Walks and Dates March 2023

Latest Information About Harris Hikers from 23rd March 2023

After much discussion between group members, those present decided to follow DS’s suggestion that “Short walks with an option of a meal at a nearby venue” should take place on the fifth Wednesday in a month, and members of the group would take it in turns to plan the walk and venue.
There are only four such Wednesdays in 2023.
March 30th, May 31st, August 30th and November 29th.
March 30th - Short Walk and Meal – Cancelled.
DS will plan a replacement walk for “Short Walk and Meal”, currently down for 26th April.
It was also agreed that Wednesday Walks should in the main be walks of around 8 miles with no more than about 1200’ of climb. If proposed walks exceed these suggestions routes should have obvious short cuts to reduce distance and / or climb involved.
It was also agreed that each month a different member of the group should plan the walk.
Which day in the month wasn’t agreed, but it would make sense that it should be the last Wednesday in the month and that would include the “Short Walk and Meal Option” on the fifth Wednesday in the month.
In order to include that walk in the monthly “Dates and Walks” Post, details of the walk need to be sent to me by 15th of the previous month.
Wherever possible I would like people to let me know of their intention to walk or not to walk by Monday afternoon/early evening prior to the walk on Wednesday. There isn’t an issue with last minute cancellations for any reason. This happens anyway when adverse weather is forecast at the last minute.
This will enable me to provide the right number of maps/ descriptions, hence reducing unnecessary printing costs.
Where the “Short Walk and Meal” is concerned, the person planning the walk and meal should be contacted directly and informed of your intentions as soon as you have made your decision.

Suggestions for Wednesday Walks are always welcome.

Remember to let me know that you plan to walk so that it becomes easier to arrange car sharing. in addition it helps me to know how many route maps I need to bring and on special occasions how many pieces of fruit cake or treats will be needed.

Letting me know that you won't be walking is just as important otherwise I am left guessing as to how many maps to run off and invariably I end up printing too many!

