A Short Walk from Parkgate 3rd December 2025

 Moel Famau from the Old Baths, Parkgate.

New seats and picnic table at the Old Baths Car Park, Parkgate.

Getting ready to set off.

On the way to the Wirral Way.

The Wirral Way is quiet today.

Lunch time in Stanney Fields Park

Lunch time is nearly over.

Crossing the bridge.

View of Moel Famau from the Neston - Old Quay Path

The last time we came, this was a very muddy path - no mud now!

Crossing the field from Neston Old Quay to Neston Reedbed.

The delightful Neston Reedbed Path.

You can just about tell it is a Common kestrel

Christmas decorations at the Donkey Stand, Parkgate.

One of the Donkey Stand information board.

One of several Grey herons seen on he marsh off The Parade, Parkgate.

Distance: 5.0 miles. Climb: 272'.

Time: 2 hours 46 minutes. On the move walking average: 2.5 m.p.h.  Overall walk average: 1.8 m.p.h.

Temperature: A cool 6 Celsius at the start, but 8 Celsius from mid-day onwards, and feeling much warmer later on as we walk along The Parade at Parkgate.

Beaufort Wind Force - not measured, but the wind was hardly noticeable.

Group: Martyn, Sue and Michel, Elaine, Nigel, Mike, Fran,, Sue P with Lilly the well behaved spaniel.

Birds seen or heard today include: Common blackbird, Grey heron, Mallard, Teal, Common starling, Black headed gull, Herring gull, Blue tit, Great tit, Carrion crow, Moorhen, Common kestrel and Cetti warbler.

Another good turn out for our monthly short walk, possibly encouraged by Nigel informing us last week, that he would be bringing some of Elaine's excellent mince pies.

We arrived at our lunch spot  in Stanney Fields Park just before mid-day, but no-one objected to having an early lunch. As usual Elaine's mince pies went down well with everyone, especially with one member of the group who forgot to bring any lunch. Thanks again, Elaine.

The surprise of the day, was finding one of the usually muddy paths had been made into a surfaced path, similar to the one behind Neston Reedbed.

We arrived back at cars, having had a really enjoyable walk and already looking forward to the next one.

We all went straight home, which meant that I was able to clean my boots outside in the warm sunshine before the light faded.

Walks and Dates December 2025

I won't be planning any walks for Saturday this month.

However Saturday walks can be arranged on request.

See walk list below for possible walks.

Wednesday 3rd December 2025.

A short walk from Parkgate.

Distance: 4.5 miles. Climb: 127’
Start: 

The Old Baths Car Park Parkgate.

SJ 2743 7875.

                                         or 

  Alternative car park would be the Wirral Way Car Park near Neston Cricket Club SJ 2835 7784.

Leave Chester at 10-00.

Those planning to walk: Martyn,  Nigel, Elaine.

Those not walking: .

The route leaves the car park via the link path to the Wirral Way, which is followed for 2.0 miles as far as Stanney Fields Park, where we will stop for lunch /refreshments.  After lunch, we sill retrace our steps along the Wirral Way and leave it on the path signposted to the Old Quay. The Coastal Path (north westward) is then taken back to Parkgate.
If necessary, there are several opportunities to shorten the walk.
High tide id at 09-11. It is quite big at 9.0 m (29.5’), so we may be competing for parking spaces with the birdwatchers.

If you have them, you may like to bring binoculars / monoculars with you.
This will is the third of our Harris Hikers short walks suitable for all Harris Hikers past and present. 

Saturday 6th December 2025

No Planned walk

See walk list below for possible walks.

Wednesday 10th December 2025..

Cwm Conwy, Castle Wood and Moel Y Gaer.

Distance:7 - 10 miles. Climb: 1200'.

Start: Rhosesmor. Parking area next to the children's play area. Grid ref:SJ214684.

Leave Chester at 9-00 a.m.

Those planning to walk: Martyn, .

Those not walking: .

