Ysceifiog Lake, Caerwys, Maes-mynan and Pwll-gwyn Wood 30th July 2025.

This photo was taken when we last did this walk in 2011.

Just one of the regular walkers left!

Ysceifiog Lake through the trees from the path on the south side of the lake.

On Ysceifiog's lakeside path, heading for Ddol.

"Just testing my Welsh".

In 2011, the natives in this wood were pigs, now it's the turn of the ponies.

On the path through Bryn Sion Wood.

A Red admiral butterfly seen on our walk today.

We were glad to see this gate and footpath sign on our way to Caerwys.

High Street, Caerwys.

The old court house at Caerwys.

St., Mary's Church, Caerwys.

Inside St., Mary's Church, Caerwys.

Descending the path through Coed Maes-mynan.

A Gatekeeper butterfly seen on our walk today.

The path on the north west side of Coed Maes-mynan.

Nigel on route through Coed Maes-mynan.

The path leading to Pwll-gwyn Wood with the Clwydians on the skyline.

Views to west as we approached Pwll-gwyn Wood.

The delightful path through Pwll-gwyn Wood.

Descending the path through Pwll-gwyn Wood down to the A541.

Distance: 9.2 miles.
Climb: 1270’
Time: 5 hours 40 minutes.
On the move walking average: 2.3 m.p.h.
Overall walk average: 1.6 m.p.h.
Temperature: 17.6 Celsius throughout the walk, although pat times, it did feel a little warmer.
Beaufort Wind Force: 0 – 2. Mainly no noticeable wind, but at one point, it reached a 4.2 m.p.h. Light breeze.
Group: Martyn, Fran and Nigel.
This proved to be a good day for walking, not too hot, no wind and all the rain we had was when we were in the car on route.
Today, we even had time to go inside St., Mary’s Church at Caerwys. Caerwys has a lot of history attached, so we spent some time reading the blue plaque notices.
Birds seen or heard today included: Woodpigeon, Goldfinch, Jackdaw, Common blackbird, Carrion crow, Coal tit, Common buzzard, Winter wren, Black billed magpie, Common pheasant and Wood nuthatch,
We did see lots of butterflies including: Small white, Large white, Peacock, Red admiral, Meadow brown, Speckled wood and Gatekeeper.
Overall, an enjoyable and varied walk, despite route finding being challenging at times, but most of it was our fault as Dave Berry’s route description was really good!
Not reading the walk description, resulted in our walk being a little longer than expected
After walk drinks were enjoyed at the Rake Hall at Little Stanney, where Brimstage Brewery’s Trapper’s Hat was the beer of choice. I enjoyed my usual pot of tea once they eventually brought me a cup to go on the saucer!

Birds Past and Present along with a Visit to RSPB Burton Mere Wetlands NR

First view at RSPB Burton Mere Wetlands NR today.

Yellow wagtail in horse paddock at Leasowe.

Sparrowhawk in my garden 

Spotted redshanks at RSPB Burton Mere Wetlands NR

Water lilies on The Mere.

Great white egret on the reedbed.

Greylag geese on Bridge Pool.

Lapwing on Centenary Pool.

Lapwing on Centenary Pool

Bee feeding.

Grey heron near the Main Scrape.

Snail crossing the boardwalk.

Snail pace!

Walks and Dates July 2025

Wednesday and Saturday Walks.

It is still the holiday season, so I have decided not to suggest specific walks each Wednesday and Saturday. 

Instead I have suggested a few walks to choose from, if you want to walk.

All walks during July will be on request.

One or more short walks a month could be included on request.

Wednesday 2nd July 2025.

No planned walk.

I will probably go birdwatching to see the Little terns at Gronant.

Wednesday 9th July 2025.

Ffrith Mountain and the Alyn Gorge/Cilcain and the Alyn Valley

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 and Fran . 

Those not walking: .

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.

Wednesday 16th July 2025. 

Fron Hen, Loggerheads and Big Covert.

Distance: 7-8 miles. Climb: 1250'.

Start: Layby on the A494 Mold to Ruthin Road, about 1/2 mile South of Llanferres. Grid ref: SJ187597.

Leave Chester 09-00 a.m.

Those planning to walk: Martyn, Fran, Nigel.

Those not walking: .

This walk explores the lower slopes of the Clwydians on the way to Loggerheads and eturns to Llanferres along the Western edge of Big Covert.

This a walk that Mike and I did in February this year, but hopefully the weather this time will be a little kinder.

Wednesday 23rd July 2025. 

Cwm Disgynfa and Bryn Golau.

Distance: 8.5 miles Climb: 1500’.

Start: Park in either of two lay-bys on the A541 Mold to Denbigh Road. Grid ref: SJ143711.

The lay-bys are situated about 0.75 miles east of Afonwen.

Leave Chester 09-00 a.m.

Those planning to walk: Martyn and Nigel.

Those not walking: Fran.

This walk combines two walks from Dave Berry’s booklet “More Walks On The Clwydian Hills.

The Cwm Dysgynfa walk is described as a walk around the attractive Disgynfa Valley and across the lower eastern slopes of Penycloddiau, reaching a height of 1066’.

The Bryn Golau walk is described as a walk exploring the hills and valleys near Nannerch, descending to Melin-y-Wern before following the delightful river valley.

As far as I know, we haven't done this combination of walks before.

Wednesday 30th July 2025. 

