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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, 10 May 2012

The Alyn Valley, Coed Ddu and and Around Moel Plas-yw 10th May 2012

"We're big girls now!"
Our Mam says "Neigh cast a clout before May's out".
The approach to the Alyn Valley.
Wild garlic and Bluebells on the descent to the Alyn Valley.
Young bullocks running towards the front runners in in the group.
Walk stats:Distance: 9.7 miles. Climb: 1605'.
Time: 5 hours 9 minutes. On the move walking average: 2.3 m.p.h. Overall walk average: 1.9.m.p.h.
Group: Martyn, Roger, Phil, Sylvia and Dave J.
Numbers down again, some on Grandparent duty, some even on holiday, some with ailments and some with no excuse at all!
Five of us set off, hoping that the weather forecast would be right and that it would be mainly cloudy, warm and with a bit of luck no rain.  In fact we did better than that, we even had quite a bit of sunshine and no rain of any note.
This wasn't a walk for magnificent views, although we did get some good views of the Clwydian hills around Moel Fammau.
One surprising observation on today's walk was the fact Bluebells were everwhere, not just in the woods, but on the banks below the hedges along the roads that we walked. Perhaps we should include this as one of our annual Bluebell  wood walks.
The evidence of Spring flowers was also a delightful, as well as Bluebells standing out, some of the woods had masses of Wild garlic in flower too.
Lunch was taken in Coed Ddu, surrounded by  Bluebells, well at least a few!
We set off, and once again we didn't quite get it right, but manged to take a path that led directly to where we wanted to be!
On this occasion as we entered the wood on Moel Evan, we decided to take the path that contoured around its slope, a good choice as it meant that we didn't lose height on our way to the track around Moel Plas-yw.
Birds seen or heard today included: Barn swallow, Common pheasant, Blackcap, Chaffinch, Carrion crow, Common blackbird, Chiffchaff, Willow warbler, Meadow pipit, Skylark, Common buzzard, Goldfinch, Dunnock, Winter wren and Jackdaw.
After walk drinks were enjoyed at the Britannia Inn at Halkyn, where the hospitality as usual was welcoming and the Lees bitter in good nick!
Overall a good walk, just about right for us, well me really!

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