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When? Started: 1993 Who? Started with staff and friends from U H S, Chester. Organiser: Martyn Harris We walk every Wednesday and Saturdays, New Years day and May Day. How many walk? Walks take place as long as there are at least 2 wanting to walk on that day. More walk on a Wednesday than on a Saturday. Most ever: 29. Current group size walking: 2-10 in mid-week and 2-4 on Saturday. Where do we walk? Saturday: Anywhere in North and Mid-Wales, Peak District, Shropshire and the Long Mynd and as far North as the Trough of Bowland. Thursday: Anywhere within about 40 miles of Chester. Type of walk: Distance: 6 – 14 miles (but usually under 10 miles). Climb: up to 4000’ (but usually very much less!). People involved on walks in 2020:- Martyn Harris, Fran Murphy, Sue and Michel Pelissier, Mike Dodd, David Savage, Wendy Peers, Celia de Mengle, Wendy and Ian Peers, Roger Smith, Paul Collinson, Ed Meads, Nigel and Elaine Taylor, Celia de Mengle, Sue Pearson.

Saturday 12 March 2016

Hidden Gwytherin 12th March 2016

"I won't go to that barber again."
Our first views of the snow covered higher Carneddau Peaks.
Another view of the snow covered higher Carneddau Peaks.
Make making use of his new soup flask and its collapsible spoon.
Not our best ever lunch spot, but at least it was sheltered from the cold wind coming over the moors.
At the old blacksmith's site in Gwytherin.
A Balwen Welsh Mountain sheep in fields just outside Gwytherin.
.One of the youngest lambs seen on our walks this year.
"We're not just a pretty face you know."
The chapel in Pandy Tudor - still in use, always good to know.
Walk stats: Distance: 8.4 miles. Climb: 1435'.
Time: 5 hours 52 minutes. On the move walking average: 2.0 m.p.h. Overall walking average: 1.4 m.p.h.
Group: Martyn, Mike and Roger.
Another good day for walking, but a little on the cool side, particularly before lunch, especially as we crossed the moorland areas - I was glad I hadn't decided to wear shorts! However after lunch we were in more sheltered valley areas and I had to work over time to keep my glasses free from "steaming up".
 This is a good walk, with some good views today of snow covered mountain tops, but much of the field paths were quite boggy and section used by sheep near gates were quite muddy. We did attempt to clean our boots whenever puddles allowed and to some extent it did work, as it only took me 10 minutes to clean my boots when I got home.
 Lunch was taken on the moorland West of Gwytherin, sheltering from the wind in a small hollow that had partly been used as tip for dumping. Nevertheless we were still grateful and at least we had the delightful sound of Skylarks singing nearby.
 We visited the village of Gwytherin, but Mike and Roger wondered why as we had to retrace our steps uphill again on our way to Pandy Tudor.
 Roger with strength sapping as we climbed uphill out of Pandy Tudor, still had the wherewithal to speak to a couple of local ladies using his Welsh skills -  and they both understood each other!
 Birds seen or heard today included: European robin, Winter wren, Common buzzard, Common blackbird, Chaffinch, Pied wagtail, House sparrow, Rook, Jackdaw, Eurasian curlew, Skylark and Meadow pipit.
 After walk drinks were enjoyed at the Blue Bell Inn at Halkyn, Where Cheshire Brewhouse's "Cheshire Gap" went down well as did Gwynt-y Draig's "Farmouse Scrump".
 We even arrived home in time for Mike to watch Everton in a rare home victory, keeping a clean sheet against Chelsea and now heading for Wembley in the semi-final of the FA Cup.
 Overall a good walk, perhaps one that should be repeated in the Summer months.

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