Wednesday 1st March 2023.
The Moor, Valley, Coast and Coed Strand. 
Distance: 8-9 miles. Climb: 800'. 
Start:  Bryn Celyn Car Park, Holywell. Grid ref: SJ189769. This a free car park on the B5121 on the Hoywell to Greenfield Road. The car park is on the right after the pub an the Bryn Celyn sign. This may be a new start point for some.
Leave Chester 09-00.
Those planning to walk: Martyn, Nigel, Mike, Ed,Wendy .
(Those not walking: Sue and Michel, David S. Fran)
This walk combines one walk from Ron Williams and Elfed Jones' 
booklet " 10 Walks Around Holywell" and one walk from Dave Berry's book " Walks 
Around Holywell and Halkyn Mountain". 
One walk is described as a walk of great variety and interest, including sections of the Wales
 Coastal Path, east of the Duke of Lancaster.
The final section of the walk returns via Coed Pen-y-Maes and Coed Strand before meeting
the disused railway track through the Greenfield Valley Heritage Park.
Saturday 4th March 2023.
Around Alltwen, Cwm Gyrach, Foel Lus and the Druids Circle.
Distance: 10 miles. Climb: 1600'.
Start: Top of the Sychnant Pass. Grid ref: SH750770.
Leave Chester at 08-30.
Those planning to walk: Martyn,Nigel, Mike Ed.
(Those not walking:  )
This walk combines two walks from Dave Berry's book "Walks On the North Wales Coast."  We last did this walk min November 2012, so it is probably about time we did it again.  One walk explores the scenic hills and valleys around the Sychnat Pass, and the second walk visits the Bronze Age Stone Circle.  On a good day we can look foreward to exhilarating panoramic views as we go around Foel Lus on the Jubilee path.
Wednesday 8th March 2023.
Llanarmon-yn-Ial, Eryrys and Moel y Gyw.
The Met Office Forecast gives a temperatue of -2 Celsius, feels like -6 Celsius. 
The road heading to the start point are likely to be icy, so I have decided to postpone this walk.
Distance:8-10 miles; Climb:1500'.
Start:Pistyll Gwyn Quarry car park. 1 mile north of Llanarmon-yn-Ial. Grid ref: SJ189574.
Leave Chester at 9-00 a.m.
Those planning to walk: Martyn, Ed .
(Those not walking: Sue and Michel, Wendy, David S., Fran.)
This walk uses two walks taken from Carl Roger's book "Walking in the Clwydian Hills". We have completed both walks before, but have never tried to link them together before. The Eryrys walk is described as exploring the lesser-known limestone hills separated from the main Clwydian ridge by the Alyn Valley. Views throughout the walk are superb! The second walk involves the ascent of Moel Gyw which also has superb views of the Clwydian Hills to both the north and the south.
 Last time out we reduced the walk to about 8 miles, so there is a good chance we will do the same today.
Replacement Walk.
Wepre Park, Aston Hill and Northop Hall.
Distance: 9.5 miles. Climb: 860'.
Start: Wepre Park, South of Wepre Drive, Connah's Quay. Grid ref: SJ295684.
Leave Chester at 09-30 a.m. (to start walking by about 10-00.)
Those planning to walk: Martyn, Ed.
This walk includes the four mile "Wepre" walk from the booklet "Rural Walks in Flintshire", but has been extended to explore the area around Northop Hall. The Wepre walk is described as a moderate walk and includes a wooded river valley and a ruined castle.
 The extension heads for Ewloe Green via Aston Hill on the way to Northop Hall. After exploring the countryside North of Northop Hall, it eventually rejoins the dismantled railway track shown on the original route that will leads us back to Wepre.
When I last did this walk in 2021, they were about to repair a bridge over a stream along the dismantled railway track. Hopefully it will have been comleted by now. 
David S and Wendy are doing a morning walk from Hawarden.
 Contact DS if you want to join them or meat at 09-30 at Hawarden.
Saturday 11th March 2023.
Beyond the Ro and Moel Fferna
Postponed due warnings that to road condition could be hazardous / icy.
Distance: 9-10 mile. Climb:1500'.
Start: Lay-by next to The Butterfly Man and Craft Centre on the A5. Grid ref: SJ115436.
Leave Chester 09-00 a.m.
Those planning to walk: Martyn, .
(Those not walking:  )
This walk combines one of the walks from Dave Berry's book "Walks Around Llangollen and the Dee Valley" with an extension to the summit of Moel Ferna (weather permitting). We will decide the return route on the day. We have visited Moel Ferna in all sorts of conditions, some good, some not so good, hopefully it will be a good one this time.
Wednesday 15th March 2023.
Holywell Common, Racecourse, Pantasaph and Pen-y-Ball 
Distance: 8-9 miles. Climb:  600'.
Start: Holywell Common, opposite the Crooked Horn, Brynford. Grid ref: SJ185740.
This is a variation of the walk that we have done many times, when we cross the common to Brynford on he way to the old racecourse.
Leave Chester 09-00 a.m.
Those planning to walk: Martyn, Fran, Nigel, Ed.
(Those not walking:  Sue and Michel, Wendy )
We may explore Plymouth Copse and Coed Moel-dda, woods, but last time we missedit out In addition we will only follow the Western side of the old racecourse and instead use the road to Pantasaph, before using field paths to get to Pen-y-Ball Top. After visiting Pen-y-Ball Monument take a new path on the west side of the monument to reach the track and the bridge over the A55 to the golf course and our usual route back to the start.
Saturday 18th March 2023.
Rhos-on-Sea, Bryn Euryn and Coed Pwllcrochan.Distance: 10-11 miles. Climb: 1800'.
Start: Roadside parking on Marine Drive in Rhos-on-Sea, near to St., Trillo's Church.
Grid ref: SH841811. 
It may may be better to park in Trillo Avenue, opposite the church.
Leave Chester at 08-30.
Those planning to walk: Martyn, Mike, Ed.
(Those not walking:  )
This walk combines three walks from Dave Berry's book "Walks Around Llandudno and 
Prestatyn".
One is described as a varied walk exploring the hinterland behind Rhos-on-Sea and 
includes the hillfort in Bryn Euryn Nature Reserve. The other walk offers panoramic views as 
it meanders through the undulating countryside bordering on Mochdre, Colwyn Bay and 
Rhos-on-Sea.
Wednesday 22nd March 2023.
A Short Christleton Walk and Meal at The Ring O Bells.
CANCELLED 
At "Our Day Out" Meal at the White Horse, Churton, the Upton Contingent unanimously decided
 that they didn't want to go on a muddy walk around Christleton or to go for a meal at 
The Ring O Bells either.
Consequently I have had to cancel the planned walk. As i am rather busy over the next few days,
 the Upton group have decided that they will organise the replacement walk and liaise with 
members of the group not at the White Horse meal. 
(no meal option included.)
If I get details of their planned walk before Monday evening, I will post them on the blog. 
After Monday evening, 
If I don't get sufficient details of the walk by then, I will not be able to put the details on the blog 
or print off appropriate maps as I am busy all day on Tuesday and don't get home until around
 22-30. 

