The Windmill in Holywell - a well known landmark.
Bluebells in Coed Pen-y-Maes.
The Coastal Path near Greenfield Dock.
The middle pol in the Greenfield Heritage Park.
An attempt to capture the hundreds of House Martind flying over this pool.
At the Pen-y-Ball Hill trig point.
Which way now?
Panorama from the tumulus North west of the Pet Cemetery.
One young calf that decided it didn't like us!
At least these are running away from us!
Walk stats: Distance: 8.9 miles. Climb: 1122'.
Time: 5 hours 8 minutes. On the move walking average: 2.1 m.p.h. Overall walk average: 1.7 m.p.h.
Group: Martyn, David S and Phil.
Earlier in the week the weather for today suggested relentless heavy rain, but thankfully things changed, the rain didn't reach us and all we had to contend with was a cool Easterly wind.
The first part of the walk was new to us, first passing the Windmill (currently for sale) through a housing estate into Coed Pen-y-Maes. This was a delightful wood with good paths and a good show of Bluebells.
Emerging from the wood we had to cross a field containing about 20 young bullocks that decided to stampede in front of us, became trapped and then stampeded in front of me as I stood still (David and Phil had escaped to the stile by this time).
The approach to the coast past the Recycling Centre wasn't the most attractive part of the walk, but at least the section along the coast to Greenfield Dock was pleasant enough.
On the way to the Greenfield Heritage Park, Phil decided that David needed to experience a visit to St Bueno's Well, so we decided to go through the park via the pools and the paths on the Western side.
The main lake had few birds on the water, but there were lots of Barn swallows flying around with the odd House martin. The higher pool had very few Barn swallows but more than a hundred House martins flying of the water and some coming within inches of our face as we crossed over dam.
My attempt to capture them doesn't really how how amazing it was.
Lunch as is the norm for these Holywell walks was taken in the Memorial Gardens, where we could take advantage of the benches available.
Arriving at St Bueno's Well, it had been marked out with red and white tape, and a note informing that an archaeological dig on the site was taking place. Perhaps one day we will find out if they found anything of interest.
Although the walk description didn't actually go to the trig point on Pen-y-Ball Hill we decided that the small detour to visit it was well worth while.
The views from Pen-y-Ball Hill towards the coast, Pen-y-Ball Monument towards the Clwydians and from near the tumulus across the Dee Estuary, were all superb.
Birds seen or heard today included: Willow warbler, Great tit, European robin, Barn swallow, House martin, Common coot with cootlets, Mallard, House sparrow, Feral pigeon, Woodpigeon, Pied wagtail, Jackdaw, Grey heron, Jackdaw and Common buzzard.
After walk drinks were enjoyed at the Bluebell Inn at Halkyn, where we had to sit outside for them to open or so we thought. The door was open, neither of us had the strength to open the door, we had to be let in by a young lady helping in the bar!
Overall a good walk on a day when we expected the worst!
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