Walks and Dates January 2016

Happy New Year

Harris Hikers Annual Meal. 

Thursday 4th February 2016.

Reminder - can you send me your meal choices 
by Saturday 29th January 2016.

This would appear to be the best date for most of the group. I'm thinking of going to the Boathouse in Parkgate but at the moment I haven't booked anything.  I intend to go down on the 4th January, so if you plan to come to the meal, it would be helpful if you let me know, so that I have a rough idea of 

the numbers involved.

 If you know of anyone that might be interested in joining us for the meal, please pass on the details.

 I will try to keep everyone up to date by e-mail as much as I can as well as putting the details on the blog.

Friday 1st January 2016.

A West Kirby Round.

Distance: 5-6 miles. Climb: 500'.

Start: The Parade, West Kirby. Park near the old baths / opposite the IRB station. Grid ref: SJ213860.

Leave Chester at 09-30.

The walk starts by going around the Marine Lake, if the tide permits. High tide is at 15-21. It is quite a small tide, 7.7 m /25.0', so there should be no problem around the Marine Lake or walking along the beach to Red Rocks.  Red Rocks may be a suitable spot for refreshments before heading through 

Hoylake Golf Course to the Gilroy Nature Reserve.  Finally a short climb up Grange Hill with its 

impressive War Memorial with superb views in all directions. The return is via the Beacon on 

Column Road and down to West Kirby through Ashton Park. 

 Bring binocular with you if you have them.

 Fruit cake will be provided, as long as I know that you are coming!

N.B. This is one walk that I don't try to co-ordinate cars, so please make your own 

arrangements.

Thursday 7th January 2016. 

Thurstaston Common, Stapledon Wood, Caldy and More.

Distance:8-10 miles. Climb:1000'.

Start: Thursaston Visitor Centre Car Park. Grid ref:SJ239835.

Leave Chester at 9-00 a.m.

This is a repeat of the walk that we have done several times and combines two walks from Raymond Roberts' booklet "Wirral Walks - the West Wirral Six". This is a relatively easy walk with good views along the way, especially from Thurstaston Hill. We hope to walk back Thursaston along the beach, so bring binoculars with you. High tide is at 09-51, it is a 28.3' tide (8.6 m). it should be OK to walk along the beach,  even if we decide to do the walk in reverse for a change. We should get good views from the top of Thurstaston Hill, assuming that it is nice crisp Winter's day!

Bring binocular with you if you have them.


Saturday 9th January 2016. 


Cancelled - I have had my arm twisted and am now going to watch my godson play hockey!


The Llugwy and Lledre Valleys.


Distance: 9 miles.Climb:1960''

Start: Station Car Park Betws-y-coed. Pay and display if we don't get in the section by the PC block. N.B. PC  are pay (20p for everyone). Grid ref:: SH:795565..

Leave Chester 8-00 a.m.

 This walk is taken from Dave berry's book "Walks Around Betws-y-coed and the Conwy Valley".  This is a walk that links the beautifully wooded Llugwy and Lledre Valleys following riverside paths and using Sarn Helen the former Roman road to Mid-Wales.  On this walk we usually include a complete circuit of Llyn Elsi, although it will involve completing a short section twice.

Thursday 14th January 2015.

Leasowe Lighthouse to New Brighton.

Distance: 9-11 miles. Climb: 200'.

Start: North Wirral Coastal Park car park. Grid ref: SJ257915.

To get to this car park, instead of turning left towards the lighthouse, as the A551 turns right onto Leasowe Road, go straight on (past PC block on right and cafe/snack hut on left). This car park has a good tarmac surface.

Leave Chester at 09-00 a.m.

This is a walk along the beach to Perch Rock Fort, assuming that the water on the incoming tide is low enough. It should be, High tide is at about 13-57, 9.5 m, 31.2'. This is quite a large tide, so we will need to keep an eye on the incoming tide , and escape from the beach if we have to.  From Perch Fort Rock, we will continue onto Vale Royal Park (where we in the past we have had lunch) and onto Wallasey Gardens. Hopefully the weather will be a little less windy than last year!

