Coed Pen-y-Gelli and Around Gorsedd 26th April 2012

Bluebells in Coed Allt-y-tywood.

More Bluebells in Coed Allt-y-tywood.

Emerging from Coed Allt-y-tywood dressed for rain that didn't come until after lunch!

An Early Purple Orchid, seen just after I thought taking this walk earlier than usual would mean that we might miss them in flower.

At the Coed-y-Gelli Nature Reserve, our usual lunch spot and thankfully no rain yet!

Walk stats: Distance: 9.5 miles. Climb:667'.

Time: 5 hours 5 minutes. On the move walking average: 2.3 m.ph. Overall walk average: 1.9 m.p.h.

Group: Martyn, Sue and Michel, Phil, Celia, Sylvia and Dave J.

If we had accepted the weather forecasters as being accurate, then I woudn't have been writing this account of our walk today! Once again my main regret was the fact that I was wearing Winter gear (Paramo), when shorts and Summer gear would have been more appropriate, even when we had light rain just after lunch.

This was primarily a walk wher we hoped we would see displays of Bluebells in flower.  Alas we were to be disappointed. Coed Allt-y-tywood, usually one of our best Bluebell woods was disappointing. Much of the Southern end of the wood had very few Bluebells in flower and the brambles seemed to have taken over the areas under the trees.  Thankfully we did see some Bluebells in this wood and in parts of Coed Pen-y-Gelli too.

Lunch was taken in the quarry at Coed Pen-y-Gelli Nature Reserve, where we could enjoy the sheltered area in the absence of the road noise of the A55 less than a mile away and still no rain!

The Gorsedd Round is not one of my favourite walks and when it started to rain as we approached Merton Abbot, I decided that I wanted to shorten the walk and head directly to Carmel and continue the walk as described from there. Only one member of the group was very disappointed, but he didn't sulk for long!

An an enjoyable walk, despite the many unpleasant stiles, slippy mud and fields of long grass!

Birds seen or heard today: Chiffchaff, Blackbird, Greenfinch, Blue tit, Great tit, Woodpigeon, Black-billed magpie, Shelduck, Mallard, Willow warbler, Nuthatch, Common buzzard, Linnet, Goldfinch. Carrion crow, Jackdaw, Rook, Blackcap, Song thrush, Winter wren, Common pheasant, Barn swallow, Linnet, Chaffinch and an owl (probably a Little Owl) seen by some of the group.

After walk drinks were enjoyed at the Britannia Inn at Halkyn, when once again the Lees bitter was in superb condition.