Beyond The Ro and Moel Fferna 3rd June 2023

The view from Ty'nellwyn towards the Llantysio Mountais and Eglwyseg Escarpments.

A very pleasant track contouring round towards Tyn-y-graig.

I think this horse had more sense than us, deciding to stay in the shade of the tre.

Enjoying the most shaded birt of our walk.

Wonderful clouds in the sky above the moorland.

On the peaty track to the top of Moel fferna.

The panorama eastward from the shelter on Moel Fferna.

The norther visa as we descended from Moel Fferna.

Descending on the Carrog Path.

Lunch over time to check up on the phone!

The view northward from my lunch spot.

One of several wild flower meadows seen today.

St. Thomas's Church, Glyndyfwrdwy.

(Not far to go now!)

Walk stats:10.0 miles. Climb: 1926’.
Time: 5 hours 40 minutes. On the move walking average: 2.1 m.p.h. Overall walk average: 1.7 m.p.h.
Temperature: At the start -17.8 Celsius. !7.2 Celsius at lunch on the decent from Moel Fferna. Maximum – 21.2 Celsius mid-afternoon.
Beaufort Wind Force: Max – 0 - 3, occasionally reaching a very pleasant Gentle Breeze.
Group: Martyn, Mike and Ed.
Deciding to start at the former Butterfly Man Lay-by at Glyndyfrdwy today wasn’t a good idea, we arrived at about 09-45 to find the lay-by full, and it was also the start point for one of the Wrexham Walking Festival Walks.
Thankfully there was also another lay-by opposite and there was only one car in it – Ed’s!
The forecast for today was pretty good, no hint of rain, plenty of sunshine and a gentle breeze (not felt enough!) and Factor 50 Sun screen recommended.
Distant views were somewhat hazy, but at various points in the walk you could pick out the Llantysilio Mountains, the Eglwyseg Escarpment, the Berwyns, Arans, Arenigs, Yr Eryri and the Clwydians from Prestatyn to Moel Famau.
Condition underfoot was good, even the usually boggy section as you approach the cairn/shelter on the top of Moel Fferna.
It was Ed’s first visit to the top of Moel Fferna, but I couldn’t take a photo to prove he had made, but there was over 20 witnesses to his achievement (we had arrived just after the Wrexham Walking Festival Group had taken the top over for lunch!)
We decided to descent on the path towards Carrog Plantation and stopped just over half way down the slope. This wasn’t the best lunch spot I have had, but the others had started winging a little!
After lunch we headed on the path towards the notorious Allt-y-celyn, but on the intention to take the alternative path that contoured round the slope towards Cwm Isaf. The plan then was to descent to the ford at Nant and pick up the track leading to the road to the Glyndyfrdwy Church.
The path we chose to avoid the dangerous Allt-y-celyn section of the path was well worth doing, and the only hazard to avoid was a large entrance hole to a Badger sett in the middle of the track.
The track down to the ford at Nant was good either as it was overgrown with threatening Stinging nettles, but we managed to get round it by walking in the adjacent field.
We opted for the easy way back to the car, by taking the road past the church onto the A5 and along the minor road back to the start.
Birds seen or heard today included: House sparrow, Common buzzard, Woodpigeon Stonechat, Meadow pipit, Herring gull, Skylark, Willow warbler, Common pheasant (Mallard, House martin and Grey wagtail seen from the Grouse inn at Carrog.
Overall an enjoyable walk worth celebrating with Lees Bitter at The Grouse Inn at Carrog.
Lots of people were having picnics on the banks of the river opposite The Grouse Inn as well as playing in the water.