Looking towards the Great Orme and Little Orme from the Bryn Pydew Obelisk.
Looking across the Conwy estuary and the North Wales Coast from the Bryn Pydew Obelisk.
The Bryn Pydew Obelisk.
The delightful shaded bridle way along the west side of Coed Bron Garth.
An unfriendly stile on the edge of Coed Bron Garth.
Even these calves were taking it easy.
Pyramidal Orchids on the path East of Bryn Pydew Nature Reserve.
Distant views of the Bryn Pydw Obelisk from the leading South east from St David's College.
Even the sheep preferred to stay in the shade.
The Bryn Pydew Obelisk from the circular path through Marl Hall Woods.
The view across Conwy from the viewpoint on the cliffs above Marl Hall Woods Nature Reserve car Park. Still on the circular path through Marl hall Woods.
At the well in Marl Hall Woods.
At last a proper home for the contents of the blue string bag - back at the car park!
Walk stats: Distance: 7.1 miles. Climb: 987'.
Time: 4 hours 56 minutes. On the move walking average: 2.0 m.p.h. Overall walk average: 1.4 m.p.h.
Group: Martyn and Ed.
Both of us arrived early at the car park, so we were well on our way by 10-00. The temperature and humidity today were much better than last Thursday, especially as we started through a section of Marl Hall Woods.
The first objective was the Bryn Pydew Obelisk and with visibility o the good side, the views across the estuary towards Conwy Mountain and Snowdonia were good, although some of the high tops weren't totally clear.
Approaching Garfield from Fron Farm we experienced a very strong smell of pigs, but never spotted the animals themselves.
The Cystennin Road proved to be quite busy, so took the first path that we could that took us along the Western edge of Coed Bron Garth. Apart from the awkward unfriendly stile on leaving the forest, this a delightful path on warm sunny days like today kept us in the shade.
Birds seen and heard today were few and far between, but as we descended the path between the two sections of Bryn Pydew Nature Reserve we did see two Bullfinches - always a good spot!
A little further along this path as we approached the old quarries Pyramid orchid were plentiful and in flower.
After noting that the Queen's Head in Glanwydden was open, (you never know when you might need emergency liquid refreshment on a walk!), we headed along the road in a South west direction, wondering where we might find a sheltered spot for lunch. Thankfully on the edge of the village we did, a wall that in one small section was in the shade of tall roadside vegetation.
After a shorter than usual lunch of just 25 minutes we headed for Lon yr Efail to Glodaeth Lane and the climb along Coed Isaf and past St. David's College.
We were in danger of getting back to the car very early, so Ed suggested a slightly different route that involved taking a track that had waist high vegetation and the ploughed fields - not a good choice! However it did give us the option of exploring paths in Eastern Covert that led to a circular path through Marl Hall Woods.
After visiting the well in Marl Hall Woods we followed the lower path back to the car.
Much of the route today, particularly near the start had an abundance of litter, so I thought the blue string bag should be put into use. What I didn't expect that the first bin would be the one in the car park at the start of the walk.
Birds seen or heard today included: Jackdaw, House sparrow, Raven, Barn swallow, Woodpigeon, Common blackbird, Black-billed magpie, Eurasian jay, Common buzzard, Blue tit, Great tit and Common buzzard.
We arrived back at the cars, having had a good walk, completed before the temperature became unpleasantly hot.
This was another day when I had to wait until I got home to celebrate the walk with several cups of tea and watch the end of the test match at Lords.
