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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.

Saturday, 16 March 2024

Swallow Falls, Cyffyty Mine and More 16th March 2024

View from the footbridge at Betws-y-coed Station,
The Afon Llugwy from Pont-y-Pair.
The woodland path heading towards the Miners' Bridge.
the path from the Miners' Bridge - it seems easier going down!
I thought the Swallow Falls would be better than this!
The Swallow Falls - that's more like it!
The road bridge by the Ugly House ( Ty Hyll).
The view from our lunch spot at the Tynllwyn picnic site.
The Cyfftty Mine site - not explored today!
Heading for the leete.
I think we are on the leete now.
Rising vapour on the other side of the valley.
The deralict farm building where we went wrong!
Descending the yellow / blue path.
The train now leaving Betws-y-coed is for Llandudno.
Walk Stats:
Distance: 9.1 miles. Climb: 1414’.
Time: 5 hours 20 minutes.
On the move walking average: 2.4 m.p.h.
Overall walk average: 1.7 m.p.h.
Temperature: 7.8 – 12.2 Celsius
Beaufort Wind Force: 0-1, no more that the occasional Light air.
Group: Martyn, Mike and Ed.
The weather forecast today wasn’t brilliant and we had dampness in the air all day!
Ed suggested that we should try doing the walk in a clockwise direction for a change. All went well in the morning, we met a couple overlooking the Swallow Falls that were obviously celebrating a special occasion as they had a “glass” of Prosecco”.
Our first problem occurred as we approached the Ugly House, the steps up to the road were fenced off due to a partial collapse of the steps and wall. Not wanting to retrace our steps, we managed with care to climb the steps to the road.
Lunch was taken at Tynllwyn picnic site, where the views suggested the clouds were getting lower!
After lunch all went well, until we reached a known derelict farm building where we missed the path we wanted and everything from then on became a challenge and ending up with us using footpaths that I don’t particularly want to use ever again!
Birds seen or heard today included: Carrion crow, European robin, Common blackbird, Great tit, Blue tit, Common buzzard, Common chaffinch, Wood nuthatch and Pied wagtail.
Overall a very enjoyable walk that would have been much better if we had not missed a vital footpath next to a derelict building!
After walk drinks were enjoyed at the Blue Bell at Halkyn, where the Lees Bitter was excellent and the Ginger beer and Pipers Sweet Chilli Crisps went down well.

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