Around the Great Orme 22nd November 2008

The new path to the summit.

At the summit of the Great Orme - the first visit.

At the trig point on the summit of the Great Orme.

Walk stats: Distance:8.6 miles; Climb:1783'.

Time: 4 hours 9 minutes; Walking average: 2.5 m.p.h.; Overallwalk average:2.1 m.p.h.

Group: Martyn and Roger.

A last minute change of plan brought us back to the beautiful limestone outcrop called the Great Orme. Weather conditions were good, cool at first, breezy on the top and at times very warm sunshine, making us look a little over dressed as the temperature briefly rose into double figures. This was still not warm enough to make us follow the example of three young men who had just finished their early morning dip as we arrived and the temperature on the car thermometer was still only 7 Celsius. We started the ascent the usual way up the many steps that climb steeply towards the road that leads to the Copper Mine. However this time we decided to follow the new guide post directing us to the summit. This proved to be a delightful path on good grassy paths and avoided the road section that we normally follow past the Copper Mine to the summit.

This route will certainly be the route of choice in the future.

On the summit plateau itself we saw very few people apart from a couple of runners and three men repairing one of the dry stone walls.

Views towards the Carneddau, just enabled us to se that some of the peaks were snow covered, always better to look at that having to tramp through!

The highlight of the day was probably the 50+ feral goats that we saw grazing on the western slopes of the Great Orme (both sides of the road) as we descended along the toll road back to the car at Llandudno West shore.

Birds sen or heard today included:Carrion crow, Raven, Robin, Common gull, Herring gull, Jackdaw, Stonechat, Kestrel, Black-headed gull, Oystercatcher and Mute swan.

After walk drinks were enjoyed at the Britannia Inn at Pentre Halkyn, where we surprisingly found Richard, Ollie, Andrew and Rose enjoying a meal together before Ollie sets sail on Fort George. We all wish him "Bon Voyage" and hope his destination might allow him to catch up with some cricket in the Caribbean!