Walks and Dates May 2012

Updated 17th May 2012

Tuesday 1st May 2012.

Pendle Hill – another Search for Dotterel

Distance:7-8 miles. Climb:1400’.
Start: Downham Village Car park. Grid ref: SD785442.
Leave Chester:8-00 a.m.
This is an extra walk for this week, so is a little shorter than usual.  It revives the May Day walk that we used to take before a certain government decided they didn't want to celebrate a day for the workers! The route today is the one in Terry Marsh’s book “Fifty Classic Walks in Lancashire”. He describes it as “undoubtedly the finest ascent of Pendle Hill”. Let’s hope for a good day weather-wise, topped up with good views of Dotterel as we did a couple of years ago.  Don’t forget to bring binoculars.

Thursday 3rd May 2012

Maen Achwfan, Llyn Helyg, Crown Bach and Coed Pen-y-Gelli.

Distance:9-10 miles. Climb:1500’.
Start:Roadside parking opposite the church in Whitford. Grid ref:SJ147782.
Leave Chester 9-00 a.m.
This is the second of our Bluebell Woods walks.
The walk starts off by using one of the walks in Dave Berry’s book “ Walks Around Holywell and Halkyn Mountain. We have completed this one several times, including visiting the beautifully carved Maen Achwfan. However this time we include again the two new woods, Glol and Llyn Helyg woods. Hopefully we will return through Crown Bach woods to Lloc and then return to Whitford via Twll Bach.

Saturday 5th May 2012.

The Lawley and Caer Caradoc.

Distance:10 miles; Climb:2000'.
Start:Church Stretton centre car park (pay and display). Grid ref:SO454911.
Leave Chester 8-00 a.m.
It's Dotterel time again, so this is another walk that may give us the chance of seeing them again. The walk combines two walks taken from Ian Jones' booklet "20 Walks From Church Stretton".It is a walk that we first did in 1998 and have done several times seince then. This is a superb walk, especially on a good day. It is the nearest that you can get to a ridge walk, particularly along the Lawley!

Monday 7th May 2012.

The Little Orme and More.

Distance: 7-8 miles. Climb: 1300'.
Start: Roadside Parking near the PC/Boating lake at Craig y Don, the East end of Llandudno. Grid ref: SH799821.

Leave Chester at 08-30 a.m. This is a little earlier than our usual time for setting off for this walk, but there is a Steam Engine Festival in the field opposite where we park, so hope that leaving earlier will mean that we get there before the festival goers!
We will as usual explore the Little Orme area, hoping to see Shag, Kittiwakes, Fulmars, Great Cormorants and seals. Instead of going inland we will probably carry on along the coast towards Rhos on Sea, if the tide is right.

Thursday 10 May 2012.

Moel Plas-yw, the Alyn Valley and Coed Ddu.

Distance:11-12 miles; Climb:2500+'.
Start: Car park area at the foot of Moel Athur. Grid ref: SJ148658.
Another two walks from Dave Berry's book ""More Walks on the Clwydian Hills". The Moel Plas-yw walk impressed us last time with its excellent views and delightful woodland valley paths. A visit to the summit of Moel Arthur could be an extension at the end of the walk for some!
Leave Chester at 9-00 a.m.

Saturday 12th May 2012.

Wylfa, Cemlyn Bay and More.

Distance: 10 miles.

Climb:1200'.

Start: Mynydd Wylfa LNR Car park. Grid ref: SH356937

This walk combines one walk from each of the books by Carl Rogers on walks on the Anglesey coast. This walk explores the coast to the West of the power station. It will also allow us to explore he area around "the lagoon" nature reserve. If time allows it will also allow us to explore again the Mynydd Wylfa LNR. Don't forget to bring binoculars with you.

Thursday 17th May 2012.

Daresbury and Moore Nature Reserve.

Distance: 10-12 miles; Climb:Less than 500' at guess.
Start:car park on Park Lane near Appleton Reservoir. Grid ref:SJ598843.
The Daresbury walk is only four miles, and is taken from Jen Darling's book "Walks in West Cheshire and the Wirral". In addition it is planned to extend the walk to include Moore Nature Reserve to make the overall walk about 10 miles. We may decide to explore the Appleton reservoir and Hillcliff areas too!

Saturday 19th May 2012.

Chromford Heights.

Distance: 9-10 miles.

Climb: 1200'.
Start: Middleton Top Car Park. Grid ref: SK275551.
Leave Chester 08-00 a.m.This walk is taken from Mark Richards's book " White Peak Walks - Southern Dales". We have completed this walk a couple of times, but not since I escaped! It is a varied walk that uses the High Peak Trail, Canal towpaths, paths through Matlock Baths Wooded Gorge and the Bonsall Way. Mark Richards's describes it as combining all of the ingredients of the White Peak, whilst actually being outside the National Park.

The walk also takes us past the church at Chromford, reputed to be a location where Hawfinches can be seen, so don't forget to bring binoculars with you, we undoubtedly will be spending some time there in the hope of spotting one!

Thursday 24th May 2012.

The Ceiriog Valley and Y Foel.

Distance: 11 miles. Climb:2139’.
Start: Pontfadog Car Park. Grid ref:SJ234380.
Leave Chester at 9-00 a.m.
This walk is based on a walk taken from the “Walking Wales” magazine called “Churches in the Valley Walk”. However we will extend it to include the summit of Y Foel and the Biddulph Tower. Our return route from Y Foel will be decided on the day, but won’t be the heather hopping route chosen last time! The main route in the beautiful Ceiriog valley passes 7 churches and eventually rises to the hill top road where there are superb views to be had, especially towards the Berwyns and the Shropshire Hills.

Saturday 26th May 2012.

Saddle Fell, Bleadale Water and Fair Snape Fell.

Distance:10 miles; Climb:2165'.
Start: Chipping Village Car Park. Grid ref:SD622433.
Leave Chester 8-00 a.m.
This walk is taken from Terry Marsh's book "Fifty Classic Walks in Lancashire". He describes it as a varied and demanding walk, not suited to misty conditions and dogs are not allowed on the concessionary paths. route finding could be a challenge, but at least there is the distinctive Langden Castle as a landmark at the most Northerly part of the route.

Thursday 31st May 2012.

The Llantysilio Ridge.

Distance: 8 miles + a possible 3 mile extension; Climb:2200+'.
Start: Parking area opposite the Ponderosa Cafe. Grid ref: SJ191481 .
Leave Chester 9-00 a.m.
This walk is based on Dave Berry's "Llantysilio Mountain" walk. We have done this walk several times, but usually adapt it to suit ourselves. Perhaps we will complete the earlier part of the walk as described, even though it misses out the summit of Moel y Gamelin. Possible extension to Cyrn-y-Brain and Sir Watkin's Tower. Always a good walk on a fine day. This roller coaster walk can be more of a challenge than you might expect!