, and although it isn't the best time of the year for bird watching, we should still get good views if Guilemots, Razorbills and maybe Puffins. We should also see Choughs and there is a good chance of seeing Peregrine Falcon. Binoculars recommended. Leave Chester 8-00 a.m.

Thursday 28th August 2008

Trevor Rocks, Eglywseg Rocks and Ruabon Mountain.

Distance: 11-12; Climb:1500'. Start: Off road parking just before the Monument on the Panorama Walk Road.

Grid ref:SJ244427

This is one of my favourite walks in this area. Fantastic views with very little effort needed, especially if we keep to the high level paths. Again no route descriptions and few of the paths on the ground are actually on the OS map! Hopefully this time we won't have to go without Richard, assuming that he finds the parking area this time!

Leave Chester 9-00 a.m.

Saturday 30th August 2008 

The Moel Hebog Ridge

Distance:7-8 miles; Climb:3200'. Start Car park in Beddgelert. Grid ref:SH589482 To get to the car park, take the A498 from Capel Curig to Beddgelert. In Beddgelert turn left with the A498 over the bridge and the car park is on the right about 200 yards past the ice cream shop. If you get as far as the Royal Goat Hotel you have gone too far. This route is one we have done several times before and is one described by Terry Marsh in his book "The Mountains of Wales". This is a good walk, especially on the ridge. Routes through the forest are not so easy, at least they weren't the last time we did it. It is quite interesting to note that the Nuttalls recommend a larger than usual scale orienteering map for use in the forest as most of the paths aren't on the normal OS map! It will be interesting to see how far the Rhyd Ddu to Beddgelert railway line has reached. Views of the Nantlle Ridge and Snowdon Group can not be bettered from these slightly lower peaks. Leave Chester at 8-30 a.m.