Walks And Dates September 2020 (Proposed Social Distance Walks)

 

We can resume our group walks together, but the Welsh Government require the walk to be organised, and in order to satisfy that, it is essential that you let me know the day before the walk so that your name can be added to the list of those intending to walk.

However we will still have to keep to the recommended social distancing advice given by the Welsh Government if we walk in Wales and the UK Government. if we walk in England, our numbers will have to be limited 6. 

Pre-covid fruit cake will be available on each walk throughout September.

Wednesday 3rd September 2020.

Around Minera and Ruabon Mountains. 

Distance: 9 -11 miles. Climb: 1000'.

Start: Minera Lead Mine Centre Car park. grid ref: SJ276509.

Leave Chester at 09-00 a.m.

This walk is taken from Dave Berry's book "Walks Around Ruabon and Hope Mountain". The walk is described as being quite demanding, especially on the open access moorland. A walk for experienced walkers only. This will be the third time that most of us have done the walk, so we should be OK . Can be boggy underfoot as we found out in 2013 when we first did the walk,

Please let me know as soon as you can if you intend to walk.
I will then add your name of those planning to walk to this post.

Those planning to walk to date: Martyn, Nigel, David S., Sue and Michel, Ed.

Saturday 5th September 2020

To be arranged if there is any demand.

Please let me know as soon as you can if you intend to walk.
I will then add your name of those planning to walk to this post.

Those planning to walk to date: Martyn. 

We will all need to drive independently and keep to the 2m social distancing on the walk.

Wednesday 9th September 2020.

Cefn Ddu and Y Graig and East of Tremerchion.

Distance: 9 miles. Climb: 1500'.

Start: Roadside parking east of Tremerchion. Grid ref: SJ095740.

Leave Chester 09-00.

Please let me know as soon as you can if you intend to walk.
I will then add your name of those planning to walk to this post.

Those planning to walk to date: Martyn, Nigel, David S. ,Wendy
We will all need to drive independently and keep to the 2m social distancing on the walk.

This is another walk from one of Dave Berry's booklets "Walks in the Clwydian Hills".This is a slight variation of the walk that we usually follow, but it also includes one or two new paths for us to explore. On good clear days we should get views of Snowdonia as well as north towards the coast.

The extension, which we will probably complete at the start, explores the countryside to the east of Tremeirchion, some of which we have only used once before.

Saturday 12th September 2020.

To be arranged if there is any demand.

Please let me know as soon as you can if you intend to walk.
I will then add your name of those planning to walk to this post.

Those planning to walk to date: Martyn. 

We will all need to drive independently and keep to the 2m social distancing on the walk.

Please let me know as soon as you can if you intend to walk.
I will then add your name of those planning to walk to this post.

Those planning to walk to date: Martyn. 

We will all need to drive independently and keep to the 2m social distancing on the walk.

Wednesday 16th September 2020.

Moel Famau, Moel Dywyll and Moel Llys-y-coed.

Distance: 8.0 miles. Climb: 1700'.
Start: Car park area West of Cilcain. Grid ref: SJ170652.

Leave Chester at 09-00 a.m.

To get to the parking area, at the crossroads in Cilcain turn right (Westward), past the White Horse, Church and Village hall, at the end of a few houses on the right turn, left and the parking area is a few hundred yards further on on the right. 

Please let me know as soon as you can if you intend to walk.
I will then add your name of those planning to walk to this post.

To date those planning to walk are: Martyn, Nigel, Sue and Michel, Fran.

We will all need to drive independently and keep to the 2m social distancing on the walk.

This walk is a repeat of the walk posted on the 14th August 2020. Only three of us started the walk, but none of us completed the walk as originally planned. This walk includes three hills along Offa's Dyke Footpath - Moel Famau, Moel Dywyll and Moel Llys-y-coed. Although Moel Llys-y-coed  is not one of my favourite hills in the Clwydian range especially its ascent from  from North to South, on this occasion I will bite the bullet this way. In so doing we wll complete the part of the walk that we all missed out last month.
 On a good clear day we should get excellent views in all directions.