Ysceifiog Lake, Caerwys, Maes-Mynan and Pwll-Gwyn Woods.

Distance: 8.5 miles. Climb:1400'. 
Start: Ysceifiog. Park next to the village play area. Grid ref: SJ152715.
Leave Chester 09-00 a.m.

The last record of the group doing this walk was in November 2011. With a recorded distance of nearly 12 miles, I cut out part of the walk to shorten the distance a little.
This walk combines two walks taken from Dave Berry's book "More Walks On the Clwydian Hills". Both walks we have done several times, but not for some time. One walk is described as a delightful walk exploring the valley and foothills of the Clwydian Hills and the other walk as exploring the attractive and varied countryside overlooking the Wheeler Valley. Perhaps this time we will actually go round Pwll Gwyn Woods!

As most of the group are away on holiday or have other commitments, I have decided not to suggest walks each Wednesday.

List of Possible Wednesday Walks.

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, . 

Those not walking: .

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.

The Alyn Valley and Coed Ddu.

Distance: 7 miles. Climb: 1200'. (8.5 miles. Climb; 1300', if we do the there and back to Hendre).

Start: Car park area West of Cilcain. Grid ref: SJ170652.
To get to the car park take A541Mold - Denbigh Road. After Hendre take the road signposted Cilcain. In the centre of Cilcain, at a crossroads turn right (West) and continue West past the church. After about 400 yards take the minor road left. The parking area is about 300 yards along this road, on the right after a few houses. In all about 700 yards from the crossroads in Cilcain.

This walk is taken from Dave Berry's booklet More Walks on the Clwydian Range".

It is described as as a walk exploring the attractive varied countryside between Hendre and Cilcain.

We last did this walk around 2015, but then we included Plas Plas-yw and the distance was over 11 miles with a climb of over 2000'', too much for me!

The walk is shorter than usual, but I can't see an easy way to extend the walk without missing out large parts of the described route. We could do a there and back from point 2 on the route to Hendre and this would allow us to experience all of the walk as described.  This would add an extra 1.5 miles and 100' of climb.

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.

Cwm Dysgyfna and around Bryn Golau 23rd July 2025

 

A visitor to my garden yesterday.

A Sparrowhawk patiently waits for visitors to my bird feeders.

Thankfully without success when I was watching.

Looking back to the lay-by and the start of our walk today.

The road that effectively is the start and finish of the walk today.

the start of the greenway.

Knapweed on the roadside,

Harebellls next to the greenway.

Penycoddiau.

Is it a wasp or fly? 

It is a Giant horsefly (Tabanus sudeticus).

Nigel waits at the gate.

Is that an orange phone next ti Nigel?

Distant views to the north are not too good!

The path contouring around the north east slopes of Penycloddiau.

Rosebay willowherb blocks the distant views.

Yes, thef are still soe boggy bits that need to be negotiated.

"Can you see a a path through this reedy area?"

Nigel heads for gate that allows us to escape from the reedy area.

Our lunchtime view from our lunch spot next to the entrance to Caban Eric.

A Meadow brown butterfly on the road leading to Nannerch.

An Ox-eye daisy and feeding insect next t the road leading to Nannerch

A Mute swan on the one of the fishing lakes at Wal-goch.

Nannerch's well known hostelry, but it's too soon for us

St., Michael and All Angel's Church at Nannerch.

One of many Specked wood butterflies seen today.

Bryn Rug hillfort.

On the delightful riverside6 path.

The last road walk of the day.

Looking aross te valley to St., Mary's Church, Ysceifiog.

Look at my new shirt!

Halkyn Walkers 2023.

Halkyn Walkers 2024.

These last two photos could apply to us as well!

Distance: 8.7 miles.

Climb: 1414’

Time: 5 hours 34 minutes.

On the move walking average: 2.4 m.p.h.

Overall walk average: 1.6 m.p.h.

Temperature: 17.2 Celsius to 21,2 Celsius.

Beaufort Wind Force: 0 – 3. Mainly no noticeable wind, but when it blew, it was always welcome. Towards the end of the walk, it briefly reached a 10.1 m.p.h. Gentle breeze.

Group: Martyn and Nigel. Fran had a last minute more important appointment to take her very old cat to the vet for the last time.

The temperature today was much better for walking, although at times it did feel rather humid.

This proved to be a varied walk, including country roads, stony tracks, greenways, boggy paths, reedy pathless sections, woodland paths and paths by a stream through a wood.

Lunch was taken, sitting on the roadside next to Caban Eric. Just before lunch we met a local walking her dog. We assumed that she was a Welsh speaker, as the dog responded to instruction in Welsh!

Birds seen or heard today included: Woodpigeon, Goldfinch, Jackdaw, Common blackbird, Carrion crow, Coal tit, Common buzzard, Winter wren, Mistle thrush, Mute swan, Black billed magpie, House martin, Barn swallow, Grey heron and Wood nuthatch,

We did see lots of butterflies including: Small white, Large white, Meadow brown, Small tortoiseshell and Gatekeeper.

Overall, an enjoyable walk, despite route finding was challenging at times, but most of it was our fault as Dave Berry’s route description was really good!

After walk drinks were enjoyed at the Blue Bell Inn in Halkyn, where I enjoyed Gwynt y Ddraig’s Black Dragon cider and Nigel had a pint of lemonade without ice!

Home in time to clean my boots outside and complete the tortuous job of removing seeds that had attached themselves to my socks!