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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.

Sunday 13 August 2017

Two Walks Around Pentrefoelas 12th August 2017

Looking South over Pentrefoelas.
Not easy easy for me to photograph, but at least you can tell that it is a Red kite.
Looking South towards Pentrefoelas on the Hiraethog Trail.
The surprise of the day a car rally on the A543 heading towards Denbigh.
It's hard to believe that this quite lane to Gorse Nug is yellow on the OS map.
The track heading South west towards Ty'n Llwyn.
Blue skies at last. Looking over Ty'n Llwyn towards Cefnen Wen and the Denbigh Moors.
An even better view towards Cefnen Wen and the Denbigh Moors.
A pleasant track to walk on, but not for a motorised vehicle.
Back on the Hiraethog Trail, heading East towards Bryn Prys.
Ed on the path just South of Gallt-y-celyn.
Walk stats: 
North and South of Pentrefoelas.
Distance: 6.9 miles. Climb: 590'.
Time: 3 hours 30 minutes. On the move walking average: 2.3 m.p.h. Overall walk average: 1.9 m.p.h.
South west of Pentrefoelas.
Distance: 4.0 miles, Climb: 299'.
Time: 1 hour 51 minutes. On the move walking average: 2.4 m.p.h. Overall walk average: 2.2 m.p.h.
Group: Martyn and Ed.
Weather-wise this was somewhat annoying, the rain was a stop start all morning, but never enough to really wet you and only lasting for a few minutes at a time. Nevertheless w still had our waterproof jackets on all morning, but never felt the need to put overtrousers on.
 On reaching the open moorland, distant views were getting better, Moel Siabod could clearly be seen, but the higher tops were still in cloud.
 As usual we failed to spot the "Stone Rows" identified on the OS map, but apparently they are very harder to see due to field improvements that have been made. As they only consist of small limestone stones, we probably would have needed to go right up to them in order to see them. However there are a similar better preserved set of stone rows on the South west of Cefnen Wen at SH8852753713 that may be worth investigating the next time we walk in the area.
 As we arrived at the A543, near Hafod y Dre, we were treated to seeing about ten old sports cars pass by on a rally of some sort.
 The final approach towards Pentrefoelas from Plas Iolyn was new to me, always a bonus.
 Having found no suitable perching spots, we decided to have lunch at the car park in Pentrefoelas, where we new we could use the riverside picnic tables or the shelter if needed.
 At this point the rain became quite heavy, so we were grateful to be able use the bench in the latter.
After a longer than usual lunch break, the rain eventually stopped and we experienced more and more  blue skies and sunshine as time went on.
 The walk South west of Pentefoelas started off on a good green track, passing first Tyn-y-wern and then along the access track to Ty'n Llwyn.
 The track South of Pont Newydd, in theory could have been used by vehicles, but the size of the gates and the state of the track meant that this is no longer possible, but for walkers it is OK, although it was necessary to walk along the adjacent field edge at times.
 We arrived back at the cars in glorious sunshine, having had a good day walking (over 10 miles in all involving a climb of just under 1000').
 All it needed now was a beer at the Foelas Arms, but alas it wasn't to be, the door was open, but the only welcome w got was from two small dogs - no one was there to serve us, so after five minutes waiting we left still thirsty.
 Birds seen or heard today included: Europen robin, Blue tit, House sparrow, Meadow pipit, Barn swallow, Pied wagtails, Winter wren, Common buzzard and Red kite.
 Eventually I did enjoy a pint at the Blue Bell Inn at Halkyn, where Facer's Summer Ale went down well.

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