Saturday 19th September 2020.

To be arranged if there is any demand.

Please let me know if you intend to walk, so I can add your name to the list.

To date those planning to walk to date: Martyn. 

We will all need to drive independently and keep to the 2m social distancing on the walk.

Wednesday 23rd September 2020.

Around Bryn Alyn and Eryrys.

Distance: 8 miles. Climb: 1400'. 

Start: Layby on the A494 Mold to Ruthin Road, about 1/2 mile South of Llanferres. Grid ref: SJ187597.

Leave Chester 09-00 a.m.

Please let me know as soon as you can if you intend to walk.

I will then add your name of those planning to walk to this post.

To date those planning to walk to date: Martyn, David S, Nigel, Fran. 

We will all need to drive independently and keep to the 2m social distancing on the walk.

This walk has been adapted from two walks from Dave Berry's book "More Walks in the Clwydian Hill".  We have combined these walks on several occasions before and the section over Bryn Alyn is always good. It will also give us another opportunity to test our route finding skills through Nercwys Forest again! Admittedly the last couple of times we have had no problems in finding the right path, we've done it so many times over the years that at last the route seems to be etched in to our memories! The fact that many of the trees have recently been removed helps as well.

Saturday 26th September 2020.

The Yeld, Pale Heights and Delamere Forest.

Distance: 7-8 miles. Climb: 750’.
Start: The Yeld Car Park, Yeld Lane, Kelsall.
To get to the car park, turn right at the traffic lights at the top of Kelsall Hill and again turn right (opposite the Farmers Arms) into Yeld Lane. The car park is on the left about 0.3 miles (0.5 km) up Yeld Lane.
Leave Chester at 10-00.

Please let me know if you intend to walk, so I can add your name to the list.

To date those planning to walk to date: Martyn, Roger. 

We will all need to drive independently and keep to the 2m social distancing on the walk.

We will start the walk by heading from The Yeld along the road opposite to reach the sandstone Trail.  After visiting Pale Heights we will descend to the vistor centre and take the path along Blakemere Moss, and follow this to pick up the Sandstone Trail. The trail is the followed through the forest until it heads northward btowards Frodsham. we will then follow the forest traackto Battleaxe Road.

Wednesday 30th September 2020.

St. Cwyfan's Trail and More.

This will be the last walk that we will be allowed to have until the new Covid Lockdown is lifted.

Distance: 9-10 miles. The main part of the walk is taken from Dave Berry's book "Walks in the Clwydian Hills
Start: Roadside parking in Llandyrnog on the Llangynhafal road (Gladstone Terrace) . Park on the wider part of the road after Nant Glyd. Grid ref: SJ109650.
Leave Chester at 09-00 a.m.

Please let me no as soon as you can if you intend to walk.
I will then add your name of those planning to walk to this post.

Those planning to walk to date: Martyn, Nigel, Fran, Roger. 
We will all need to drive independently and keep to the 2m social distancing on the walk.
The main part of the walk is taken from Dave Berry's book "Walks in the Clwydian Hills" and the extension is around the lower slopes of Penycoddiau along the Clwydian Way.
It is described as a delightful walk in the countryside North of Llandyrnog and visits the smallest church in the Vale of Clwyd.

Delamere Forest and Pale Heights Saturday 26th September 2020

Delamere Forest and Pale Heights.

Blue skies and Roger at Pale Heights.

Blakemere Moss and the Lancashire hills from Pale Heights.

The new Delamere Forest visitor centre from the Pale Heights Path.

The dragonfly wood sculpture near the visitor centre.

The front of Delamere Visitor Centre.

One of the recently created meres/mosses.

The view from a bench, but we could not take advantage of it, as it was already occupied!

Distance: 7.6 miles. Climb: 560'.

Time: 3 hours 56 minutes. On the move walking average: 2.3 m.p.h. Overall walk average: 1.9 m.p.h.

Group: Martyn and Roger.

