A Birthday on Moel Fferna 16th August 2023

The start of our walk in Corwen.

On the way to Cynwyd.

Lots of fungi see today bot none of us can identify them!

Our lunch spot in Coed Cynwyd.

Nigel's Peacock.

On the North Brwyn Way to Morl Fferna.

Probably a juvenile Stonechat.

Is that the Arans on the skyline?

Celebrating a birthday on top of the world.

Not quite, but Moel Fferna on a day like this is just as good!

Fran's selfie on the top of Moel Ferna.

Enjoying a birthday pit at the Grouse Inn at Carrog.

Walk Stats:
Distance: 10.6 miles. Climb: 1942’. (Distance: 10.3 miles. Climb: 1437’)
Time: 6 hours 24 minutes. On the move walking average: 2.0 m.p.h.
Overall walk average: 1.6 m.p.h.
Temperature: At the start – 16.7 Celsius. At Lunch 19.8 Celsius.
Beaufort Wind force: 0 – 1. Mainly calm, but on one occasion we did just about feel light air on our faces.
Group: Martyn, Nigel, Fran and Ed.
The forecast today was pretty good, mainly sunny and very little wind. In fact we were very grateful as we crossed the moorland terrain around Moel Fferna that the Sun was blocked by clouds.
This is a very varied walk that seemed straight forward until we followed the North Berwyn Way through Cynwyd Forest. We had lunch in Cynwyd Forest where we found plenty of suitable tree stumps to sit on. As is customary on such occasion, fortified fruit cake was provided, but no-one twigged the reason for the treat!
After lunch we headed down the forest track (still part of the North Berwyn Way) and soon got back on the track that we wanted to be on, arriving at a point NT remembers well, but no stile now just kissing gate.
We arrived at the summit shelter on Moel Fferna to find we had it to ourselves, and probably a first no rain and no wind!
All that was left was a 2 mile descent to Llidiart y Parc on that ”delightful” path that we remember so well!
Birds seen or heard today included: Wood nuthatch, Mallard, Meadow pipit, Common buzzard, Stonechat (juveniles), Mallard and Great cormorant (both seen from the Grouse Inn at Carrog), Eurasian jay and Common pheasant (not really wild but recently released from their breeding pens in Carrog Forest).
The best was yet to come, a pint of Lees (Manchester IPA) sitting outside at the Grouse Inn at Carrog overlooking the River Dee.
Overall another enjoyable walk, but we were glad to see the cars, sit down and take our boots off and put on a clean shirt and head for the Grouse Inn at Carrog. A late time arriving, but still time to clean my boots and sit down with a glass of Merlot (my first glass of red this year!)