This walk is based on a walk  from Dave Berry's book "Walks Around Holywell and Halkyn Mountain".  The Cwm Conwy walk is one of my favourite walks in the Halkyn area at any time of the year. The extension continues the walk as far as the old cemetery at Halkyn, but any additional extension would need to include Halkyn Mountain itself - not to everyone taste! 

Saturday 13th December 2025.

No Planned walk

See walk list below for possible walks.

Wednesday 17th December 2025.

A Clwydian Trio - or part of it. 

Distance: 9 miles. Climb;1900' .

Start: Pentre-celyn car park .. Grid ref: SJ150534. Post Code: LL15 2HE

The car parking area is on the left adjacent to the sign for Pentre-celyn, just off the B5429.

Leave Chester at 09-00 a.m.

Those planning to walk: Martyn . 

Those not walking: 

This is another walk by Debbie Hamilton and is taken from the "Walking" magazine. This walk includes the section of Offa's Dyke Path goes near Moel y Plas, Moel Gyw, Moel Llanfair and Boncyn y Waen-grogen. Her walk starts from Llanfair Dyffryn Clwyd, but we will start at Pentre Celyn about half a mile beyond Graigfechan.

The last time we did this walk, we shortened it to about 8 miles and 1300', so we may do the same today.

No Planned walk

See walk list below for possible walks.

Wednesday 24th December 2025.

No planned walk.

Saturday 27th December 2025.

No planned walk.

Wednesday 31st December 2025. 

List of Possible alternative Wednesday Walks

Great Barrow and Plemstall

Distance: 5-6 miles.

Climb: 280’.

Start: Layby on Barrow Lane, Great Barrow. Grid ref: SJ46916846.

Leave Chester at 09-00. 

Those planning to walk: . 

This is one of the walks provided by the Stamford Bridge Country Inn.
This a low-level walk involving many field paths and quiet country lanes. Some of the field paths can be quite muddy after heavy rain.
The walk allows us to visit two villages, Great Barrow and Plemstall. At Plemstall we can visit St. Peter’s Church, Plemstall with its nearby St. Plegmund’s Well. At Great Barrow we can visit St. Bartholomew’s church.
Last time I did this walk was with Ed on a very hot day and I managed to lose my Leki! We also made the mistake of trying to complete all three of the Stamford Bridge walks in one go. We won't be doing that today!

The walk can easily be extended by an extra 2 miles and 50’ of climb.

List of Possible Saturday Walks. 

Moel y Garneddd.

Distance: 7- 8 miles.

Climb: 1200'.

Start: Fronfeuno Snowdonia National Park Lakeside Car park Grid ref: SH917351.

Leave Chester 08-30 a.m.

Those planning to walk: . 

Those not walking: .

This walk is taken from Dave Berry's booklet "Walks Around Y Bala and Penllyn". The walk explores the undulating countryside West of Bala. The route follows a a bridleway up to moorland, eventually crossing Moel y Garneddd at a height of 1170'. We can expect to see superb views as we cross the open moorland. The return route goes through attractive woodland. This is a walk for experienced walkers only and should not be attempted in poor visibility. Careful navigation is required.

Caer, Gai, Cwm Dyfrydwy with an extension over Garth Fawr.

Distance: 9.1 miles. Climb: 1100'.

Start: Roadside parking in Llanuwchllyn on B4403. Park opposite the PC and chapel. Grid ref: SH875302.

Leave Chester 08-30 a.m. 

Those planning to walk: . 

Those not walking: .

This walk combines two walks from Dave Berry's booklet "Walks Around Y Bala and Penllyn". One walk is described as a fascinating walk featuring a Roman fort and historic houses and the other explores both sides of the Dyfrdwy Valley. The optional extension explores the countryside South of Llanuwchllyn, climbing to open moorland around Garth Fawr at a height of 1079'. It returns along the Western side of the Afon Twrch (Cwm Cynllwyd).

