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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 30 August 2023

Melin-y-Wig and Derwen 30th August 2023

A suggested very short walk from Boncyn Llys car park.
The only part of the suggested walk that we followed, the path through the delightful Beech avenue.
Typical problems through the forest south of Glan-y-gorse.
Fungi seen in the forest south of Glan-y-gorse.
The only way to go is this way, even if we want to go in the opposite direction!
The same photo with a little more added light!
A different fungi seen in the forest south of Glan-y-gorse.

Is it or isn't it Moel Famau?
The view from our lunch spot, looking towarsds Melin-y-Wig.
About to leave our lunch spt near the two river gates.
The reason for the river gates.
A training jeyt flies over the opposite side of the valley southwest of Derwen.
The preaching cross in the grounds of St. Mary's Church at Derwen.
St.Mary's Church, Derwen, still God's House.
Ffynnon Sarah.
A good view of the Clwydian Hills.
Walk Stats:
Distance: 8.7 miles. Climb: 1027’. (7.8 m.p.h. 839’)
Time: 4 hours 53 minutes. On the move walking average: 2.0 m.p.h. (2.1 m.p.h,)
Overall walk average: 1.8 m.p.h. (1.6 m.p.h.)
Temperature: At 16.7 (most of the walk) – 22.7 (at Derwen in the Sun) Celsius
Beaufort Wind force: 0 – 2. Mainly Calm /light air, but briefly reached a 7.7 m.p.h. light breeze.
Group: Martyn, Fran, Nigel and Ed.
The forecast for today kept changing, but all suggested it would be better in the afternoon. We arrived at the start with it raining, but only had to sit in the cars for a few minutes before it stopped. Rain was still a possibility in the morning, so some of us were still armed with our umbrellas!
At the start there was a short walk posted on the notice board, perhaps we should one day follow this route as an extension to our planned walk. The only part of this route we followed was the delightful path through the avenue of Beech trees.
As ever the challenge today would be path finding through the forest south of Glan-y-gors. Today was no exception, but Ed using his GPS with its map succeeded in getting us to the exit stile that we wanted.
As we descended the road towards Melin-y-Wig it started to rain, just enough for us to don waterproof jackets or use an umbrella. Thankfully it didn’t last and for the rest of the walk it was the Sun that made us feel it was a little on the warm side.
Just after passing through Melin-y-Wig we followed the path along the bank of the Afon Clwyd, and near two gates across the river, we stopped for lunch, taking advantage of fallen trees or the stile as perching spots.
At Glyn Mawr, much restoration of the cottages and outbuildings had been made and wild flowers made a delightful splash of colour next to two of the walls opposite the cottage. I should have taken a photo!
At Derwen we visited St. Mary’s Church, no longer used for services, but as the gate said still “God’s House”.
After visiting Ffynnon Sarah, we headed along the track towards the chicken farm and at the gate we all put our boots through the Quill disinfectant boot wash.
As we approached Braich, we were greeted by two children (and their mother) waving to us. Some of us waved back.
As we reached the road, it was good to see that a new gate had been installed and the hazards we had to negotiate last time were no longer there. Reporting problems to the local Rights of Way Officers can sometimes get good results.
Birds seen or heard today included: Black billed magpie, House martin, Barn swallow, Eurasian jay, House sparrow, Grey heron, Jackdaw, Rook, Carrion crow, Woodpigeon and Common buzzard.
Overall an enjoyable walk, despite the bad points being highlighted on my blog description of the walk!
After walk drinks were enjoyed at the Druids Inn at Llanferres, where Purple Moose’s Cwrw Eryri went down well, but Fran as the driver had to do with a glass of Coca Cola and a packet of crisps!

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