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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.

Tuesday, 19 April 2011

St Celynnin's Church, Tal y Fan and More 16th April 2011

Inside St Celynin's Church.
 At the trig point on Tal y Fan.
  Tal y fan,
I'm the king of the castle!
Wild ponies on the slopes of Tal y Fan.
 Distance:10.0 miles. Climb: 2297’.
Time: 6 hours 22 minutes. On the move walking average: 2.0 m.p.h. Overall walk average : 1.6 m.p.h.
Group: Martyn and Dave J.
As there were only two of us, we decided to include a little bird watching before starting the walk. We headed for the little village of Llanbedre y Cennin and Caerhun before starting on the walk.
Another good day for walking, not too hot and not too cold and little rain forecast. Our initial sorties to Llanbedre y Cennin and Caerhun didn’t pay dividends in that the Hawfinches proved elusive.  However we did have the bonus that the church at Caerhun was open.
The walk took a little longer than expected, but we did spend quite a lot of time looking for the remains of hut circles, standing stones, cairns and identifying distant mountains.
During the approach to St. Celynin’s Church we seemed to be accompanied all the way by singing Chiffchaff and Willow warbles with quite a few Blackcaps too.  However the birding highlight of the day seeing at least 7 different Ring ouzels on the slopes of Tal y Fan.  A close second were the Wheatears that seemed to be everywhere around the lower slopes of Tal y Fan as well.
Although it looked rather gloomy towards the Conwy valley, views to the coast and Anglesey were good and the Northern Carneddau could be clearly seen.
Once on the Tal y Fan ridge the route was reasonably well defined, and the section going West to the Roman Road was a very pleasant traverse.
Overall an excellent walk, despite the steep road leading from the YHA down to Rowen.
Birds seen or heard today included: Blackcap, Chaffinch, Willow warbler, Chiffchaff, Shelduck, Great cormorant, Mute swan Oystercatcher, House martin, Barn swallow, Jackdaw, Rook, Raven, Meadow pipit, Skylark, Wheatear, Common buzzard, Hen harrier Ring Ouzel, Blackbird, House sparrow, Great black-backed gull, Herring gull, Winter wren, Great spotted woodpecker, Rock dove, Woodpigeon and Collared dove.
After walk drinks were enjoyed at Britannia Inn at Pentre Halkyn, as ever the Lees bitter was on good form.

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