Our first view of the coast from the road at Carmel.
Heading down the road to Mostyn.
Guess who is the back marker, trying to catch up after investigating a "happy bush"?
Mostyn dock at the start of the section on the Coastal Path.
At the view point at the start of the Mostyn to Greenfield section of the Coastal Path.
Only 12-13, but we had to stop for lunch or so they said!
Passing the Duke of Lancaster fun ship.
Only one head bowed to the Duke of Lancaster!
Walk stats: Distance: 10.7 miles. Climb: 449'.
Time: 4 hours 52 minutes. On the move walking average: 2.6 m.p.h. Overall walk average: 2.2 m.p.h.
Group: Martyn, Roger, Sue and Michel, Phil, Paul, David S., Wendy and Tim. Annie not with us today she got snarled up in traffic congestion caused by an horrendous accident on the M53/A55 that took 3 hours for her to get out of. It wasn't as suggested by someone in the group who shall remain nameless said "she must have looked out of the bedroom window, saw it was raining and went back to bed!"
We arrived at the car park to find that the car park is now Pay and Display, but at a very reasonable charge of £1 for all day parking.
We arrived at the car park with the rain still falling, but being ever the optimist and believing the weather forecasters who said it would stop by 10-00 we sat in our cars for about 20 minutes.
Just before 10-00 we put on our boots and set off, not to see another drop of rain all day. Even the blustery wind predicted on the coast didn't materialise.
We decided to use mainly quiet country lanes for most of the walk from Holywell to the coast at Mostyn with only a hundred yard section across the corner of a field heading for Mertyn Lane.
The views across the Dee Estuary to Hilbre Island and the Wirral beyond were very good and got better as the clouds moved away and we were bathed in sunshine.
This was particularly so as we arrived at the Coastal Path East of Mostyn Dock where we decided to have lunch sitting on the sea defences. Some had good views looking out across the estuary, others were happy to look the other way across the fields towards the sewage farm, thankfully not within smelling distance!
After lunch I decided it was far too warm and put my jacket in my rucksack and felt much more comfortable for the rest of the walk.
After lunch the path provided good conditions underfoot and those of us still wearing gaiters felt somewhat over dressed.
The climb up to Holywell through the Greenfield Heritage Park was gentle climb, even with tired legs.
We arrived back at the car, surprised to see that our "on the move walking average" was 2.6 m.p.h., a record in recent times! Sue suggested it might have been something to do with the fortified fruit cake provided for lunch.
Birds seen or heard today included: Jackdaw, Rook, Carrion crow, Common blackbird, Common crow, Greater spotted woodpecker, Dunnock, Pied wagtail, Great tit, Goldfinch, Oystercatcher, Eurasian curlew, Common redshank, Lapwing, Turnstone, Great black-backed gull, Little egret, Mallard, Common coot, Moorhen, House sparrow, Swan and Tufted duck.
After walk drinks were enjoyed at the Blue Bell Inn at Halkyn, where Purple Moose, Snowdonia Ale went down well, as did the perry!
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