Nearly a Tale of Two Quarries 12th September 2015

The gate to Bwlch-y-garnedd - a new path for us.

Looking North to the Llantysilio Mountains (Moel y Gaer and Moel y Gamelin).

Spoil heaps for Rhiw Goch Quarry.

Who's a happy bunny then?

The path to be remembered, but only to avoid in the future!

Lunch on the spoil heaps of the Berwyn Quarry.

Looking West towards the Llantysilio Mountains.

The Chain bridge - now open for use.

A steam train at Berwyn Station - taken from the Chain Bridge Hotel.

The River Dee, looking East towards the limestone escarpments.

Taken from the middle of the Chain Bridge.

Walk stats: Distance: 5.1 miles. Climb: 1250'.

Time: 4 hours 17 minutes. On the move walking average: 1.7 m.p.h. Overall walk average: 1.2 m.p.h.

Group: Martyn, Mike and Roger.

We arrived at Capel Hebron, Rhewl just before 09-30, just as it started to rain quite heavily, so we were happy to stay in the car for half and hour until it eased off.

 We set off with our waterproof jackets on, but it was questionable whether the rain on the outside was worse than the condensation on the inside.

 The first challenge came as we reached open ground above Bwlch-y-garnedd, where the bracken was overgrown and failed in our attempts to keep our trousers dry - but worse was to come!

 After leaving the Clwydian Way along the path heading for Berwyn Quarry we had about half a mile of very overgrown and wet bracken to negotiate and the we were attacked by Gorse that encroached onto the path, resulting in two of us regretting wearing shorts.

 We had lunch at Berwyn Quarry, where the slate provided dry places to sit, the Sun came out and the wind dropped. We even had good views of the Llantysilio Mountains and the Berwyns beyond.

 After lunch we had a very pleasant stroll downhill past Fron Haul and Llandynan and then Westward back to the car.

Birds seen or heard today included: House sparrow, European robin, Barn swallow, Common buzzard, Common pheasant, Black-billed magpie, Carrion crow, Raven, Sparrowhawk and Black grouse.

 After walk drinks were enjoyed at the Chain Bridge Hotel, where Stonehouse's Sunlander went down well. We even had a walk on the recently restored Chain Bridge!