At the start of the ascent around Moel Fenlli hill fort.
Ruthin from the ramparts on Moel Fenlli hill fort.
Dave J descending Moel Fenlli.
"I always walk this way!"
Snow deep enough to reach the top bar on the stile.
Looking from Offa's Dyke footpath towards From-heulog.
Bluebells in flower - I'll have to bring our Bluebell walks forward a couple of weeks!
Walk stats: distance: 11.4 miles. Climb: 1950'.
6 hours 26 minutes. On the move walking average: 2.1 m.p.h. Overall walk average: 1.7 m.p.h.
Group: Martyn, Annie H., Phil, Dave J and Paul.
What a glorious day for walking this turned out to be. A little unexpected in that the amount of snow on the higher ground was deeper and softer that expected, in fact a week ago I was expecting that I'd still be walking in shorts! Alas today I chose winter gear, but I could have got away with shorts!
Anyway there is always something special walking in fresh snow with the sun shining on the snow-covered hills all around, but with the valleys still green.
The challenges of walking in snow, sometimes sinking to our knees meant that we arrived back at the car as tired as we have ever been on a Thursday walk! Boy did I need that pint of Cwrw Eryri to revive me at the end of the day! In fact I had two brews of tea when I got home make me feel that I had re-hydrated myself enough!
We had lunch at the end of Offa's Dyke footpath beyond Moel Llanfair. Paul thought siting on the stile was a good choice to sit and have lunch (this is a spot I have chosen several times too, so I was a little peeved!). However they graciously allowed Phil and I sit on the bench seat, that in the end seemed the best choice. Unfortunately Paul had to get up several times as other walkers wanted to cross the stile, they seemed do be honing in on this stile from all directions!
The walk after lunch was probably not the most exciting part of the walk, but we did Bluebells in flower, as well as Wood anemone and Wild garlic.
What a joy it is when we can walk at this time in the year, when the blossom is on the trees and flowers are starting to appear and the birds are singing. God's creations are good.
What a joy it is when we can walk at this time in the year, when the blossom is on the trees and flowers are starting to appear and the birds are singing. God's creations are good.
Birds seen or heard today included: European robin, Common buzzard, Blue tit, Great tit, Chaffinch, Carrion crow, Raven, Common blackbird, Chiffchaff, Greenfinch, Yellowhammer, Willow warbler (our first of the year, singing as we had lunch), Jackdaw, Stonechat, Meadow pipit, Skylark and Common pheasant.
After walk drinks were enjoyed at the Glasfryn, Mold, where we met up with Sue and Michel who had patiently waited for us, even though we were about an hour later than we would have normally expected after this walk.
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