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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.

Thursday 4 May 2017

Two Woods, the Coast and Pen-y-Ball 4th May 2017

Bluebells in Coed Pen-y-Maes
More Bluebells in Coed Pen-y-Maes.
On the path through Coed Pen-y-Maes.
Looking across the Dee towards Hilbre from near Greenfield Dock.
Our lunch spot in the Memorial Gardens at Holywell.
At the trig point on Pen-y-Ball.
Snowdonia from the Pen-y-Ball Monument.
Resting at the Pen-y-Ball Monument.
On the ridge leading to the Brynford Pet Cemetery.
Moel Famau the ridge leading to the Brynford Pet Cemetery.
Looking over Holywell across the Dee to the Wirral.
Walk stats: Distance: 9.8 miles. Climb: 1428'.
Time: 5 hours 38 minutes. On the move walking average: 2.2 m.p.h. Overall walk average: 1.6 m.p.h.
Group: Martyn, Sue and Michel, David S., Celia and Paul.
Weatherwise this was a perfect day for walking, but I will remember it for other reasons! The first occurred as we were walking down Halkyn Road towards Holywell, when a car parked on the pavement decided that I was too close as I passed it and nudged me as it set off without stopping to see if I was OK or not. Thankfully I was, but David S nearly got hit with my Leki as i was thrown off balance.
 The second incidence involved me leaving my binoculars on the seat in the Memorial Gardens at Holywell. On returning later, a lady from the Leisure Centre informed me that a lady had found them and would take them to the Police Station. Overjoyed I went to the Police Station to find that they hadn't as yet been handed in. Hopefully I will get them back eventually!
 Apart from that it was a very enjoyable walk and Coed Pen-y-Maes is another wood that we can add to our list of Bluebell Woods to visit at this time of the year.
 Going through Coed Pen-y-Maes, wee missed the path that doubled back and led to the gate we needed to access the path leading to Crescent Farm and the main road, so we had to retrace our steps a little to get back on track.
 The Coastal Path as ever was delightful, with good view across the river towards the Wirral, and from then on we were blessed with with wall to wall blue skies and pleasantly warm sunshine and the occasional breeze to make sure that we didn't overheat.
 The route after lunch took us to the Pen-y-Ball Monument, where we had good views towrds Snowdonia, where we could pick out Moel Siabod, the Snowdon Horseshoe and Tryfan, not that they came out very well on the photos that I took.
 Birds seen or heard today included: House sparrow, Common blackbird, Woodpigeon, Black-billed magpie, Blackcap, Common chaffinch, Winter wren, Blue tit, Common whitethroat, Chiffchaff, Herring gull, Mallard, Moorhen, European robin, Barn swallow, Jackdaw, Common buzzard and Collared dove.
 After walk drinks were enjoyed at the Bluebell, where I was given a taster of the Gwynt-y-Ddraig Black Dragon Cider to verify that it was up to scratch - it was - oh why did I leave my Carry Keg at home?

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