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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.

Wednesday 22 May 2019

Gop Hill, Golden Grove and Sea Views from Llanasa 22nd May 2019

The church at Llanasa.
A delightful hidden wooded valley South of Llanasa.
Debating the orientation of the toposcope on a hill East of Trelawnyd.
The toposcope with the Irish Sea behind the camera.
The Clwydian Hills from The Gop.
Limestone caves below The Gop.
Even a few Bluebells on Offa's Dyke Footpath on Prestatyn Hillside.
Panorama looking over Prestatyn from Clwydian Way South east of Prestatyn.
Walk stats: Distance: 7.6 miles.Climb: 987'.
Time: 4 hours 55 minutes. On the move walking average: 2.1 m.p.h. Overall walk average: 1.5 m.p.h.
Group: Martyn, Nigel and David S.
This was a good day for walking, dry and pleasantly warm and the occasional gentle breeze merely a bonus.
 This walk is a bit of  roller coaster, but the ups invariably brought with them superb views in all directions.
 Much work had been done, with many of the stiles replaced by kissing gates an several stiles being repaired and made easier to cross.
 The greatest bonus today was the number of flowers including: Bluebells, Herb robert, Greater periwinkle, Flag/Yellow Iris, Common dog violet, Cowslip, Red campion, Forget-me-not, Rock rose, and a superb hillside below The Gop a beautiful mass of Buttercups and Daisies.
 David S persisted in taking us North of Gop Hill along a path through the farm at Carn-y-chain, effectively a short cut, but at east it did get us to our planned lunch spot at an appropriate time.
 Our lunch was taken at Gwaenysgor, where the long bench seat in the Memorial Garden was must appreciated. We were entertained by a pair of Jackdaws entering and leaving a chimney on one the nearby cottages. A classic sports car also put in a brief appearance.
 After a very leisurely lunch we returned to Llanasa using sections of the Clwydian Way and the Offa's Dyke Footpath. The latter gave us superb views towards the North Wales Coast,
 Birds seen or heard tday included: House sparrow, Chaffinch, Winter wren, Common blackbird, Common buzzard, Barn swallow, Rook, Jackdaw, Willow warbler, Black-billed magpie, Mallard, Chiffchaff and Woodpigeon.
 Overall an enjoyable walk, shorter than originally planned, but far enough for most of us.
 After walk drinks were enjoyed at the Britannia Inn at Ha;kyn, were the Lees Bitter was on top form.

1 comment:

Nigel Taylor said...

I loved this walk, sorry Martyn but I think the profusion oh buttercups and on th Gop were even better than the bluebells. Can we do it at the same time next year?