St.Dyfnog's Well, Llwyn Wood, Coed Mawr and More 17th August 2022.

The Clwydian Hills as we left Brookhouse on the path next to the Afon Ystrad.

"Is that the best way to get over a stile?"

"I don't get I've already done it!"

The last to emerge from the challenge of the day.

Moel Famau in the distance as we approached Llanrhaedr.

The Tree of Jesse Window (1533) in St. Dyfnog's Church.

Ready for a dip?

St. Dyfnog's Well, Llanrhaeaedr.

Denbigh Castle from the roadnorth of Ystrad Farm.

Walk stats: 

4 miles. Climb: 490'. 

Time: 4 hours 10 minutes. Walking average: 2,2 m.p.h. Overall walk average: 1.7 m.p.h.

Temperature: 20.2 Celsius. Max - 22.4 Celsius.

Beaufort Wind Force: 0 - 1. Mainly calm and rarely rising to light air.

Humidity very high, particularly after lunch.

Group: Martyn, David S., Fran, Nigel and Ed.

the forecast for today, suggested it woold be dry with a feel like temperature in the mid-teens, but alas it was never less than 20.2 Celsius.

As we arrived at the start, Fran, already booted up was ooking towards the Afon Ystrad and shouted out "Was that a Kingfisher?"  She described it as a bright blue bird - it must be a Kingfisher.  Without any further evidence we can only take her word for it!

Birds seen or heard today included: Grey heron, Raven, House sparrow, House martin, Barn swallow, Black billed magpie, Jackdaw, Carrion crow, Comon buzzard, Woodpigeon, Mallard and Fran's Kingfisher.

Overall this was an enjoyable and varied walk, with the only challenge being a Maize field that we had to cross at right angles to the way the crop had been sown. It wa above head hight, so at one point we deviated from the actual path slightly.

We had lunch at St. Dyfnog's Church where bench seats allowed us some comfort as we enjoyed our break with views towards the Clwydian Hills.

Fortified fruit cake was provided in celebration of one of the group's birthday yesterday.

after luunch. our rote took us towards an old golf couse and went through a section being converted into a lodge stile holiday park.

Any extension to visit Denbigh Castle was vetoed very early on after lunch, but there wasn't any real dissent when we arrived at the point wherethe decision had to be made!

Overall an enjoyable walk, and after rejecting one brew (tasting past its best) on offer at the Dinorban Arms, Bodfari we had it exchanged for more drinkable pints of their own labelled bitter and Timothy Taylor's Bolt Maker.

 

Denbigh, the Ystrad Valley and More 5th March 2022

 

Denbigh Casle from the start of the walk.

On the way to the Gwaynynog estate - inspiration for Beaatrice Potter's Peter Rabbit.

Gwaynynog through the trees.

The memorial to Dr Samuel Johnson next to mthe Afon Ystrad,

The site of Dr Samuel Johnson's cottage in the Ystrad Valley.

A fantastic show of  Crocus in the grounds of a house next the the Afon Ystrad.

The Clwydian hills from the path east of Segrwyd,

Checking on the latest set of lambs - the first tha we have seen this year.

Denbigh Castle from our lunch spot.

Stanley's statue in the centre of Denbigh.

The Clwydians above Denbigh rom Denbigh Quarry.

Distance: 7.5 mils. Climb: 950'.

Time: 4 hours 26 minutes. On the move walking average: 2.2 m.p.h. Overallwalk average: 1.7 m.p.h.

Beaufort Wind Force: 0 - 2. calm, light air and occasionly a light breeze.

Temperature: 9.2 Celsius at lunch, feeling cooler at the start and warmer when shelterted and in the Sun.

This was a glorious day for walking, a compensation for the many muddy paths encountered on route. Thankfully some of us arrived at home in time to clean our boots still in the warm sunshine. 

This was the first time that I had done this walk in an anticlockwise direct, so it gave me different views  to enjoy and with trees devoid of foliage we could even see the former Denbigh Hospital to the niorth of our path.

The surprise of the day was a fantastic display of Crocus next to the Afon Ystrad in the grounds odf a house that we went through.

Lunch was taken just outside the entrance of Denbigh Castle, but the ony available seat was in the shade, so we took advantage of remains of a stone wall nearby.

After lunch Ed took us on a tour of Denbigh, a little contrived with some interesting historicalbits and one goofd viewpoint over bthetown towards the Clwydian Hills, but an extension that has a good chance of not being srepeated!

 Birds see or heard today incuded: Grweat tit, Blue tit, Wood nuthatch, Common buzzard, Common pheasant, Comon blackbird House sparrow, Rook, Carrion crow and Jackdaw, 

Overall a good and enjoyable walk, only marred by the lack of a suitable hostelry to visit in Denbigh!