Looking down into Pystyll Gwyn Quarry soon after starting.
On an ancient stone footbridge just outside Llanarmon-yn-Ial.
On the delightful Offa's Dyke path on the West side of Moel Gyw.
Moel Llanfor and the Vale of Clwyd from path on the West side of Moel Gyw.
Bryn Alyn from the path descending towards the start.
One of the better forest paths.
Our final challenge.
N.B. All photos are B.S.T. - I forgot to change the clock time on my camera again!
Walk stats: Distance: 7.8 miles. Climb: 1003'.
Time: 5 hours 39 minutes. On the move walking average: 1.8 m.p.h. Overall walk average: 1.4 m.p.h.
Group: Martyn, Annie, Phil, Celia, David S and Tim.
We arrived at the car park to find it full, a walking group from Mid-Cheshire were also starting from the quarry car park. We managed to squeeze in, they set off in one direction and we thankfully went in the opposite direction.
We set off in what wasn't really rain, more like dampness in the air, but it didn't clear by 10-00 as we had expected. We were a little later setting off and a little problem trying to find a way to cross a wall on our way towards Bryn Alyn, so to make up time we decided to take the shortest route we could to Llanarmon-yn-Ial where we planned to have lunch in the church grounds.
Our first evidence that this area must have had lots of rain recently as we crossed the little stone footbridge over a stream that was runnibg like a torrent, almost demanding for "Poo sticks" to be played. Time did manage to release a trapped branch which soon passed under the bridge and rapidly disappeared out of sight, perhaps only to be heard later, but we will never know!
We had slightly longer for lunch as I got talking to the local church treasurer who informed me that they were in the process of trying to raise £63,000 to renovate the roof of the church (a Grade 1 listed building), and they had to wait for me to have my lunch!
The after lunch the clouds lifted and it became very pleasant for walking, but little did we know of the challenges that lay ahead.
The best views of the day came as we walked along Offa's Dyke path on the West side of Moel Gyw. This is a delightful section with superb views down into the Vale of Clwyd.
Our next challenge came as we entered a small forest, storms had brought down many trees, but thanks to Phil and David's map reading skills managed to get us through all of the fallen trees to the stile and path leading to Cwm (they did get a little help from yellow spots marking some of the trees).
Unusual for Annie she managed to slip on a grassy slope, but was thankful to be wearing over trousers so the mud only went on them. Later on Phil too managed to slip over and managed to end up muddier than he would like. Thankfully there were no more mishaps, although one or two did almost fall over as they tried to negotiate a deeply flooded path just before a footbridge and ford (not usable today) over the Afon Alun , hundred yards or so South west of the quarry car park.
We arrived back at the cars, all feeling we had had a good walk and perhaps it should be repeated in the Summer months, when conditions underfoot would be a little drier!
Birds seen or heard today included: Common blackbird, Common buzzard, Common pheasant, House sparrow, Wood nuthatch, Raven, Carrion crow, Song thrush, Rook and Fieldfare.
After walk drinks were enjoyed at the Taly-bont Farm Inn just outside Mold. Hobgoblin and Oxford Gold were the brews sampled.
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