We arrived at The Yeld with the Sun shining, blue skies and breeze that was on the cool side. Nevertheless it was a good day for walking and when we were shielded from the wind by the trees, but with the Sun still shining on us it was very pleasant indeed.

We had good distant views in all directions from Pale Heights, but as you might expect after that, the views were somewhat limited.

As we descended from  Pale Heights, we had superb views of the new impressive Delamere Forest  Visitor Centre.

We didn't get much of a view of Blakemere Moss as we couldn't get near to the water edge due to the need to social disance, but I did here Lapwings calling.

Approaching Barns Bridge Gate, it was great to bump into Eileen and Tony two of my WEF family members at church. They were, like us, out for a walk with their son and grandson and like me missing being unable to go to live church services as it used to be pre-covid and all of its restrictions.

Most of our walk throgh the forest was a gentle and pleasant stroll long broad forest tracks/road, with the occasional paths off the main tracks, giving us a more of a feel of being in the forest. 

Our main problem today was finding a suitable stop to have lunch. A picnic site marked on the OS map, didn't actually exist, even if it had done so some time in the past.

However we were able to find a suitable fallen tree that provided us a place to sit and have lunch at an approriate social distance. In fgact this fallen tree trunk would have accommodated about six people, all socially distancing.

Birds seen or hea\rd today were few and far between, and our best view was of a Common buzzard that flew over the railway at head height just infront of us. Other birds included: European robin, Woodpigeon,  Wood nuthatch and Carrion crow.  I did hear other bird calls, but alas might ability to identify bird song and calls isn't as good as I would like.

We arrived back at the cars, having had a very enjoyable walk, with the Sun still shining, but with not quite so much blue sky as when we set off.

Around Bryn Alyn, Big Covert and Eryrys Wednesday 3rd September 2020

Around Bryn Alyn, Big Covert and Eryrys.

A misty climb through Big Covert.

First views of Moel Famau as we climbed the south west slope of Bryn Alyn.

Fran pouinting out  her favourite mountain!.

Somewhere in the distance is Snowdonia.

Our view of the Bryn Alyn escarpments and the Clwydian Hills beyond.

Is it a Raven? probably just a Carrion crow.

Distance: 8.2 miles. Climb: 1365'.

Time 5 hours 9 minutes. Onthe move walking average: 2.1 m.p.h. Overall walk average: 1.6 m.p.h, (we must be spending too much time over lunch!)

Group: Martyn, Nigel, fran an David S.

The weather was just as the Met forecast predicted, we set off in the rain, all in full waterproof gear and at lunch time we were able to return it to its rightful place in our rucksacks.  

The short road walk exposed us to the spray of speeding lorries as they escaped the speed restriction through Llanferres, but after that our walk was thankfully without any vehicular encounters.

Arriving in Big Covert, we explored a little taking a track that led uphill which I hoped would take us to Burley Hill Quarry. it did, but much further south than I had expected.  Nevertheless, it was a good track and enables us to add another alternative option to our routes in this area.

Our first views of Moel Famau came as we headed up the slopes of the Bryn Alyn area, but it had only just appeared out of the clouds. Better views were obtained later on as we descended towards Eryrys.

Lunch was taken in Nercwys forest, where the stumps of trees provided appropriately distanced seats to enjoy our lunches.

Our best views of the day came as we descend on the track on Bryn Alyn, with the limestone escarpments in front of us andthe Clwydian Hills above.

Earlier in the day, I had mentioned the final descent can be tricky, especially when its wet and you have probably guessed, I was the only one to slip over and the evidence left on my shorts foer all to see.  Thankfully no harm done and a change of shorts awaited me back at the car.

We arrived back at the cars saying how much we had enjoyed the walk and congratulating ourselves that we had all decide to walk in spite of the forecast of a rainy start.

Birds seen or heard today included: European robin, Black billed magpie, Stonechat, Meadow pipit, Jackdaw, House sparrow and Carron crow, 

Only two of us decided to head to a local hostelry, the Druids Inn, Llanferres where only a couple of weeks earlier we had enjoyed a pint of Cwrw Eryri, but  alas today we were disapointed when the landlord came out to the car park as we arrived to minform us that they had already closed at 15-00.

