Walks and Dates March 2012

Updated 20th March 2012.

Congratulations to Philip and Sam Hammond

on the safe arrival of their daughter Elizabeth, born on 17/03/2012 weighing in at 8 lb 8 onz.

Congraulations to Annie on becoming a grandmother for the second time.

Thursday 1st March 2012

Greenfield Valley, Gadlys and East of Holywell.

Distance: 10-11miles. Climb:1500'.
Start: Greenfield Valley car park on the A548. Grid ref: SJ197775.
Leave Chester at 09-00 a.m.
This walk uses two complete walks and part of a third walk from Dave berry's book "Walks Around Holywell and Halkyn Mountains". This will be the first time that we will complete the whole of the Greenfield Valley walk and the short route on the Gadlys walk. It's always good to explore new routes! A reasonable amount of climb as we climb from the coast road to Holywell on two occasions.

Saturday 3rd March 2012

Another Walk On Conwy Mountain.

Distance: 9-10 miles. Climb:1800' at a guess!
Start: Long stay car park on the B5106 at Conwy. Pay and Display. Grid ref:SH781773.
Leave Chester 08-00 a.m.
This walk is taken from Carl Rogers's book "Walking in the Conwy Valley". Much of the routes as far as Conwy is the same as we have done on the last two occasions,. It goes through the harbour, follows riverside before passing the school and then climbing to Conwy Mountain along he North Wales path. The return route goes South towards Henryd. It is similar to a route we used many years ago, but appears to miss out much of the road walking. we shall see!

Thursday 8th March 2012

The Sandstone Trail - Larkton Hill to Old St Chad's Church.

Distance: 12-13 miles. Climb: 500'.
Start: Car park in the centre of Malpas behind the Post Office. Grid ref: SJ 488473.
Leave Chester at 09-00 a.m.
This is the sixth in our walks from Carl Roger's book "Circular Walks on the Sandstone Trail". Not the most inspiring sections of the Trail. It is a bit longer than we would normally do, but at least there shouldn't be too much of a climb!

Saturday 10th March 2012 
This walk has been postpone until April.
A Tale of Two Quarries and the Foothills of Moel Morfydd.

Distance:10-11 miles; Climb:2800'.
Start: Opposite Capel Hebron, Rhewl. Grid ref:SJ182449.
Leave Chester 9-00 a.m.
Two walks taken from Dave Berry's book ""Walking Around Llangollen and the Dee Valley. The two quarries walk is described as an exhilarating walk exploring the foothills and attractive South facing side valleys of the Llantysilio mountain range.
The second walk is described as a walk that explores the beautiful Dee Valley and includes passing around the head of an attractive side valley beneath Moel Morfydd, offering superb views of the Dee Valley and beyond.
This is a walk that we usually do on a Thursday, but parking is limited, so I thought it would be better to include it on the Saturday list for a change.

Thursday 15th March 2012

Barber's Hill and the Vivod Estate, Berwyn Halt and the Horseshoe Falls.

Distance: 10-11 miles.
Climb: 2000'.
Start: Llangollen long stay car park (pay and display). This is the car park that you get to by taking the first road on the right after crossing the bridge towards the centre. Grid ref: SJ214420.
Leave Chester at 9-00 a.m.
This walk combines two walks taken from Dave Berry's book "Walks Around Llangollen and the Dee Valley".
One walk takes us past Plas Newydd, the home of the "Ladies of Llangollen" before exploring the hidden wooded valleys above Llangollen. The second walk ofers delightful river, valey and canal scenery.  Hopefully the Snowdrops will still be in bloom in the church grounds at Llantysilio.
The most memorable time that we did this combination of walks was in March 2006, when there was snow on the ground. It was a glorious sunny and the sun reflecting on the snow on the trees sparkled like jewels. This was a glorious walk, hopefully to be repeated again this time round, although hopefully without any snow.

Saturday 17th March 2012

Llyn Elsi and Llyn y Parc from Betws -y coed.

Distance: 10 miles. Climb:1600' at a guess!
Start at the main car park at Betws-y-coed (near the PC). Grid ref: SH795565.
Leave Chester at 08-00 a.m.
This is a figure of eight walk that combines two walks from ar Roger's book "Walking in the Conwy Valley". He describes one of these as a moderate walk to the most famous lake around Betws-y-coed, and the other as more strenuous as it climbs steeply out of the Llugwy valley to explore the woods and lakes of the Gwydir Forest.

Thursday 22nd March 2012

The Sandstone Trail - Old St Chad's Church to Whitchurch

Distance: 12 miles. Climb: 300'.
Start: Lay-by just past the Grindley Brook Lockside  Cafe on the A41.  Next to an old mill and a telephone box. Grid ref: SJ52474286.
Leave Chester 09-00 a.m.
This is the seventh and last in our walks from Carl Roger's book "Circular Walks on the Sandstone Trail". As with the last walk, this section is another not very inspiring sections of the Trail, but at least this time we have the motivation that on completing it we will have done the whole of the trail.

Saturday 24th march 2012

Walks Around Cemaes Bay.

Distance: 10 miles. Climb:500'.
Start: Car park near the harbour in Cemaes Bay. Grid ref: SH373935.
Leave Chester 08-00 a.m.
This walk combines two walks, one of each of the books that Carl Roger has written on "Coastal Walks On Anglesey. He describes one walk as an excellent walk along a dramatic section of the coast. good paths, but one section is a little exposed an might intimidate some people. Let's hope it's a calm day and dry underfoot! The other walk heads towards the Wylfa Power Station, where there is a possible short extension to Mynydd y Wylfa.

Thursday 29th March 2012

Beyond the Ro and Moel Ferna

Distance: 9-10 mile. Climb:1500'.
Start: Lay-by next to The Butterfly Man and Craft Centre on the A5. Grid ref: SJ115436.
Leave Chester 09-00 a.m.
This walk combines one of the walks from Dave Berry's book "Walks Around Llangollen and the Dee Valley" with an extension to the summit of Moel Ferna (weather permitting). We will decide the return route on the day. We have visited Moel Ferna in all sorts of conditions, some good, some not so good, hopefully it will be a good one this time.

Saturday 31st March 2012.

Pilsbury Castle and Wolfcote Dale.

Distance: 11 miles; Climb: 1150'.

Start: Hartington Village car park (pay and display). Grid ref:SK123602.
Leave Chester 08-00 a.m.
This is one of may favourite White Peak Walks as most of you will have guessed by the number of times that it has appeared on the lists.This time we will do the Pilsbury Castle circuit first and after lunch we will visit the sylvan Beresford Dale, the open aspects of Wolfscote Dale and the wilder aspects of Biggin Dale, before retiring to the Wilkes Head for refreshments!