The brook west (Afon Ystrad) of Brookhouse Pottery.
Waiting for the rest of the group crossing the fields to Denbigh Castle.
At the entrance to Denbigh Castle.
At the entrance to Denbigh Castle.
Lunch time back at the cars.
On the Clwydian way, heading East from Brookhouse.
The Jesse window dating from 1533 in St. Dyfnog's Church, Llanraeadr.
Time for rest - outside St. Dyfnog's Church, Llanraeadr.
The Clwydian Hills from the path West of Pen-bryn llwyn.
The best sort of tile, one that you can go round!
Getting over the last "new" stile of the day.
Moel Famau and the Clwydian Hills from fields North east of Pont Felin Ganol.
Walk stats: Distance: 8.2 miles. Climb: 525'.
Time: 5 hours 25 minutes. On the move walking average: 2.1 m.p.h. Overall walking average: 1.7 m.p.h.
Group: Martyn, Sue and Michel, Phil, Jim and David S.
The weather forecast for today wasn't good, but this wasn't going to put us off as it was likely to be Phil's last walk with the group before he heads for Scotland. The forecast rain never materialised and I suffered from "boil in the bag syndrome" just because I believed the forecast and put on my waterproofs. Thankfully at early lunch they could be discarded, and we were able to walk in warm sunshine for the rest of the day.
Although our walk passed the entrance to the castle we didn't go inside, but carried on past the former Howells School, now Myddleton College and back to Brookhouse.
Back at the car we decided that nearby wall was a good place on which to sit for lunch. Phil brought some of Jeans's lemon cake to mark the occasion of his last walk. We liked it so much that most of us had two pieces - even me!
After lunch some of the paths we used were a little waterlogged to say the least, and one we had to go through a head high field of maize, but at least we could see a way through.
After going into St. Dyfnog's Church, Llanraeadr to see the Jesse window, we decided that we needed to shorten the walk. Unfortunately the way we originally chose involved us spending time with secateurs to cut back the hedge that had gone across the top of the stile. We soon found that this was to no avail as the next stile went into a maize field that screamed at us "you shall not pass". More time stopped to look for the best way to go, and again involved need for the secateurs to be used, but at least there wasn't any maize - only sheep and cows to bother us.
Although we may never use this route again, it did give us some superb views of the Clwydian Hills from Prestatyn South to Moel Famau.
We arrived back at the car for the second time, having had a really good walk and been blessed with some really pleasant weather, particularly in the afternoon.
Birds seen or heard today included: House sparrow, Dipper, Black-billed magpie, Rook, Jackdaw, Woodpigeon, Sparrowhawk, Black-headed gull, Carrion crow and Common buzzard.
After walk drinks were enjoyed at the Dinorben Arms at Bodfari, where he Brunning and Price Bitter and Deucher's IPA went down well.
It won't be the same next week when we arrive at the start of a walk and Phil won't be in his car reading his paper as he waits for the rest of the group to arrive.
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