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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: 2-7 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 2024:- Martyn Harris, Fran Murphy, Sue and Michel Pelissier, Mike Dodd, David Savage,, Ed Meads, Nigel and Elaine Taylor, Winston Feather.

Saturday, 8 January 2022

Barkby Beach and Talacre from Lower Gronant 8th January 2022

Mute swans on Prestatyn Gutter.
Mute swans on Prestatyn Gutter.
The Coastal Path along the dunes to Gronant.

The incoming tide on Barkby Beach.
The view from our lunch spot in the shelter by the original Little Tern Colony viewpoint.
Little grebe on Prestatyn Gutter.
A Little egret near the reeds on Prethaven Sands.
The Point of Ayr Lighthouse surrounded by the incomong tide.
Just the incoming tide rolling in ner the Point of Ayr Lighthouse.
Brent geese on a flooded section of the car park area at Talacre.
Walk stats: 
Distance: 9.2 miles. Climb: 450' wind assisted GPS reading. Realistically 120'.
Time 3 hours 50 minutes. On the move walking average: 2.8 m/p.h. Overall walk average: 2.3 m.p.h.
Temperature: 7 - 9 Celsius.
Beaufort Wind Force: 3 - 5. Gentle breeze to moderate breeze, gusting to Fresh breeze towards the end of the walk.
Group: Martyn and Ed.
The weaher forecast for today was not good, although a late improvement on Friday evening giving light rain showers after about 11-00 persuaded us to at least give it a go, a better option than staying at home watching TV,
Thankfully after torrential rain on the way, and waiting until it stopped at about 11-00we had a rain free walk - a few spots at 1-15 doesn't count!
The wind was pretty fresh throughout, but it was never really felt that cold.
We had lunc in the shelter by the original Little tern viewpoint, not perfect, but at least we had a bench to sit on.
It was good to see the main boardwalk was in the process of being replaced.
E had the wind behind us on the way from Barkby Beach to Talacre, but had to battle against on the way back.
Usually we only walk along the footpath through the caravan park for a few hundred metres but today for the first time, we went through thewhole of the caravan park - how delightful - never again! 
Birds seen or heard oday included: Eurasian curlew, Herring gull, Common blackbird, Moorgen, House sparrow, Little grebe, Mute swan, Mallard, Common coot, Carrion crow, Oystercatcher, Meadow pipit, Teal, Woodpigeon, European robin, Black billed magpie and Brent goose.
Despite a late start, we still finished before 15-00, a good brisk walk worth celebrating! I ended up calling in at the Blue Bell, Halkyn for a takeaway of Lees Bitter.

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