Saltney to Shotton Along the North Wales Coastal Path 28th June2025

The only yellow Begonia in my planters.

Mold junction road bridge.

Dobbins Metal Recyclers.

Ragwort growing on Mold Junction road bridge.

The former Mold Junction Primary School that I attended in the 1960s

The Old Chapel Café, a good place to relax and enjoy a cup of tea.

The Saltney Ferry Footbridge.

Looking towards Queensferry from the Saltney Ferry Footbridge.

Part of a Butterfly bush waiting for a butterfly!

Airbus from the North Wales Coast Path.

Bird's Foot Trefoil next to the path.

The Queensferry Road bridge from the North Wales Coast Path.

Ox-eye daisies in the grounds of the new Garden City house development.

Mute swans on the River Dee between the Blue Bridge and Hawarden Bridge.

Hawarden Bridge.

Approaching Wilson's building (Former John Summer's Steelworks HQ.

The Wilson's Building from the North Wales Coast Path.

The footbridge next to Hawarden Bridge.

The North Wales line at Shotton Station.

The final destination.

Distance: 8.0 miles (according to Fitbit) Climb: Not a lot - just three 4 bridges. 

Temperature: A pleasant 23 Celsius.

Beaufort Wind Force: 4 - a Moderate breeze, enough to blow my Tilley off!  After that, both straps were used!

Birds seen or heard today included: Goldfinch, Common blackbird, Common whitethroat, House sparrow, House martin, Common starling, Carrion crow, Grey heron, Collard dove, Mallard, Lapwing, Chiffchaff, Skylark, Little egret, Barn swallow, Woodpigeon, Common chaffinch Chiffchaff, Herring gull, Lesser black back gull, Great black back gull, Oystercatcher, Feral pigeon and Mute swan.

Overall an enjoyable stroll along the river, despite the issues with some cyclists passing too close and without warning.

After walk drinks were enjoyed at the Central Hotel, where I had hoped to samole some of he ciders as it was their Cider Festival week. Alas they were so short staffed that they had been unable to get any of the ciders ready.  It meant I was forced to have a pint or two of Titanic's Plum Porter!

No boots to clean today, and home in plenty of time to get a meal ready before watching England V Germany in the U21 European Championship Final. Who will I support?

Walks and Dates June 2025

 

Saturday Walks.

I have decided that it has become pointless for me to plan Saturday walks in advance as most weeks I am the only one around.

However Saturday walks can be arranged on request.

One short walk a month could be included on request.

Wednesday 4th June 2025.

A Two Canal Walk from Anderton Lift.

Distance: 8-9 miles, Climb: < 400ft
Based on 7th April 2021 walk led by Mike Dodd and Upton Trekers 17th July 2021
Start; Anderton Boat Museum Car Park, Lift Lane, Anderton - CW9 6FW - SJ646754. Pay & Display - Ticket on foot
Leave Chester 09-00.
Those planning to walk: Martyn, .
Those not walking: .
Access via M56 J10, A559, Gib Hill and Comberbach due to long term closure of Soot Hill
From the Anderton lift descend to Winnington Swing Bridge and take the Weaver Navigation tow path downstream almost to Acton Swing Bridge. Here go right and up a slight rise to gain the Trent & Mersey Canal at Bridge 208. Go right along the tow path to Bridge 207 where go off left to reach Little Leigh. Suggested lunch break in the village. Leave Little Leigh on a path which leads back to the Trent & Mersey at Bridge 204. Continue left along the tow path and negotiate two tunnels by walking over the top. The descent from the top of Barnton Tunnel and another mile of tow path leads back to the car park.

Saturday 7th June 2025.

Ramshaw Rocks and the Roaches.

Distance: 8 miles. Climb: 1400’.
Start: Lay-by on West side of Hen Cloud, opposite the track to Windygates. Grid ref: SK006618.
Leave Chester at 08-00.

Those planning to walk: Martyn, .
Those not walking: .
Ramshaw Rocks were visited for the first time last year and combined with The Roaches it makes a superb walk, worth repeating on a n annual basis.
This walk allows us to explore Ramshaw Rocks seen so many times as we have walked over the Roaches. Ramshaw Rocks from a distance have always looked to be an interesting place in which to walk. This time Ramshaw Rocks will be our main objective with a North to South traverse of the Roaches a bonus towards the end of the walk. If time and legs permit, Hen Cloud may be included as an extension. The route heads North and then North west leading to Well Farm. From Well Farm field paths are used to reach the Churnet Way near Naychurch. The Churnet Way is followed North over Ramshaw Rocks and then leaves the Churnet Way and heads North to visit Black Brook Nature Reserve, After a complete circuit of the Reserve the route drops down to the road South of Newstone Farm. The road is then followed North for about a mile before heading west across Goldstich Moss in to the Black Brook Valley. After crossing the brook on a footbridge the path then rises to Roach End. At Roaches End the main path over the Roaches is followed past the trig point and Doxy Pool back to the start.

Boggy area guaranteed!

Wednesday 11th June 2025.

Eglwyseg Escarpment and Trevor Rocks.

Distance: 9-10 miles. Climb: 1200’. Can be made shorter if need be.
Start: Off road parking on the Panorama road just east of the monument. Grid ref: SJ247426.
Leave Chester at 09-00 a.m.
Those planning to walk: Martyn,  . 
Those not walking: Mike, Fran
This must be one of the best walks in the Llangollen area, especially on a sunny day. This is a walk that makes you feel like you’re on top of the world with superb views in all directions, including the Dee Valley, Dinas Bran, the Llantysilio Mountains and the Berwyns. This is one of my favourite walks and is always on the list at least once every year.
We usually do this walk in mid-week, so it will be a change to do it on a Saturday but hopefully everyone else will be staying at home to watch the coronation!
At this time of the year, we could still hear and see Cuckoos. 

