About Me

My photo
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: 2-10 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 2020:- Martyn Harris, Fran Murphy, Sue and Michel Pelissier, Mike Dodd, David Savage, Wendy Peers, Celia de Mengle, Wendy and Ian Peers, Roger Smith, Paul Collinson, Ed Meads, Nigel and Elaine Taylor, Celia de Mengle, Sue Pearson.

Thursday 17 March 2011

The Alyn Valley, Coed Ddu and Around Plas-yw 17th March 2011

Setting off at the start of the walk.
Putting our best foot forward, early on in the walk!
The Afon Alyn or at least where it goes when it doesn't disappear underground!
Walk stats: distance: 10.6 miles. Climb: 1534'.
Time:5 hours  15 minutes. On the move walking average:2.5 m.p.h. Overall walk average:2.0 m.p.h.
Group: Martyn, Roger, Phil, Tim, Carol, Gordon, Sue and Michel, Celia, Tito and Dave J.
We set off from the start below Moel Arthur in bright sunshine and at least one of us in short sleeves and no fleece! Thankfully the forecast rain didn't materialize, although there was a little dampness in the air just after lunch, but waterproofs weren't really the order of the day!
The first suggested lunch spot was rejected as being in a windy spot, the final spot wasn't much better in that we were spread out so much that Roger did quite a bit more mileage than most just giving out Welsh cakes to everyone. I blame Margaret for making the Welsh cakes so good that I forgot to tune into the radio to get the latest cricket score and even gave Gordon more that 20 minutes for lunch! Thank you Margaret, these were the best Welsh cakes ever.
Overall this was a wonderfully varied walk, a little bit up and down, and especially up about a mile before the end, and after the mist had cleared good views were enjoyed.
Dave and Roger (the deviants), did a little extra by diverting to the top of Moel Arthur as well (an extra  200' of climb or so)!
Birds seen or heard today included: Common buzzard, Pheasant, Carrion crow, Jackdaw, Raven, Rook, Black-headed gull, Blue tit, Great tit, Coal tit, Chaffinch, Greenfinch, Long-tailed tit, Blackbird, Eurasian jay, Woodpigeon, Collared dove, European robin, Skylark and Chiffchaff (heard by Dave J.)
After walk drinks were enjoyed at the Britannia Inn at Halkyn.  The Lees bitter was good and tasted even better as the wickets started to fall in the England v West Indies World Cup Competition.

No comments: