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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.

Saturday, 25 February 2012

Pen-y-Gaer, St., Celynin's Church and Caer Bach 25th February 2012

Hexagonal Basalt rock formation on our approach to Pen-y-Gaer Hillfort.
A welconme opportubnity to rest an pretend that you'r checkinmg the route!
On the summit of Peny-Gaer Hillfort.

The inside of St., Celynin's Church.
The Conwy estuary from Caer Bach Hiklklfort.
Walk stats: Distance: 12.6 miles. Climb: 2621'.
Time: 7 hours 22 minutes. On the move walking average: 2.0 m.p.h. Overall walk average: 1.7 m.p.h.
Group: Martyn, Roger, Dave J., Mike and Celia.
Another superb day for walking, it should have been another shorts day, but alas I believed the weather forecast of temperatures around 8 Celsius!
Although we have been to Pen-y Gaer quite a few times, the approach from North-west was new to us. An enjoyable approach, except for the challenge of several stone stiles and on this occasions a couple of mobile phone calls from a complete stranger!
The views from Pen-y-Gaer were superb, especially towards the Carneddau and the Conwy Valley.
Lunch was taken, after few claims of hunger desperation, just after exiting the Gorswen Nature Reserve.
The second walk headed for St. Cenynin's Church, a route that we have done at least twice before.  However on this occasion the church was open, and we were privileged to see the treasures within.
The second part of the walk was new to us all, as we headed for Caer Bach Hillfort, a site that just about lived up to its name!  However the views of the Conwy Valley from Caer Bach Hillfort were superb.
At this point we met a young couple with two young children, and persuaded them that their best option to get back to Rowen safely was to retrace their steps and follow us.
We arrived back at the car, having had a superb walk, tired and relieved that that steep descent along the road from the YHA to Rowen was over, and that Dave had move the car to save our legs a little!
Birds seen or heard today included: Dunnock, Blue tit, Greenfinch. Jackdaw, Carrion crow, Raven, Kestrel, Common buzzard, Eurasian jay, European robin, Common blackbird, Common pheasant, Collard dove, Great spotted woodpecker, Nuthatch, Great tit, Song thrush and Mistle thrush.
After walk drinks were enjoyed at the Britannia Inn at Halkyn, where the Lees bitter tasted better than ever, but that might have been because Wales had just won the Triple Crown at Twickernham!

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