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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.

Thursday, 1 March 2012

Greenfield Valley, East of Holywell and More 1st March 2012

The Power of Steam - boiler sydtem at Greenfield Valley Heritage Site.
The boiler being checked and fired up ready for the first open day at Easter.
A preview of the bottling plant.
One of the many superb views across the Dee Estuary.
Heading for the Greenfield on the East side of the Valley.
Paul giving a History lesson in the abbey!
Daffodils seen on on the roadside near Panton Hall.
A must have on St David's Day!
Walk stats: Distance: 10.0 miles. Climb: 1233'.
Time: 5 hours 12 minutes. On the move walking average: 2.4 m.p.h. Overall walk average: 1.9 m.p.h.
Group: Martyn, Roger, Annie H., Phil, Paul, Celia, Sue and Dave P.
What a superb day for walking this turned out to be. Largely blue skies all day with pleasantly warm sunshine and very little wind.
The bonus of the day was at the Greenfield Valley Heritage site, where engineers were firing up the boiler and checking the system before opening officially at Easter.  They were happy to give us a little take on the system as well.  A must to visit when the whole site is operational later in the year.
Our route through the woods on the East of Holywell walk was less muddy than usual as we followed the description more closely and climbed the first set of steps that now leads to a path above the muddiest sections.
We had lunch in a children's playground, where we could take advantage of some seats. Needless to say at least one of the over sixties in the group couldn't resist the temptation to try out the challenges on offer!
Dave P also provided everyone with a celebratory drink for St David's Day (Dave P birthday).
Birds seen or heard today included: Blackbird, European robin, Common buzzard, Chaffinch, Blue tit, Great tit, common coot, Mallard, Mute swan, Little grebe, Tufted duck, Carrion crow, Jackdaw, Nuthatch, Woodpigeon, House sparrow, Dunnock, Herring gull and Black-headed gull.
We completed the walk, glad to have been able to use a few footpaths not used before, and for the first time completed the Greenfield Valley walk in its entirety.
After walk drinks were enjopyed at the Britannia Inn at Halkyn, where the Lees Bitter was in good condition.

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