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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 27 June 2019

Garth and Felin Blwm Woods and Maen Achwyfan 26th June 2019

Heading along the track to Top-y-coed Lodge.
First views of the Dee estuary.
The Mostyn Hall carriage drive lodge over the road at Tre-Mostyn.
The southern start of the path through Felin Blwm Wood.
The footbridge over Afon y Garth in Coed y Garth Nature Reserve.
Debating the source of this bubbling water.
The Maen Achwyfan Cross near Whitford.
Trekking through another field with long grass.
Walk stats: Distance: 8.7 miles. Climb: 1020'.
Time: 5 hours 19 minutes. On the move walking average: 2.3 m.p.h. Overall walk average: 1.6 m.p.h.
Group: Martyn, Sue and Michel and Nigel.
A largely overcast day with very little wind and at times feeling quite humid.
 We decided to explore one path that that went beyond Top-y-coed Lodge that went to Mostyn Hall Carriage Drive Lodge over the road at Tre-Mostyn. It did, but arriving at the lodge a notice informed us that this was the end of the path and instructed us to turn back, there was no way to drop down to the road, so turn back we did.
 The one bonus of this exploration was to see, what I initially thought was a large dog on the track in front of us, saw us and ran off into the wood barking. Michel pointed out that it was a Muntjac deer (also known as the "barking deer).
 The route involved using paths through fields, now with well established crops, but only one required the easier option of going around the edge of the field. Two fields crossed had long grass already gone to seed, providing us with a challenge later to remove the seeds from our walking socks and around our boot laces.
 The paths through Garth and Felin Blwm Woods are delightful as they progress high above the rivers below.
 One side stream provided us with a debating point as to where the emerging water came from, was it natural or was it man made?
 Distant views were rather misty, although at one point we did manage to make out Hilbre Island and Liverpool's Anglican cathedral.
 Lunch was taken just outside Telogan, where we just sat on the grassy bank. We did have views over the farm land to the coast, marred a little by the power lines in front of us.
 After a visit to see the Maen Achwyfan cross we headed to Coed y Garreg on the last climb of the day.
 The final section of the walk leading to Whitford was a challenge to avoid being stung by nettles or prickled by thistles. I failed on both counts!
 We arrived back at Whitford at the same time as the school run with lots of cars on the streets waiting to pick up the children at the end of the school day.
Birds seen or heard today included: Common blackbird, European robin, Pied wagtail, Rook, Jackdaw, Carrion crow, House sparrow, Woodpigeon, Black-billed magpie, Blackcap, Common whitethroat, Goldfinch and Common buzzard.
 After walk drinks were enjoyed at the Britannia Inn at Halkyn, where once again the Lees Bitter was on form.

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