A polite but still delightful sign for dog walkers as we headed for St Mary's Church,
Llanfair Talaiarn.
Inside St. Mary's Church, Llanfair Talaiarn.
They've just realised that I've disappeared and gone into the church!
Looking at one of the many Wynne monuments inside the church.
Looking up the valley towards Moel Unben.
What is it, growing in the Hawthorn hedge?
It is a Robin's pincushion gall and is commonly found on Dog roses.
I did it my way!
On the top of Moel Unben our lunch spot.
Spotted by Paul from as we were having our lunch, but what are they?
On the path back to Llanfair Talaiarn.
The footbridge or no footbridge -the reason why we had a short walk!
The bridge over the Afon Elwy at Llanfair Talaiarn.
A better place to wait for the Blue Bell Inn at Halkyn to open,
rather than spoil our image by sitting outside waiting for it to open!
Walk stats: Distance: 7.3 m.p.h. Climb: 1071'.
Time: 4 hours 6 minutes. On the move walking average: 2.3 m.p.h. Overall walk average: 1.8 m.p.h.
Group Martyn, Sue and Michel, Annie, Phil, Wendy, Celia and Paul.
Just as the BBC weather predicted the early morning mist cleared at 10-00 as we set off and we had pleasant sunshine for the rest of the day, well for most of it!
We set off out of Llanfair Talaiarn, and on this occasion it St. Mary's Church was open, so I decided it would be well worth a visit, but it was some time before the rest of the group spotted I wasn't there and realised where I had gone!
This walk too had a fair bit of road walking before we headed across open fields, more roads and then on to a farm track. Arriving at an old farm we met a couple of shepherds/farm worker gathering a herd of sheep with the aid of six dogs. They eventually got the sheep to go the way they wanted, but alas we had lost Celia! We hadn't realised she had stopped to chat up the Welsh shepherd - she said she had stopped to take off the bottom part of the legs on her walking trousers!
Lunch was taken on the summit of Moel Unben, having taken a detour from the described route to ascend Moerl Unben from its North eastern end. This is a delightful route and one that will be repeated whenever we explore the Western side of Llanfair Talaiarn.
Lunch was taken on the top of Moel Unben with good view to the North and North west, but distant views were still somewhat hazy.
We had hoped to walk over Mynydd Dir, but once again the footbridge over the Afon Elwy was still closed, and seems that will be so for the distant future.
Although Paul had decide to increase his pace as he needed to be back in Chester for his paper round (but he said it was to get back for the school run!). We too were forced to do the short walk.
We arrived back at the car at 14-15 and MIchel realised that if we left then, we would arrived at our preferred hostelry too soon. Michel ans Sue set off along the path by the Afon Ely in search of Kingfisher, but I think Michel was looking for trout! The rest of us were happy to sit on the benches by the Afon Elwy, enjoying this delightful location and appreciating the reason why Victorian artist came to this location to paint.
Birds seen or heard today included: House sparrow, Herring gull, Carrion crow, Common buzzard, Great tit, Linnet, Meadow pipit, Raven, Black-billed magpie and Greenfinch.
After walk drinks were enjoyed at the Blue Bell, Halkyn where Blue Bell dark and Ty Gwyn cider and perry were enjoyed, I think the tea was enjoyed too!
still a delightful walk, but a little short with daylight hours still stretching as late as 20-00!
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