Replacement Walk Wednesday 22nd March 2023
Chirk and the Llangollen Canal.
Distance: 6.0 miles. Climb: 550'.
Start: Chirk Centre Car Park. Grid ref: SJ291377.
Leave Chester at 09-00 a.m.
Those planning to walk: Martyn, Mike, Wendy Nigel, Fran, David S. 
(Those not walking: Sue and Michel  )
Mike has found this walk through the "Country Walking" web site.
The initially heads for the Llangollen Canal and its twpath follewed as far as Chirk Bank. Leaving the canal it heads for Gledridpicking up field paths to Nefod Lane before entering Rhos-y-llan Wood where the path crosses Wat's Dyke.
The reurn route psses through Ifton Meadows Nature Reserve, a former Colliery site which has since been re-clothed by nature to provide a diverse mosaic of habitats. skylarks are known to beed here, so hopefully we may see and hear skylrks singing.
The final part of the walk uses country lanes to reach Chirk Green and back to the start.
Saturday 25th March 2023.
Tegg's Nose and Shutlingsloe.
Postponed until later in the year.
Distance: 10 miles. Climb: 2300'.
Start: Car Park, Tegg's Nose Country Park.(Pay and Display) Grid ref: SJ950732.
Leave Chester 08-30.
Those planning to walk: 
(Those not walking: Martyn, Mike, Ed, Elaine, John .)
This walk to visit the summit of Cheshire's highest hill nominally starts at the Trentabrook Car Park, but today the walk will add a little more distance and climb by inclding Tegg's Nose as well.
The Shutlingsloe walk is taken from the Pathfinders Guide to Walks in Cheshire.
The walk starts by heading uphill from the Trentabank Car Park in Macclesfield Forest along forest tracks through the conifer trees, before reaching open moorland and the path to the summit of Shutlingsloe.
After leaving the trig point the route descends to Wildboar Clough before contouring round the hillside, eventually descending back to Trentabrook.
The final section retraces are steps before taking the easiest climb up the bridle path back to the start.
Wednesday 29th March 2023.
Moel Fferna and Nant-y-Pandy.Distance: Including Moel Fferna. 9 miles. Climb: 2000’. 
Distance: Without Moel Fferna 6.5 -7.5 miles depending on return route taken. 
Climb: 1375' - 1600'. depending on return route taken.
Start: Lay-by adjacent to the Butterfly Man Craft Centre on the A5 Llangollen to Corwen road 
near Glyndyfrdwy. Grid ref:SJ1586942449.
Leave Chester 09-00 a.m.
Those planning to walk: Martyn, Fran, Nigel, Mike, Ed, Sue and Michel .
(Those not walking: David S  )The described part of the walk is taken from Dave Berry’s book “Walks Around Llangollen and
 the Dee Valley”. He describes it as a fascinating walk through the wooded.
Nant-y-Pandy with its old slate works.  The extension takes us to the summit of Moel Fferna, 
in the past most of the group have left out the visit to the summit of Moel Fferna, but the option
 is still there for those that do.