Walks and Dates April 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.

Wednesday 3rd April 2024.

Thurstaston Common, Stapledon Wood, Caldy and More.

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?, Ed? .

Those not walking: Mike, Sue and Michel.

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 Thursaston along the beach, so bring binoculars with you.

Saturday 6th April 2024.

Llanrwst, Llyn Geirionydd, Llyn Crafnant and Trefriw.

Hopfully the flooding has gone down and the road closure around Maenen has been sorted by now.

Postponed due to Storm Kathleen.

Distance: 10 miles; Climb:1561'.

Start:Llanrwst Plas yn Dre car park. Grid ref:SH796618
Leave Chester 08-30 a.m.

Those planning to walk: Martyn, . 

Those not walking: Mike.

This is a walk devised by Ed, which we first did on 6th April 2019. Last time we took over 6 hours for the walk, but I'm sure Ed will find a short cut ot two if need be!

Wednesday 10th April 2024.
Llanarmon-yn-Ial, Eryrys and Around Moel y Gyw.
Postponed due to very high wind gusts and rain on the Met Office and BBC Weather Forecasts.
Distance:8-9 miles; Climb:1700'.
Start:Pistyll Gwyn Quarry car park. 1 mile north of Llanarmon-yn-Ial. Grid ref:SJ188573.
Leave Chester at 9-00 a.m.
Those planning to walk: Martyn,Sue and Michel, Fran, Nigel (all weather dependent!), Mike?. 
Those not walking: Ed.
This walk uses two walks taken from Carl Roger's book "Walking in the Clwydian Hills". We have completed both walks before, but have never tried to link them together before. The Eryrys walk is described as exploring the lesser-known limestone hills separated from the main Clwydian ridge by the Alyn Valley. Views throughout the walk are superb! The second walk involves the ascent of Moel Gyw which also has superb views of the Clwydian Hills to both the north and the south.
The last time we did this walk in November 2015, we had to negotiate a path that was partially flooded in order to get to a footbridge over a river in spate. Hopefully at this time of the year it shouldn't be to bad underfoot.

Saturday 13th April 2024.
Barber Hill, Vivod Estate and the Horseshoe Falls.
Postponed.
Distance: 8-9 miles.
Climb: 1500' Start: Llantysilio Green Natiional Trust (Bring Membeship Card if you have one) car park. Grid ref: SJ198433
Leave Chester 9-00 a.m. 
Those planning to walk: Martyn, .
Those not walking: Mike, Ed. 
Looks like I will be having day bird watching or even a day on the buses!
This walk combines two walks taken from Dave Berry's book "Walks Around Llangollen and the Dee Valley".  This can be a glorious walk, if the weather is good.
Wednesday 17th April 2024.
Ffrith Mountain and the Alyn Gorge.
Distance: 9 miles. Climb: 1010'.
Start: Lay-by on the Cadole to the Pantymwyn road. Grid ref: SJ205627. Approaching Loggerheads on the A494, Mold to Ruthin Road and after passing the former Rainbow Inn (now a smalll new housing estate), take the next road on the right just before the newsagent. The lay-by is almost immediately on the right by the telephone kiosk.
Leave Chester: 09-00 a.m.
Those planning to walk: Martyn, Nigel, Fran, Ed, Mike,Sue and Michel.
Those not walking: , . 
 Dave Berry's Book " More Walks in the Clwydian Hills" He describes it as an excellent walk exploring beautiful valleys and foothills. We usually start at Loggerheads, but as it is £5 to park for more than 4 hours we will start up the road in Cadole.
Saturday 20th April 2024.
Stanley Hall, Peak Forest Canal, Disley and Lyme Park.
Distance: 8 -10 mile. Climb: 1400'.
Start: Disley Station Car Park. Grid ref: SJ972845. (If the car park is full, we will go to Lyme Park and park there, so if you are a National Trust member, bring your membership card with you.)
Leave Chester at 08-45 a.m.
Those planning to walk: Martyn, Mike, Ed.
Those not walking: , . 
This walk combine one of the "Heritage Walks Around Disley" (no. 2) with a walk from the "Pathfinders Guide to Cheshire".
The Heritage walk takes us on the North side of Disley, passing through a golf course along a track that goes past Stanley Hall Farm on through Stanleyhall Wood before joining the High Peak Canal towpath to return to Disley.  This walk a just a gentle stroll of just under three miles.
If this walk is completed first, it means we will arrive at Lyme Park at the right time to enjoy lunch using one of the many picnic tables .
The latter route takes us along the Gritstone Trail through Lyme Park and up to the Bow Stones, where on a good day you get good views of Shutlingsloe and the Cheshire Plain. 
If we are lucky we will see some of the Red deer. 
Wednesday 24th April 2024.
Coed Allt-y-Tywod, Coed y Garreg, Coed Pen-y-gelli and more
Distance: 7  -10 miles. Climb: 700’.
Start: Roadside parking at Lloc. If approaching from Holywell on the A5026, turn left by the public house (now a private house) into St Asaph Road. Park on left. If approaching on the A5026 from its nearest junction with the A55 (Prestatyn junction), Turn right in front of the former public house (now a private house) into St Asaph Road. This is just after the Pant Y Wacco sign and the road starts to bear left. St Asaph Road is one way and can only be approached from then A5026.
Grid ref: SJ145765.
Leave Chester at 09-00 a.m. 
Those planning to walk: Martyn, Sue and Michel, Nigel, Fran, Ed.
Those not walking: Mike  .
This is one of our annual Bluebell Wood walks. Usually done in May, but some people have predicted the Bluebells will be aabout two weeks earlier than usual.  It is a figure of eight walk based on Lloc. The walk includes parts of two walks taken from Dave Berry's booklet “Walks around Holywell and Halkyn Mountain."
As this is a figure of eight walk, there are plenty of opportunties to shorten the walk if desired.
Saturday 27th April 2024.
Deganwy Castle with a Gunsite Extension. 
Distance: 6 miles; Climb: 750'.s (Gunsite extension: Distance: 3-4 miles. Climb: 666'.)
Start:Roadside parking near the Public Conveniences on the West shore of Llandudno. Grid ref:SH773819.
Leave Chester 08-30 a.m.
Those planning to walk: Martyn, .
Those not walking: .
The main walk today is the Deganwy Castle walk taken from Dave Berry's book "Walks on the North Wales Coast". Sections of this walk have been known to be muddy in the past.
This walk visit a watch tower and the site of Deganwy Castle, both giving extensive  views
The extension to the walk starts after returning to the car and is weather dependent.
One posibility is to explore the gunsite area north of Llandudno West Shore.
When we did this walk in May last year, the Bluebells around Deganwy Castle were superb, so hopefully they will this year as well.