The Glasfryn at Mold was our next option, where we were allowed in and able to enjoy our beer of choice - a pint of Purple Moose's Cwrw Eryie - the end to a really good day.

Three Moels from Cilcain Wednesday 16th September 2020

Moel Llys-y-coed, Moel Dywyll and Moel Famau 

from Cilcain.

The Spider mite's empire.

On the way to Offa's Dyke.

Waiting on the axscent of Moel Llys-y-coed on the way to Moel Famau.

A new sign - hopefully it will bring more trade to this hostelry.

Just to prove we did make it to the Jubilee Tower on Moel Famau.

The misty view towards Cilcain from our lunch spot.

The grassy track descent towards Ffrith Mountain

Distance: 8.1 miles. Climb: 1425'.

Time: 4 hours 34 minutes.  On the move walking average: 2.0 m.p.h. Overall walk average: 1.8 m.p.h,

Group: Martyn, Nigel, Fran, Sue and Michel.

We arrived at the start with the tops still in mist, but if the the forecasts were right, the mist should clear by the time were crossing the the Moels. Alas they were wrong and the mist remained throughout.  Distant views were all left to our memories from walks completed in earlier times.

Birds seen or heard today were few and far between, but included: European robin, Rook, Carrion crow,  Meadow pipit, Partridge, Grouse and Wheatear.

The first unusual sight was seeing Gorse on the hillside decked in spiders webs highlighted by the early morning dew or persistent mist. The possible culprit could have been the Gorse spider mite.

The misty weather hadn't put other walkers off, but what did surprise us was the number of women only groups that we saw, so much so, that we thought perhaps there might be a special women's event on. 

Three of us climbed the final section of Offa's Dyke to reach the Jubilee Tower, and met up with the rest of the group at the junction of bthe Cilcain / Ffrith Mountain Paths where we rested a while for lunch.  At lunch we had hazy views of the reservoirs below and Cilcain beyond, but it was good place to stop and enjoy our lunch.

The descent down the path on the west side of Ffrith Mountain was a very pleasant stroll, and seemed much further than the occasions when we had used it inn ascent.  It was just good to enjoy the views towards the Alyn Valley.

Delightful as it was descending, we still had the road climb out of Cilcain to come, but doing it with chattering friends makes it much easier.

The final surprise of the day was to find a Welsh Police Car, with engine still running, at the car park next to our cars.  Thankfully we were all socially distancing at this point and weren't taken in for questioning.  None of dared ask why they were keeping the vehicle engine running.

We arrived back at the cars, with legs knowing they had had a good walk and all that was needed was a decent pint to celebrate.

We headed for the Brit at Halkyn, and thankfully were were able to enjoy the Lees bitter. We sat outside, but to our surprise it was good to see that the place was busy and we wereable to take the last two picnic tables.

Hopefully these new tennants at the Brit will be able to make a go mif it in these difficult covid challenging times.

Around Cefn Ddu, Y Graig and East of Tremeirchion Wednesday 9th September 2020

Around Cefn Ddu, Y Graig and East of Tremeirchion.

Lost again - no discussing reverse napolian logic.

Trees blocking the way.

Snowdonia from Cefn Ddu.

Our lunch spot on Y Graig.

The view from our lunch spot.

Fungi in the wood in Y Graig NR

Caves used by the Stone age people.

Common buzzard on a nest at Cae-gwyn.

Just for David.

The view from the path west of Moel Maenefa

Distance: 9.3 miles (8.3 miles), Climb: 220' (900').

Group: Martyn, Nigel, Wendy and David S.

Another glorious day for walking, sunshine and able skies call day, a pleasantly warm temperature and the only time we noticed the cool breeze was at lunch time at Y Graig.

