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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 May 2018

Pont Rhyd-yr-hydd 12th May 2018

Date should be 12th May 2018.
Looking North from the track leading to Pont Rhyd-yr-hydd.
The track leading to Pont Rhyd-yr-hydd -  new route for us.
New growth.
Pont Rhyd-yr-hydd ahead.
At Pont Rhyd-yr-hydd.
A small waterfall South of Pont Rhyd-yr-hydd.
The Arrenigs from the track South of Cefn y Ffridd.
The view from my lunch spot by Nant Gwyn at Cefn y Ffridd.
Distant views of the Arrenigs.
BluebellsEast of Cwm-isaf.
Very young carves in a field North of Llandrillo.
Walk stats: Distance: 10.5 miles. Climb: 1240'.
Time: 5 hours 47 minutes. On the move walking average: 2.3 m.p.h. Overall walk average: 1.8 m.p.h.
Group: Martyn and Mike.
This turned out to be a glorious day for walking, warm and sunny and occasionally a pleasant breeze to cool us. No rain and the feel like temperatures of 5 Celsius never materialised. In fact for walking the weather conditions were just about perfect.
 Distant views were good, especially after lunch when the Arrenigs came into view.
 We were luck enough to hear a Cuckoo calling, but the most unexpected bird seen today was two Mandarin ducks. Other birds seen or heard today included: Pied wagtail, House martin, Barn swallow, Willow warbler, Chiffchaff, Common buzzard, Common pheasant, Common blackbird, Great tit, Blue tit, Goldfinch, Eurasian curlew, Meadow pipit, Winter wren, Carrion crow, Rook, Raven, European robin, Mallard, Collared dove and Woodpigeon.
 Much of the walk today was new to us, so had plenty of added interest. The only down side was the fact that the tracks were used by off road vehicles.
 Lunch was taken by Nant Gwyn where plenty of stones provided good places to sit, enjoying views of the Arrenigs at the same time.
 Spring flowers were plentiful, particularly along the verges as we descended past to the valley past Cwm-uchaf. These included: Bluebells, Primrose, Stitchwort and Common dog violet.
 As expected the only difficulty we had in terms of route finding was going through  the caravan site at Hendwr.
 We had to go through a field that had several cows with quite small calves. It was obvious that they didn't approve of our presence, but stopped coming towards us as we gave them a wide berth.
 Overall a very good walk, capped by hearing the Cuckoo.
 After walk drinks were enjoyed at the Bridge Inn at Pontybodkin where one of Purple Moose's brews went down well.

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