Walks and Dates July 2013

Updated 16th July 2013

Best wishes to Carole as she heads to cooler climes North of the border on Thursday 18th July.
Saturday Walks suspended until further notice.
At the moment it looks as though Thursday walks will continue during my enforced absence.  I will still co-ordinate and provide route descriptions.
My hand feels a lot better now that all but one of the sutures have been removed.  Minimal dressings now, just enough to prevent any dirt getting to the still tender wounds. Looking forward to the day all the scabs have dropped off and all the swelling around joints has gone down.
Back to hospital on the 26th July (two appointments, first the therapy department, and then the consultants clinic).

I have hourly exercise on my hand trying to force the fingers to bend a little more / straighten, and have to wear a molded plastic "splint" to keep the hand straight overnight for the next few months.
Walking isn't a problem, but I'm still a little concerned about about damaging my hand using a rucksack or as  I get over stiles, so it may be August or later before I get back to normal walking!
Still not driving as I can't operate the gear stick or operate the hand-break easily.

Thursday 4th July 2013.

Moel Fferna and Nant-y-Pandy.

Distance: 9-10 miles. Climb: 2000’.
Start: Lay-by adjacent to the Butterfly Man Craft Centre on the A5 Llangollen to Corwen road near Glyndyfrdwy. Grid ref:SJ11584360.
Leave Chester 9-00 a.m.
The described part of the walk is taken from Dave Berry’s book “Walks Around Llangollen and the Dee Valley”. He describes it as a fascinating walk through the wooded Nant-y-Pandy with its old slate works.  The extension takes us to the summit of Moel Ferna, let’s hope for a good day so that we can linger on the top and taken in the excellent views.

Thursday 11th July 2013.

Delamere Forest and Boothsdale.

Distance:12 miles. Climb:1400'.
Start: Gresty's Waste Car Park on the A54. SJ540686.
Leave Chester at 9-00 a.m.
This walk combines two walks from the OS Cheshire Walks book. One is described as an attractive  walk on the Southern fringes of Delamere Forest with good views the higher points on the walk. Both walks use parts of the Sandstone Trail. A good walk with no stiles and an ice-cream shop on route near the end!

Thursday 18th July 2013.

Lady Bagot's Drive with St Christopher's Blessing.

Distance:10-11 miles. Climb: 500'.

Start: Ruthin Riverside Car park (Pay and display). Grid ref: SJ121582.

Leave Chester 9-00a.m.

This walk combines two walks from Dave Berry's book "Walks in the Vale of Clwyd".  We have completed this walk many times before in all sorts of weather conditions. Can be muddy and in the past, conditions underfoot have been particularly challenging after lots of rain and the Afon Clwyd is in spate, but at this time of the year we should be OK.  A Few years ago Richard and Michel saw Kingfishers, it would be good, if everyone saw them them this time! In the past we have seen Salmon trying to negotiate "Salmon's Leap" by the sewage works on the Afon Clwyd.

Thursday 25th July 2013.

Denbigh Castle, Goblin Fields and St Dyfnog's Well.

Distance: 9-10 miles. Climb: 670'
Start: Roadside parking by the weir, West of Brookhouse Mill and Pottery. Take the A525 from Denbigh. Just before the Brookhouse Mill Tavern on the A525, at a signpost for "Pottery", turn right (West), go past the marked parking bays for the pottery   and park on the left side of the road by the weir. Grid ref: SJ069656.
Leave Chester at 9-00 a.m.
These two walks are taken from Dave Berry's book "Walks in the Vale of Clwyd". One walk explores the attractive and varied countryside between Llanrhaeadr and Brookhouse and gives us the opportunity to see again the famous Tree of Jesse medieval stained glass window (1533) and Ann Parry's gravestone with its inscription"God kept His word".  The walk also includes two mile of riverside  alongside the Afon Ystrad and Afon Clwyd
The second walk is described as interesting and takes a "green"approach to a little known castle in Wales.
Hopefully Mike will be able to join us as one of his relatives lives in one of the houses alongside the footpath that is on our route.