Town Brook Hollow and Ragleth Hill.

Distance: 9 -10 miles; Climb:2400'.

Start: Church Stretton centre car park (Pay and display). Grid ref:SO454941.

Leave Chester 8-00 a.m.

Those planning to walk: .

Those not walking: .

This walk combines two short walks taken from Ian R. Jones's booklet "20 Church Stretton Walks". Town Brook Hollow (Ashlet Hill) to the North of Church Stretton and Ragleth Hill is to the South.   The two walks effectively create a figure of eight walk around Church Stretton, making Church Stretton a good place to look for a lunch spot.

It isn't easy to translate the Town Brook Hollow R. Jones 's map to the OS map, so we  a more recent booklet "Walks in the Shropshire Hills"  by Steve Goodier, so we might use his description for the Town Brook Hollow walk.

The Ragleth Hill walk includes quite steep climbs and descents, so we will probably do that walk first.

The Ragleth ill walk is 5.4 miles with a 1137' of climb and the Town Brook Hollow walk is 3.8 miles with 1244' of climb.

I am happy to change the designated walks as long it is requested by the Monday and a suitable alternative walk suggested.

Please feel free to make suggests of walks that you would like to be included.

Please remember, I have a Prayer Meeting at Church on the first Wednesday of each month every, so I will be looking for walks not too far away.

Advanced notice

Wednesday 7th January 2026.

This will be the first short walk in 2026 and the 4th walk in our series of walks suitable for all Harris Hikers walkers, past and present.

A walk from Norton Priory.

Distance: 3.1 miles. Climb: 200'.

Start: Norton Priory Grid ref: SJ 5484 8311. Sat Nav: Tudor Road, WA7 1SX.

This is a walk that Mike suggested, and is based on one he found in a  Woodlands Trust Leaflet.

A Burton and Parkgate Round 26th November 2025.

Moel Famau from the start of our walk on Station Road, Burton.

Canada geese, Mallard and Teal on Decca Pools.

Hawthorn berries in the hedges next to the King Charles III Coastal Footpath.

Information Board at Denhall Quay.

Denhall Quay.

Not open as we passed by in the morning.

Good views of a Common kestrel until it disturbed by a Carrion crow.

Heading for Neston Reedbed.

The new surfaced path behind Neston Reedbed.

The path leading to Parkgate.

Parkgate.

A Marsh harrier hunting over the marsh at Parkgate.

When is a Pill Box not a Pill Box?

When it is a Bat Box!

Parkgate Bat Box information board.

The Wirral Way.

View from the Wirral Way towards the coast. 

Neston Cutting on the Wirral Way (sewer pipe on the right)

Our lunch spot neat Lees Lane.

At lunch.

Heading towards out exit point at Windle Hill Bridge.

Windle Hill Bridge information board.

Moel Famau from Neston Road, Burton.

Knitting obviously allowed on this post box!

The path off Wood Lane into Burton Wood.

Is this the path through Burton Wood?

Hampstons Well stones.

Hampstons Well, now cared for by the local community.

