Walks and Dates February 2024

 

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 three such Wednesdays left in 2024. 

.These are:- May 29th, July 31st, and  October 30th.

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.
This walk should be for the Wednesday in the month and that would include the “Short Walk and Meal Option” on the fifth Wednesday.
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.
Where the “Short Walk and Meal” is concerned, the person planning the walk and meal should

be contacted directly and informed of their intentions as soon as you have made your decision.

Saturday 3rd February 2024.

Bollington to Bowstones.

Postponed - looking for a walk with a better weather forecast!

Distance: 9-10 miles.

Climb:1800' at a guess.

Start: Adlington Road, Car Park. Adlinton Road is on the north of Bollington, a left turn just off the B5090.

Grid ref: SJ93087802

Leave Chester at 08-30 a.m.

Those planning to walk: Martyn, .
Those not walking: Mike.

This walk is taken from Graham Beech's book "East Cheshire Walks", and is the second walk from this book that we will undertake. He describes this walk as an exhilarating walk to the Bowstones, and is a popular walk. It includes a fair portion of Lyme Park and sections of the Gritstone Trail. He describes the walk as strenuous, but I think we can still cope, even though it is over fifteen years since we last dit it..

Wednesday 7th February 2024.

A Walk from Llantysilio Green in Search of Snowdrops.

Distance: 8 miles.Climb: 1400'.
Start: Llantysilio Green National Trust Car Park. Grid ref: SJ197433.
Leave Chester at 09-00.

Those planning to walk: Martyn, Mike, Ed, Nigel, Sue and Michel .

Those not walking: .

The walk starts by taking the path to St. Tysilio's Church, where hopefully the Snowdrops
will be in full bloom.
The route then takes past the Horseshoe Falls and along the Llangollen Canal towpath as
far as Llangollen.
At Llangollen the route climbs steadily northwards past Tirionia to join the Clwydian Way.
The Clwydian Way is the followed past Valley Crucis Abbey as far as Hendre.
Leaving the Cwydian Way the route descends to the main road which is followed South to
the Britannia Inn. At the Britannia Inn the path heading across Pen-y-bryn is taken until it
meets the Dee Valley Way. The Dee Valley Way is then followed South back to the start.

Saturday 10th February 2024.

Llugwy and Lledre.

Distance: 8-9 miles; Climb: 1000'.
Start: Railway station car park in the centre of Betws-y Coed. Grid ref: SH795565.Leave Chester at 8-30 a.m. (It takes about 1 hour 10 minutes from Saltney)
Those planning to walk: Martyn, Ed.
Those not walking: .
This is another walk taken from Dave Berry's new book "Walks Around Betws-y-Coed and the Conwy Valley". This walk links the beautiful wooded Llugwy and Lledre Valleys.
Once more we can use the new Miners Bridge to cross the Llugwy and on to Sarn Helen. Sarn Helen is the former Roman Road, and reaches over 800' before descending in to the Lledre Valley.
Later on there the route involves a steep climb to Llyn Elsi or at least that is what Dave Berry says!
If the weather is good, then this is a really good walk. Forest paths in the past have been on the boggy side, but if need be the worst can be avoided by using the forest tracks.

Wednesday 14th Febrary 2024.

Brickfield Pond Nature Reserve and Both Sides of the Afon Clwyd.

Distance: 8-9 miles. Climb: 200'.

Start: Park at the Rhuddlan L.N.R. car park. Grid ref: SJ020776. 

The car park is on the Western side of Rhuddlan. To get to the car park, from the A55, turn right on to the A525 (St. Asaph Road towards Rhyl and Rhuddlan), at the next roundabout take the 3rd exit onto Station Road (to Rhuddlan centre / Castle). The car park is on the right, opposite a new hotel. If you get to the bridge over the river you've gone too far!

Leave Chester at 09-00. 

Those planning to walk: Martyn, Nigel, Fran, Mike, Ed

Those not walking: Sue and Michel .

This walk is an annual favourite, at least for those that like to do as little birdwatching as well. It is a good time of the year as there are lots of Winter visitors that frequent coastal areas and river estuaries. Bring binoculars with you.  Last time we had lunch by the Marine Lake, near the Foryd.  We have also had lunch on the beach at the Foryd. 

