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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.

Wednesday 5 January 2022

The Clwyd Estuary from Rhuddlan to Rhyl 5th January 2022

Rhuddlan Castle  from the footbridge over the Afon Clwyd.
Greylag geese grazing in the field east of the Afon Clwyd.

Goosander on Brickfields Pond.
Looking soth east over Brickfields Pond towards the Clwydian Hills.
Goosander (a red head)on Rhyl Marine Lake.
The Dragon Bridge at Rhyl.
Waves on the incomng tide crashing on the sides of Rhyl Marina.
Lunchtime overlooking Rhyl Marina and the Dragon Bridge.
The Foryd Bridge, Rhyl.
A Eurasian Curlew on the west bank of the Afon Clwyd.
Distant views of Moel Famau showing a hint of snow.
Distance: 8.0 miles. Climb: 350' (wind assisted GPS reading). In reality about 100'.
Time: 3 hours 42 minutes. On the move walking averageL 2.67 m.p.h. Overall walk average: 2.1 m.p.h.
Temperature: 7 Celsius.
Beayfort Wind Force: 2 -3. Light breeze to Gentle breeze, occasionally gusting to a Moderate breeze at just over 12 m.p.h.
Group: Martyn, Nigel, David S and Fran.
A good day for walking despite the cooling wind. Plenty of birds to see along the estuary and on Brickfield Pond.
Birds seen or heard today included: Mallard, Grey heron, Little egret, Grelag goose, Canada goose, Teal, Wigeon, Shelduck, Great cormorant, Eurasian curlew, Oystercatcher, Common redshank, Common starling, House sparrow, Mute swan, Great crested grebe, Goosander, Common coot, Moorhen, Herring gull, Lapwing, Woodpigeon, Feral pigeon, Lapwing and European robin.
Lunch was taken at Rhyl Marina where we took advantage of one of the picnic tables that meant we were shielded from the wind by the cafe building. The PC was open, always a bonus, even though the cafe was closed.
Despite warning of mud to be encountered on the path along the west bank of the river, this was the option the majority wanted to to take as it was the most direct way back to the start.
The river was very high coming right upto the flood defenses.
Back at the cars before two, all that was needed was a refreshing pint of Lees at the Brit at Halkyn. Alas i wasn't to be - The Brit was closed and due to reopen on Friday (covid reasons?).
At least it allowed me to pick up my PC from Elite PC who had managed to sort out the issue I had with it. Not bad since I only took it in yesterday!
I even arrived home in time to clean my boots outside before the light faded and the temperature dropped too much.




 

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