Beyond the Ro and Moel Fferna 28th March 2012

Heading for the Ro Valley.

Emerging onto a footpath after crossing the first unfriendly "stile"!

At the wind shelter on Moel Fferna.

The Berwyns from Moel Fferna.

"I wasn't ready, I was just about to blow my nose and comb my hair!"

Walk stats: Distance: 8.9 miles. Climb: 1677'.

Time: 5 hours 1 minute. On the move walking average: 2.3 m.p.h. Overall walk average: 1.8 m.p.h.

Group: Martyn, Roger, Annie H, Phil, Dave J and Wendy.

A very select little group gathered at the lay-by near the Butterfly Man Craft Centre ready for this "delightful" walk beyond the Ro and onto Moel Fferna.

As soon as we set off the few clouds left in the sky began to disappear as the Greenfinches in the area greeted us with their call.

Birds seemed to be singing every where, and why wouldn't you sing joyfully on a glorious day like this?

Having negotiated two fences across the path, the going from then on good, even across the open moorland, that has in the past been very boggy, today was dry, making this part of the walk delightful. The moors seemed to be alive with Skylarks and Meadow pipits singing and performing above us, always sounds that gladden the heart at this time of the year.

Lunch was taken, as usual at the wind shelters on Moel Fferna, we sat in pleasant sunshine with only a gentle breeze to cool us and views that were superb, but a little on the hazy side.

It's always good to walk  on new paths, and today we managed two, one that cut the corner from the road to the Moel Fferna path and another that enabled us to walk to Glyndyfrdwy along paths above the church and avoid walking along the A5.

The bird of the day was undoubtedly a Red kite, but the beautiful sound of the Skylarks singing came a close second.

Birds seen or heard today included: Greenfinch, Mallard, Carrion crow, House sparrow, Blue tit, Great tit, Nuthatch, Dunnock, Winter wren, Meadow pipit, Skylark, Common buzzard, Coal tit, Green woodpecker, Common pheasant, Red kite, Pied wagtail, Chiffchaff, Blackbird, European robin, Woodpigeon, Black-billed magpie and Red grouse.

After walk drinks were enjoyed at the Grouse Inn at Carrog, a superb place if you can get the window seat that overlooks the river, which we did today. The Lees bitter today was OK, but not quite at its usual best!