Although we haven't seen Snow buntings on the Foryd or a few years, with a bit of luck we may see them this year. 

High tide at the Foryd is at about 14-00, .9.8 m / 32.1'.  This is ine of the highest tides of the year.

This means we should get good views of Wintering visiters that come to this river / estuary , especially on the return along the west side of the river. 

Last year we didn't do any of the extensions!  Extension, if any will  be taken at each appropriate point in the walk on the day.

Saturday 17th February 2024

Big Low, Berristall Vale and the Saddle of Kerridge.

Postponed until later in the year.

See below for the new walk.

Distance: 8-9 miles; Climb: 2000'

Adlington Road, Car Park. Adlinton Road is on the north of Bollington, a left turn just off the B5090.

Grid ref: SJ93087802

Leave Chester 8-30 a.m.

Those planning to walk: Martyn, .

Those not walking: .

This is another walk that combines two walks from Graham Beech's book "East Cheshire Walks". He describes the walks as moderate to strenuous and includes some of the most scenic surroundings around Bollington. We have already strolled along Kerridge Hill and can vouch for that part of the walk.
After walk drinks will be in the Vale Inn, a hostelry that impressed us on the first visit in 2007.

New Walk.

A Walk Around Bickerton, Bulkeley and Peckforton Hills.

Distance: 10 miles.
Climb: 1800’
Start:
National Trust car Park just off (north east) of Coach Road, Duckington.
Grid ref: SJ49415253. Post code: SY14 8LH
Alternative start:
National Trust Car Park on Pool Lane off Goldford Lane, Bickerton, (opposite Pool Farm).
Grid Ref: SJ503530. Post code: SY14 8LN

Leave Chester 08-30. 

Those planning to walk: Martyn, Mike, Ed, Nigel .

Those not walking: .

This is a walk devised by Mike, starting close enough to Chester to allow him to get home by about 16-00.

The walk includes Maiden Castle and Raw Head and goes around Bulkley  and Peckforton Hill.

Field paths and country lanes are used to link the hills as well as following some of the best parts of the Sandstone Trail.

Harthill, Fuller's Moor and Brown Knowl are visited on the return section of the walk.

The field paths  used can be muddy at this time of the year, so gaiters are recommended.

Wednesday 21st February 2024.

Holywell Common, Racecourse, Pantasaph and Pen-y-Ball Top with an extension to explore Plymouth Copse and Coed Moel-dda.

Distance: 8-9 miles. Climb:  1300'.

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, Mike Fran and Ed. 

Those not walking: Nigel, Sue and Michel.

We may explore Plymouth Copse and Coed Moel-dda, woods, but last time we missed it 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 24th February 2024.

The Dolwyddelan to Ty Mawr Round.

Distance:8-9 miles. Climb:1800'.
Start: Dolwyddelan Station Car Park. Grid ref: SH737522. 
Leave Chester:8-30 a.m.

Those planning to walk: Martyn, .

Those not walking: .

Last time we visited Ty Mawr on several occasions and found some of the described routes resulted in us treking through terrain not to our liking.  On looking at the map there seemed to be a more obvious route which follows the Afon Bwlch y Groes, over Bwlch y Groes, through Pigyn Esgob to the Penmachno - Ty mawr road.
The return route will be the normal one that we take, the minor road to just past Ty Cyfyng and the forest tracks and quarry road back to the car park.

Wednesday 28h February 2024.

Thurstaston Common, Stapledon Wood, Caldy and More.

Postponed due to bad weather forecast.

Distance:8-10 miles. Climb:750.

Start: Thurstaston Visitor Centre Car Park. Grid ref:SJ239835. This is a Pay and Display Car Park about £5-00 if my memory is correct.
Leave Chester at 9-00 a.m.

Those planning to walk: Martyn, Nigel, Fran, Sue and Michel.

Those not walking: .

This is a repeat of the walk that we did on 1st January 2012 and combines two walks from Raymond Roberts' booklet "Wirral Walks - the West Wirral Six". This is a relatively easy walk with good views along the way, especially from Thurstaston Hill. We hope to walk back from Caldy to Thurstaston along the beach, so bring binoculars with you.