Hopefully there will be plenty of birds to see as the tide comes in, so bring binoculars with if you have any.


Saturday 16th January 2016.

Port Penryn, Its Railways and Rivers. 

Distance:7-10 miles. Climb: 600'.

Start: Car park on the right just before the main road bends left to the centre. Grid ref: SH595728.

Leave Chester 8-00a.m.

This walk is taken from a book by Dave Salter and Dave Worrall called "From Mountain Top to Valley Floor". The described walk explores the hinterland behind Penryn Castle. Last time we explored the grounds of  Penryn Castle. It do not intended to do so this time, but just in case we do, bring your National Trust Membership Card with you if you are a member.

Thursday 21st January 2016. 

Raby and Willaston.

Distance: 9 miles. Climb: 500', probably an exaggeration!

Start: Hadlow Road Station. Grid ref: SJ332773.

Leave Chester at 09-00 a.m.

This walk combines two walks from Anthony Annakin-Smith's book "Wirral Walks". The two walks are  linked along minor minor roads and field paths. The walk passes a former racecourse pretty woodlands, the Wirral's largest windmill and even a Glow-worm site, not that we are likely to see one!

An easy walk, although at this time of the year, paths can be waterlogged!

Saturday 23rd January 2016. 

A Coastal walk from Llanfairfechan to Aber Ogwen and the Spinnies L.N.R.

Distance: 10-11 miles. Climb: 200'.

Start: Llanfairfechan Promenade / Coastal car Park. Grid ref: SH679754.

Leave Chester at 08-00 a.m.

This is essentially a linear there and back walk, but if the tide allows we will walk along the beach on the return route from the Aber Ogwen pic-nic site (lunch spot the last time we did the walk). There should be plenty of birds to see on the coast, and we will probably visit at least one of the four bird hides on the route. Bring binoculars with you if you have them.  High tide at about 10-10 a.m., quite a big one at 30.0 ' / 9.1 m.

Thursday 28th January 2016.

Rhuddlan L.N.R ., the Rhuddlan to Rhyl Riverside Walk with extensions to the Brickworks Pool N.R. and the Forydd.

Distance: 10-11 miles. Climb: 200'.

Start: Park at the Rhuddlan L.N.R. car park. Grid ref: SJ020776. 

The car park is on the Western side of Rhuddlan. To get to the car park, from the A55, turn right on to the A525 (St. Asaph Road towards Rhyl and Rhuddlan), at the next roundabout take the 3rd exit onto Station Road (to Rhuddlan centre / Castle). The car park is on the right, opposite a new hotel. If you get to the bridge over the river you've gone too far!

This walk is an annual favourite, at least for those that like to birdwatch as well. It is a good time of the year as there are lots of Winter visitors that frequent coastal areas and river estuaries. Bring binoculars with you.  Last time we had lunch by the Marine Lake, near the Foryd.  We have also had lunch on the beach at the Foryd. Although we didn't see Snow buntings on the Foryd last year, with a bit of luck we may see them this year. 

High tide at the Foryd is at 13-22, 9.0 m, 29.5'.




Saturday 30th January 2016.

Tegg's Nose and Macclesfield Forest.

Distance: 9 miles. Climb: 1000'.

Start: Tegg's Nose Country Park Car park. Pay and Display. Grid ref: SJ950732.

Leave Chester at 08-30 a.m.

This walk is taken from the "Pathfinders Guide to Cheshire". It is described as a varied walk with good views from Tegg's Nose. We will visit Tegg's Nose first, rather than at the end of the walk. The walk is also described as an undulating walk exploring the countryside on the edge of the Peak District. This is a walk that we have come to like and regularly appears on the list at this time of the year. Wintering birds sometime visit the many reservoirs we walk around, so it is useful to bring binoculars just in case.