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When? Started: 1993 Who? Started with staff and friends from U H S, Chester. Organiser: Martyn Harris We walk every Wednesday and Saturdays, New Years day and May Day. How many walk? Walks take place as long as there are at least 2 wanting to walk on that day. More walk on a Wednesday than on a Saturday. Most ever: 29. Current group size walking: 2-7 in mid-week and 2-4 on Saturday. Where do we walk? Saturday: Anywhere in North and Mid-Wales, Peak District, Shropshire and the Long Mynd and as far North as the Trough of Bowland. Thursday: Anywhere within about 40 miles of Chester. Type of walk: Distance: 6 – 14 miles (but usually under 10 miles). Climb: up to 4000’ (but usually very much less!). People involved on walks in 2024:- Martyn Harris, Fran Murphy, Sue and Michel Pelissier, Mike Dodd, David Savage,, Ed Meads, Nigel and Elaine Taylor, Winston Feather.

Thursday, 4 December 2008

Valley, Moor, Pen y Ball and Estuary 4th December 2008

Exploring the upper Greenfield Mill site.
Lunch - basking in the sunshine, almost too bright to look at the photographer!
The final stretch from the Duke of Lancaster along the old rail track next to the sea.

Walk stats: Distance:11.6 miles; Climb:1903'.
Time:5 hours 25 minutes; Walking average:2.5 m.p.h.;Overall walk average:2.1 m.p.h.
Group: Martyn, Richard,Gordon, Annie H, Sylvia and Dave J.
Numbers reduced today due to family commitments and too much belief when listening to the weather forecasters!
Those that braved the weather were rewarded with a fine dry and at times sunny day. The temperatures were somewhat cool especially on the area around Pen y Ball, but the only rain experienced was just as we getting close to the start point at 3 p.m. Indeed the worst of the weather was as we returned home in the car. I was on the damp side too as we had to run from the car up the steps at the Britannia Inn!
Overall this is a varied walk, much to the surprise of most of the group who hadn't visited the Greenfield Valley with it wonderful archaeological heritage before. Much longer could have been spent exploring this site, but today's walk was long enough without! We didn't have time to take to the waters at St. Winfred's Well!
A usual the climb up Pen y Ball Hill seemed like torture, why Richard does this regularly with his shopping on the 10 mile trip from Ysceifiog I never know!
As ever the views toeards the eastuary and beyond to the Wirral are superb and today it was even better with a rainbow to admire too.
Another added bonus was using footpaths that took us to a school for autistic children before dropping down directly towards the Duke of Lancaster, thus avouding the half mile walk along the main road.
The highlight of the day was getting good views of a Sparrowhawk hunting Fieldfare, showing its magnificent skills as it weaved in and out of the bushes in persuit.
Other birds sen or heard today included:Buzzard, Carrion crow, Jackdaw, Raven, Jay, Magpie, Dunnock, Housesparrow, Black-headed gull, Coot, Teal, Moorhen, Mute swan, Mallard, Redshank, Goldfinch, Blackbird, Robin, Pied wagtail and Oystercatcher.
J.W. Lees bitter was enjoyed at our usual venue mentioned above!
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