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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, 13 August 2015

Moel Fferna and Its Quarries 13th August 2015

Looking down the Valley towards our start at th Butterfly Man Lay-by.
The Deeside Quarry Path contouring to the left and the Llantysilio Range on the right.
Looking down the incline at the Deeside Quarries.
"Just because you are at the top, I'm still not convinced this is the right way".
The Moel Fferna Quarry, looking Eastward.
The Moel Fferna Quarry, looking North westward.
Panorama looking Eastward over the quarries from the North Berwyn Way.
Panorama from Moel Fferna Cairn, looking from the Berwyns towards the Arans.
It's all downhill from Moel Fferna now, well maybe!
Walk stats: Distance: 9.0 miles. Climb: 1682'.
Time: 5 hours 20 minutes.On the move walking average: 2.1 m.p.h. Overall walk average: 1.7 m.p.h.
Group: Martyn, David and Celia.
We set off, knowing that potentially stormy weather was heading our way from the South. Thankfully it didn't materialise and we didn't have any rain at all. It was a little on the sultry side at takes and the occasional breeze was very welcome.
  Once we gained a little height, the views were superb, especially looking Northward towards the Llantysilio Range. 
 As always the old quarry workings, particularly at the Moel Fferna Quarry are quite fascinating with good information boards telling you all you needed to know.
 The North Berwyn Way between Deeside Quarry, Moel Fferna Quarry and Moel Fferna summit is well known for its boggy sections, but today there was only one small section that required careful placing of your feet. The bigger problem today was head high sections of bracken and Ling heather that had overgrown the path leading to the ridge, making it difficult to see exactly where you were placing your feet.
 Lunch was taken at the cairn on Mol Fferna summit, but on this occasion everyone sat outside the shelter with views towards the Berwyns, Arans and Arrenigs.
 Our route back to car was essentially all downhill, but the path in places was quite eroded and needed care and we had two sections of very steep minor roads to descend before reaching the A5 and half a mile mainly on the flat back to the car.
 The surprise of the day was to come across some brightly coloured beehives - we'll have to look out for "Moel Fferna Heather Honey" or something similarly named being sold in the Llangollen area.
 We arrived back at the having had a good and varied walk, with tired legs feeling as though they had done more than the GPS 9.0 miles and climb of 1682' indicated!
 Birds seen or heard today included: House sparrow, Carrion crow, Jackdaw, Woodpigeon, Common buzzard, Common pheasant, Stonechat, Meadow pipit, Wood nuthatch, Barn swallow, Rook, Dunnock, Northern wheatear and Willow warbler.
 After walk drinks were "enjoyed" at the Berwyn Arms Hotel in Glyndyfrdwy. The Sunbeam bitter, although on hand pump, was a little on the fizzy side, making me think it wasn't up to real ale standard! We wre however served by two you bar people, one of which was a really bubbly cheerful character to say the least!

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