The Chainbridge Hotel and Bridge from the nearby road bridge.
How far have these travellers driven to get here?
On the road to Vivod.
One view of Vivod.
Another view of Vivod.
Looking across the valley towards the Llantysilio Mountains and the Eglwyseg Escarpments.
Y Foel and the Biddulph Tower from the Berwyn road.
The Berwyns from the track on the North side of Y Foel.
Y Foel and the Biddulph Tower from our lunch spot.
Lunch time.
Moel Famau from the North Berwyn Way across Vivod Mountain.
Crossing the stile at the higherst point on Vivod Mountain.
Looking towards Vivod from the Berwyn Road.
Crossing the Chainbridge.
Looking towardss Llangollen from the Chainbridge.
Walk stats: Distance: 11.3 miles. Climb: 1819'.
Time: 5 hours 51 minutes. On the move walking average: 2.4 m.p.h. Overall walk average: 1.9 m.p.h.
Group: Martyn, Roger, Michel and Sue, David S., Nigel, Paul an Scrumble.
This was almost the perfect weather for walking, cooler at the start when we had the steady climb up the road to the Vivod estate.
The surprise of the day was near the start, where we saw a very old tractor pulling an equally old caravan to not that it had a German registration and had already been to Ireland!
At Vivod we went down the access track to get a better view of the house, when we were asked where we were going as there was no footpath where we were. Once he knew that we were interested in the house and its engineering links with installing a hydroelectricity system, we ended up listening to a resume of the history of the property - a pity that David S wasn't in earshot at the time.
The next few miles were along minor roads, largely uphill, but our efforts were rewarded with superb views across the Dee Valley towards the Llantysilio Mountains and the Esglwyseg Escarpments.
his was the first time that I had followed the road South from Vivod towards the Ceiriog Valley, and was the first time that the remains of Biddulph Tower and Y Foel could clearly be seen.
On this occasion we decided to miss out the trek across the burn moorland to Y Foel and make our way to our lunch spot on the North Berwyn Way East of Vivod Mountain.
As we approached our lunch spot, Michel shout "what is that bird over there?" I fact it was the mega bird spot of the day - a male Hen harrier.
Our lunch spot gave yet another view of Y Foel and the Eglwyseg Escarpments.
After lunch we set off trying to find the summit of Vivod Mountain, but the best we could get was a metal post, indicative o a boundary of some sort.
Again our descent along the North Berwyn Way gave us excellent views in all directions North and West, even Moel Famau could clearly e seen.
Descending the road o Berwyn, Roger had a tumble, in which he hurt is arm and shoulder, but more importantly he lost a special hearing aid as it must have jumped from his ear in the fall.
As soon as Roger had realised that it was missing, a couple of the group went back to where the incident had happened, and thankfully Paul spotted it.
Reuniting it with Roger, meant there was only one way to celebrate - a pint of orange squash drink, not just a half. The rest of us enjoyed brews from Purple Moose and the Sandsone Breweries.
Birds seen or heard today were few and far between, but included: House martin, Barn swallow. Meadow pipit, Stonechat, Goldfinch, Common buzzard and of course the male Hen harrier.
Overall a very enjoyable walk, considering it involved a lot of uphill road walking.
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