Cuckoo reportedly arrive in the valley at the beginning of May, so hopefully we won't be disappointed.

Saturday 14th June 2025.

No planned walk 

Wednesday 18th June 2025.

Chirk - Offa's Dyke, Two Canal Tunnels and a Castle.

Distance: 9.0 miles. Climb: 800'.
Start: Chirk Centre Car Park. Grid ref: SJ291377.
Leave Chester at 09-00 a.m.
Those planning to walk: Martyn, Looks like I am going birdwatching)

Those not walking: Mike, Fran, Nigel

This walk is taken from Dave berry's booklet “Walks Around the Berwyns and The Ceiriog Valley". It is described as a walk of great variety and explores the attractive undulating countryside around Chirk. At times it follows the Offa's Dyke Footpath. Part of the route follows the Llangollen canal towpath and includes going through a short tunnel we may in fact go through a second tunnel. You may wish to bring a torch, but there is a handrail to guide you.

Saturday 21st June 2025.

No planned walk 

Wednesday 25th June 2025

A Walk Around the Great Orme.

Distance: 8 miles. It can be easily be shorted or extended on the day to suit the needs of the group.

Climb: 500'-1000', depending on the route we take.

Start at Llandudno West shore. Roadside parking near the boating lake. Grid ref: SH771820.

Leave Chester at 08-30 a.m.

We will probably start by heading up Marine Drive and taking the Monks' Path upto the plateau. Following the paths on the north west side of the Great Orme. After visiting the summit trig point we will probably head for Happy Valley for lunch. At lunch we can decide if we want to return to the West shore via the invalids' terrace or return to the summit and drop down the zig-zag steps.

It is a good time to see butterflies, so hopefully we will se the Pearl bordered blue.

Saturday 28th June 2025.

No planned walk 

Suggestions for Saturday Walks.

Wales.

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.

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. 

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).

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.

This walk is taken from 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.

A Walk Around the Great Orme 25th June 2025

Heading towards West Shore Toll House.

The Silver studded blue butterfly along the path at the start of the walk.

The delightful path that traverses Gogarth above Marine Drive.

Rock roses and Wild thyme.

Bird's foot trefoil.

Millionaires' Row

The Ringlet.

Takin cover from the Sun.

Looking back down the Monk's Path.

Stretching out on the last bit of the Monk's Path.

Parc Farm and the The Great Orme Summit.

The Limestone pavement on the Great Orme plateau.

A young rabbit rests on the Great Orme plateau.

St. Tudno's Church on the Great Orme.

Inside St. Tudno's Church.

A group of Great cormorants drying off in the warm sunshine.

Pigeon's Cave, but not a Grey seal in sight.

The first goat seen today, but where are the rest?

The Black guillemot (the bird of the day) seen on the sea as we walked along Marine Drive near Happy Valley.

Fulmars still on the nesting ledge.

Llandudno Pier and the Little Orme beyond.

A Great black backed gull and Great cormorant staying well away from each other.

There's something missing!

Llandudno Pier from our lunch spot in Happy Valley.

Llandudno North Shore.

The easy way back.

Where's Ed?

Just a few enjoying going for a paddle in the sea on North Shore.

So this is where all the goats are!

"I'm in charge."

Yellow horned poppy?

Distance: 6.1 miles.
Climb: 951’
Time: 4 hours 24 minutes.
On the move walking average: 2.2 m.p.h.
Overall walk average: 1.4 m.p.h.
Temperature: 16.5 Celsius to 24.5 Celsius, although it need reach 26.4 Celsius at lunch in the Happy Valley when we sat on a bench in the warm sunshine.
Beaufort Wind Force: 0 – 3. Mainly no noticeable wind, but it did briefly gust to an 8.2 m.p.h Gentle breeze near the Cable Car station.
Group: Martyn and Nigel.
This was a good day for walking with only a few brief sunny spells. In the main it was pleasantly warm, although it was on the humid side when we crossed the main summit plateau.
After visiting St. Tudno’s Church, we dropped down to the Marine Drive, in the hope that we would see some Grey seals in at the entrance to Pigeon Cave. Alas, the tide was too high and the beach section was still covered by the sea.
Lunch was taken in Happy Valley, on the benches that had good views towards Llandudno Pier and the Little Orme beyond.
As we started to have lunch, Nigel was expertly robbed of his lunch by a Herring gull. Fortunately, there was a café / shop nearby, so Nigel treated himself to an Eccles cake which guarded carefully as he ate it!
Our return route took us back to the start along the” Invalid’s Terrace.”
Arriving back at West Shore, we saw lots of school children paddling in the sea and one lone man swimming in the sea.
Birds seen or heard today included: Goldfinch, Jackdaw, Common blackbird, Carrion crow, Woodpigeon, Oystercatcher, Great cormorant, Herring gull, Fulmar, House sparrow, Herring gull, Great black back gull, Stonechat, Pied wagtail, Common whitethroat, Black guillemot, Red billed chough, Meadow pipit and Raven.
Overall, a very pleasant and enjoyable walk, even if we didn’t get sightings of the Pearl bordered blue. We did however, see several other butterflies, including the Silver studded blue and Ringlet.
Rather a shorter than usual walk, but the call of the Albion made disappointment in distance walked fade away.
After walk drinks were enjoyed at the Albion in Conwy. Once again it was relatively quiet, no problem getting a seat in the back room.
Purple Moose’s Cwrw Eryri went down a well, but thee again it always does after a walk on a warm day. A pint of Coca Cola wasn’t really what I wanted, but at least it did quench my thirst.