Distance: 9.1 miles.
Climb: 545’.
Time: 4 hours 25 minutes.
On the moves walking average: 2.7 m.p.h.
Overall walk average; 2.0 m.p.h.
Temperature: 3.2 – 6.2 Celsius.
BWF: Max 9.2 m.p.h. Gentle breeze.
Birds seen or heard included: Common blackbird, Marsh harrier, Hen harrier, Common kestrel, Pied wagtail, Canada goose, European robin Long tailed tit, Carrion crow, Rook, Black billed magpie, Teal, Moorhen and Mallard.
The forecast for today, was relatively good for the morning, but with increasing likelihood of rain after lunch.
In fact, it was much better than the forecast, and the only rain experience was after the walk as we left the Harp Inn at Ness.
On this occasion, we decided to head for Parkgate first, in the hope that we would find the best way through Burton Wood. We found a way through Burton, and left t the correct point, but I wasn’t convinced that it was the path described in the route description that we attempted to follow in the past.
What the walk did do, was enable us to check out parts of the route that we will do on next month’s “Short Walk” and to find a suitable lunch stop in Stanney Fields Park.
The section of the walk from Neston Old Quay past Neston Reedbed is now a well-defined surfaced path, no longer a muddy path that at times wasn’t easy to negotiate.
The walk to Parkgate was done in sunshine, with very little wind. Distant views were good, although the clouds were only just clear of Moel Famau.
Lunch was taken on the Wirral Way, near Lees Lane Ponds car park and picnic site.
Section of the walk, after leaving the Wirral Way had in the past been quite muddy, but today was much better than we expected. In fact, my boots only took ten minutes to clean just after getting home.
We arrived back at the cars, having had a good walk, and before the rain had arrived.
After walk drinks were enjoyed at the Harp Inn at Ness, where Nigel enjoyed the White Rat bitter and I had a pot of tea, large enough, not to require a jug of hot water to top up the pot!

Coed Ceunant and Around Fron Hen 19th November 2025.

On the path to Bwlch Penbarra.

The from the rod s we descended the Coed Ceunant road.

A roadside trees with snow sticking to its branches.

Distant hills decked in snow.

Looking across the Coed Blaenant valley towards Cae-Mawr Farm.

Mike getting round the fallen tree,

The view from my lunch spot.

Lunch time.

Descending the path through Coed Rhiwisg.

We had to cross this field of mangelwurzels.

Going through one of the many new kissing gates.

Offa's Dyke Path south east of Moel Eithinen.

Walking on Offa's Dyke Path.

Nigel's photo of the birthday girl.

Another photo of the birthday girl in the snow.

Nigel checking the route?

When is Hare not a Hare?

When a closer look shows that it's bush!

The6e is plenty of snow on this side of Fron Hen.

Even the north facing wall is coated in snow.

Enjoying the snow.

Distance: 7.6 miles.
Climb: 1657’ Time: 5 hours 4 minutes.
On the moves walking average: 2.1 m.p.h.
Overall walk average; 1.5 m.p.h.
Temperature: Around 4.7 Celsius. Lowest measured was 0.6 Celsius as we contoured around Fron Hen.
BWF: 0-3 Max 12.7 m.p.h. Gentle breeze.
Birds seen or heard included: Common blackbird, Common buzzard, Common chaffinch, European robin Long tiled tit, Carrion crow and Common chaffinch.
We knew that it was going to be cold, but none of us anticipated how much snow we would encounter.
We originally planned to start at Bwlch Penbarra, but the road to the top car park was very icy, so we eventually decided to park at the lower car park.
The nearby hills were covered in snow, giving us superb views as we descended the road
The only problem that we had was at the top of Coed Blaenant, where a tree had fallen across the path, but with care and Mike’s supporting role, we all managed to get past.
We stopped for lunch, just before joining the A494 Ruthin Road. It was Fran’s 27th birthday, so she treated us all to some home-made chocolate cake with quince jelly between the layers.
After lunch, as we left Coed Rhiwisg, heading for the Clwyd Gate, it was pleasing to note that all the stiles had been replaced with kissing gates. Not having to climb over awkward stiles, is always appreciated by the >70 members of the group.
After Clwyd Gate, I suggested that it preferred to miss out Foel Fenlli, and return to the car using path that contoured around the eastern slopes of Fron Hen. No-one objected.
It was on this section that we had to cross six-inch-deep snow with Hare foot prints. At point we were the fist to walk in the snow. There is something special about walking in virgin snow.
Overall, a very enjoyable walk, and one that will be repeated again in the future. After walk drinks were enjoyed at the Glasfryn, where the beer of choice was Purple Moose’s “Cwrw Eryri”.
After dropping me off, the Upton contingent, headed for the Wealstone in Upton, to continue their celebration of Fran’s birthday.