Rhos-on-Sea, Bryn Euryn and Coed Pwllcrochan 5th July 2012

At the start of the walk in Rhos-on-Sea.

At the ruins of Llys Euryn.

At the trig point on Bryn Euryn.

At the trig point on Bryn Euryn - Paul's "chosen shot"!

Walk stats: Distance: 11.2 miles. Climb: 1736'.

Time: 6 hours 4 minutes. On the move walking average: 2.3 m.p.h. Overall walk average: 1.8 m.p.h.

Group: Martyn, Paul, David S., Sylvia and Dave J., and Phil.

Starting at Rhos-on-Sea, the first part of the walk was a little contrived, but it was pleasant enough walking along the promenade overlooking the sea.

The weather was kind to us all day, if somewhat humid at times, and we finished the walk in glorious sunshine. It was even warm enough for a dip, but we had no takers!

As usual, we didn't quite take the the right route to the summit of Bryn Euryn, but we did get there and were able to find the right path heading South.

We had lunch on the limestone ridge at Llangwynstenin.  All went well until about 20 bullocks came to investigate the odd bods on their patch! Dave J eventually let then kn ow that they weren't welcome! 

Sylvia had baked some lovely chocolate cookies as it was Dave J's birthday, a real pensioner at last, and still walking faster than most of us!

We came across some workers putting up new signs for Coed Pwllcrochan, and as we went round them, both Dave J and myself slipped in the mud. thankfully neither of us was hurt in any way apart from pride and a bit of mud where we didn't want it!

This was more of an up and down walk than perhaps you would expect starting from Rhos-on-Sea, but we did get some good view point, especially towards the sea and the Great Orme.

Birds seen or heard today included: House sparrow, Jackdaw, Goldfinch, Common blackbird, Chiffchaff, Winter wren, Blue tit, Black headed gull. Herring gull, Lesser black-backed gull, Great cormorant, Sandwich tern, Oystercatcher, Carrion crow and Eurasian curlew.

After walk drinks were enjoyed at the Britannia Inn at Halkyn, where the Lees bitter went down really well.

Talacre to Prestatyn 23rd June 2012

The lighthouse at Talacre.

The final stretch of the beach to Prestatyn.

Looking back towards Talacre.

Walk stats: Distance: 8.6 mile. Climb: 100' at a guess!

Time: 3 hours 58 minutes. On the move walking average: 2.7 m.p.h. Overall walk average: 2.1 m.p.h.

Group: Martyn and Roger.

The walk didn't start well, Roger found that he had left his walking boots at home and decided to walk in ordinary shoes and fifteen minutes into the walk as we approached the lighthouse, Martyn thought that he could feel spots of rain on the back of his legs, but found that it was his drink leaking from the bottom of his rucksack (the tubing on his platypus had pulled loose!).

It was a glorious day for walking on the beach and for most of the morning we had it to ourselves, except for the odd dog walker at the start.  However we did have to battle against a pretty strong wing that produced a sand storm. Thankfully the sand grains never got more than a foot off the ground, so it was only our legs that got battered.

Birds were difficult to hear as the noise of the wind drowned most of the sound. We did however hear quite a lot of Skylarks singing in the dune and above the marshy areas.  Undoubtedly the birds of the day were the Little terns at Gronant, where we must have seen over 100 flying above their protected nesting site.

Birds seen or heard today included: Skylark, Meadow pipit, Herring gull, Great black-backed gull, Lesser black-backed gull, Black-headed gull, Carrion crow, Little tern, Common tern, Mute swan, Mallard, Greenfinch, Sedge warbler, Common whitethroat, Sedge warbler, Reed bunting, House sparrow, House martin, Barn swallow, Common swift, Common starling, Kestrel, Oystercatcher and Black-billed magpie.

Lunch was taken in the shelter of the sand dunes near Presthaven holiday camp. As ate lunch we had good views of the incoming tide, pushing the gulls and the Common terns onto the beach in front of us.

After lunch we took the inland path that eventually goes through "The Warren" and the nature reserve back to Talacre.  Unfortunately it meant that we had to go through the middle of the holiday camp before we reached "The Warren".  Roger wasn't sure that he really wanted to going through the camp, but it allowed us to see how busy the whole site was and that lots of family were enjoying themselves. Not everyone has to go great distances to have a good holiday, this corner of Wales has lots to offer  too!

After walk drinks were enjoyed at the Britannia Inn at Halkyn, where the Lees bitter was still on form. Drinks over by 14-00 hours, Roger managed to get the OK to return early!

A good walk, mainly in sunshine, and the only rain was in the car park at the Brit!