No problem route finding today, although fallen trees at one point had to be negotiated.

approaching Bryngwyn Hall, we did have a problem with a few heifers, well it was the farm workers were having a problem trying to get them to go into the farm yard. Thanfully after about 15 minutes they succeeded and we managed to continue on our way.

as we headed across Cefn Ddu we had hazy views of Snowdonia, Moel Siabod and Tryfan were easy to identify.

Lunch was taken on the top of Y Graig, where two picnic tables allowed us to socially distance quite well.

Our next problem came on the path north of Craig Bach, always unpleasantly muddy, so in future we will use an alternative path to avoid the problem.

Arriving at Cae gwyn, two of the group took the slightly shorter direct route back to the start,  The two J W Lees bitter reserchers continued on the original planned route.

On this latter part of the walk, e found that the muddy path leading to Usgebor, had now been by-passed to nthe west of the stream and now in the memort bank for future use,

We decided to include the Offa's Dyke Path across the side of Moel Maenefa and came across a walker sitting on a new seat with super views over Tremeirchion and beyond.

Birds seen or heard today included: Herring gull, Black headed gull, Common gull, Common chaffinch, Goldfinch, House sparrow. Woodpigeon, Common pheasant and Common buzzard.

We arrived at the Brit, glad to find it open, but disappointed to learn that they had just reopened (ne tennants) and the brewery hadn't delivered any Lees bitter.

By now it was 15-50, so we headed up the road to the Blue Bell which we knew opened at 16-00.

We were pleasantly surprised to see how much work had been done to make the area outside the entrance into a pleasant area to enjoy a pint of J W Lees bitter.

Around Minera Mountain 2nd September 2020

Around Minera Mountain and More.

Unusual sky over Saltney Ferry this morning.

More unusual skies over Saltney this morning.

The Minera Lead Mine Centre as we set off.

Lime kilns recently opened near the Minera Quarry.

A pair of smart rams near Ty Hir Farm.

Looking back over the moorland we al love so much!

Happy to be on the road having successfully negotiate our way across the moorland we all love so much.

The Minera Lead Mine Centre at the end of our walk.

Distance: 8.0 miles ( 7.2 miles for the road returners). Climb: 985'.
Time: 4 hours 6 minutes. On the move walking average: 2.3 m.p.h. Overall walk average: 2.0 m.p.h.
Group: Martyn, Ed, Nigel, David S., Sue and Michel.

The forecast for today wasn't perfect, and we set off expecting rain after lunch. Within an hour of walking, just as we reached open moorland near Ty Hir Farm, we had all  put on our waterproof jackets, but the rain wasn't that bad, but the cool breeze clinched the decision to stop and don waterproofs,

The Beluga XL flew overhead, heading for Airbus at Broughton.

The section of open moorland south west of Ty Hir Farm was as usual very boggy and at time seems pathless and we ended up keeping to high ground west of Aber Sychant,  Even though we weren't on the actual path, I was happy to let Ed, Michel and Nigel lead the way as they all had GPS's displaying our route on OS maps and eventually we picked up a path that lead us to the Minera - World's End Road.

Thankful to arrive back on firm footing, one or two declared that they would be happy to not repeat this walk, if it included the boggy moorland around Aber Sychnant.

We headed along the road northward towards Minera to a point where we had a decision to make.

The rain was quite heavy at this point, and there were a few grumbles in the camp, and even after a few were fortified by the pre-covid fruit cake, we decided to split into two groups, four of the group went back along the road as the quickest and easiest option and I accompanied Ed on the rest of the walk across Minera Mountain to Fron Deg.

However From Fron Deg, we changed the route slightly and used minor roads all the way back to the start.

Distant views weren't brilliant, but we could see Moel Famau to the north west  and the mast on the Llandegla Moors near the Ponderosa.

Birds seen or heard today included: Common blacbird, Bullfinch, Goldfinch, Meadow pipit, Barn swallow, Red grouse, Common kestrel and Blue tit.

We arrived back at the car at about 13-45, having had a good walk. Boots were clean, but we had plenty of wet gear to dry out when we got home.

Ed and I did have some refreshment in our cars before heading home.