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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 23 October 2019

Around Bryn Alyn and Eryrys 23rd October 2019

Glimpses of Burley Hill Quarry.
Burley Hill Quarry.
On the path in Big Covert on the west side of Burley Hill Quarry.
Moel Famau from west of Bryn Alyn.
The way to Nercwys Mountain and Forest.
Distant views toward Clocaenog Wind Farm.
Limestone pavements on Bryn Alyn.
The panorama as we descended fro Bryn Alyn towards Plymog.
The Druid's Inn at Llanferres.
Walk stats: 8.0 miles. Climb: 1390'.
Time: 4 hours 53 minutes. On the move walking average: 2.2 m.p.h. Overall walk average: 1.6 m.p.h.
Group: Martyn, David S and Mike.
This was a great day for walking weather wise, cool at first but it wasn't long before it was bright and sunny and with very little wind it was quite warm.
 walking through Big Covert was particularly delightful as the sun's rays broke through the trees now that much of their foliage had been shed.
 Much of the climbing was done in the morning, first on the way to Maeshafn through Big Covert and then from near Burley Quarry up the north eastern slopes of Bryn Alyn.
 On the way to Nercwys Forest we once again we encountered a field containing cows with calves and of course the mandatory bull. Thankfully the bull paid little attention to us as we took a wide track round them.
 Lunch was taken part way through Nercwys Forest at point where many of the trees had been felled, leaving suitable stumps on which to sit and enjoy having lunch basking in the warm sunshine.
 After lunch, much to our surprise, it wasn't long before we started to climb again, but before long we were starting to descend towards Eryrys. It was probably at this point that we had our best distant views when we could see as far a the Clocaenog Forest Wind Farm. 
 As we approached Eryrys we encountered our second field of cows, calves and a bull and these headed straight towards where we wanted to go. Thankfully once more we could avoid them by choosing a different path to the Eryrys Road.
 We didn't see that many birds today, but one road in Eryrys seemed be be a hot spot for House sparrows.
 Our final climb through limestone pastures and onto Bryn Alyn gave us our best views of the day. This was over the Bryn Alyn limestone pavements and towards the Clwydian Hills and of course, Moel Famau.
 Birds seen or heard today included: House spoarrow, Common blackbird, European robin, Winter wren, Stonechat, Pied wagtail, Woodpigeon, Rook, Carrion crow, Jackdaw, Rook and Common buzzard.
 Overall a very enjoyable walk, shorter than usual, but it did mean we were just in time to enjoy a refreshing pint of Purple Moose's Snowdonia Ale before the Druid's Inn closed at 15-00.

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