Melin-y-Wig and Derwen 3rd July 2024

Looking south over the Vale of Clwyd from the path west of Boncyn Foel-bach car park.

Exploring the path into Clocaenog Forest.

Forest  track prepared for heavy vehicles!

Getting round one of the fallen trees.

That's one fallen tree negotiated, many more to follow!

The first welcoming party.

Derwen Fisheries ahead.

Waiting for "chatter boxes"! 

The new  community orchard opposite the  chapel in Melin-y-Wig.

Our lunch spot by the Afon Clwyd.

The rest of the roup at our lunch spot by the Afon Clwyd.

St. Mary's Church, Derwen.

Inside St. Mary's Church, Derwen.

He doesn't look ready to preach!

At   Ffynnon Sarah.

Our second encounter of the bovine kind.

Final views of the Clwydian Hills.

Walk Stats:
Distance: 8.3 miles. Climb: 1076’
Time: 4 hours 53 minutes.
On the move walking average: 2.4 m.p.h.
Overall walk average: 1.7 m.p.h.
Temperature: Around 17.1 Celsius for most of the walk..
Beaufort Wind Force: Max 3. A 10.2 m.p.h. Gentle breeze.
Group: Martyn, Sue and Michel, Nigel, Fran and Ed.
The weather forecast today was looking OK, largely cloudy with the chance of light showers.
In fact, it was much better than that, a little dampness in the air from time to time, but never enough to warrant putting on waterproofs or using an umbrella.
In order to avoid walking along the main road, we took a loop through the Clocaenog Forest and one I will do again if I do the walk in the future.
Once more we had problems going through the forest south east of Glan-y-gors farm. It starts off way and becomes almost impossible to follow through tangled maze of fallen trees that seem to block you in every direction.
Once we had escaped from the forest we were welcomed by a herd of young cows, but they soon dispersed as we approached.
Walking along the road to Melin-y-Wig we had good views to the west.
Walking next to the Afon Clwyd is always delightful, although it is getting close to collapsing into the river in places.
Lunch was taken next to the Afon Clwyd, where fallen trees provided suitable perching places.
Not my choice of a lunch spot as I was attacked by Horse flies, but thankfully after a few minutes the departed.
Arriving at Derwen, St. Mary’s Church was open, so we took a look inside. It’s a shame that this is no longer in use as “God’s House”.
Once more we found the area around the stile so overgrown that we had to use the nearby gate which is also not easy to use.
Disinfectant foot baths were still in use as we approached the “chicken farm” to Braich.
At Braich we had to go through a field with lots of calves, their mothers and presumably their father in attendance. Thankfully we were able to escape into the adjacent field before getting too close, although they did start to approach us.
Overall, an enjoyable walk, with the after-walk drinks to look forward to. We ended up at the Glasfryn after finding the Druids Inn at Llanferres closed. Purple Moos’s Cwrw Eryri was the beer of choice.
Birds seen or heard today: Carrion crow, Jackdaw, House sparrow, Dunnock,
European robin, Common blackbird, Chiffchaff, Winter wren, Woodpigeon, Common buzzard Wood nuthatch, Canada goose and Grey heron.

Lady Bagot's Drive from Ruthin 1st November 2023

The first field path as we left Llanfwrog.

The Clwydian Hills above Golflinks farm.

The first rainbow of the day.

The best Autumnal colours so far seen seen on our walks this year.

The Afon Clywedog near Berth.

The Afon Clywedog from Lady Bagot's Drive.

The Afon Clywedog from Lady Bagot's Drive.

On Lady Bagot's Drive.

The Afon Clywedog from Lady Bagot's Drive.

The Afon Clywedog from Lady Bagot's Drive.

Leaving Lady Bagot's s Drive into Coed Nant on the way to Rhewl.

Our best view of the Clwydian Hills has we decended on the path from Coed Nant to Rhewl.

I've had better views from my lunch spot!

Moel Famau in a better mood!

Plas-y-Ward.

The weir on the Afon Clwyd - no leaping Salmon bit the ste of a Dipper.

The Afon Clwyd from the footbridge at Ruthin.

Fran's double rainbow above the houses in Ruthin.

Last view of the rainbove over the Ruthin Craft Centre Roundabout.

Walk Stats:

Distance: 8.9 miles. Climb: 682’.

Time: 4 hours 35 minutes. On the move walking average: 2.3 m.p.h.

Overall walk average: 1.9 m.p.h.

Temperature: 13.1 Celsius, a temperature that remained around 13 Celsius throughout the walk.

Beaufort Wind force: 0-4. Max just a Moderate Breezeo of just over 12 m.p.h.

Group: Martyn, Nigel, Fran, Mike and Ed.

The weather forecast suggested that we had a good chance o getting wet, particularly before lunch.

We all ended up wearing our waterproofs, but we didn’t really get enough of the wet stuff to justify keeping them on all morning.

In fact the heaviest rain occurred as we walked to the car from the Wetherspoon’s Ruthin Castle after enjoying liquid refreshments.

Throughout the walk we were grateful to find conditions underfoot were not as boggy as we had anticipated. However our boots did end up with plenty of mud in the treads, giving us the task of cleaning them when we got home – but not today!

Lady Bagot’s Drive was delightful, especially with plenty of water flowing down the Afon Clywedog,

Early on in the walk we had our first rainbow, but the best one was to come later.

We had good views of the Clwydians hills before lunch and after lunch just ass we were leaving Rhewl.

The surprise of the day was seeing a sheep walking on only its front legs with its back legs high in th air, we can only assume it ws lame in both of the back legs.

Lunch was taken at Rhewl where we took advantage of the seats available near the bus stop adjacent to the Drover’s Arms.

We didn’t see any salmon leaping by the weir on the Afon Clwyd, but we did see a Dipper!

Birds seen or heard today included: Carrion crow, Rook, Jackdaw, Common buzzard, Common pheasant, European robin, Mallard, Common coot, Mute swan, Woodpigeon, House sparrow, Little egret, Grey heron, Herring gull and Dipper. Overall an enjoyable walk, capped by EVERYONE liquid refreshments and approving our hostelry of choice!

St. Dyfnog's Well and Llyn Wood 20th September 2023

Ball watching on th Afon Ystrad at Brookhouse.

More ball watching on th Afon Ystrad at Brookhouse.

The ball escapes at the "bush" takes over and we wait for the upton contingent to arrive!

Our first view of the Clwydians as we walked alomg the east bank of the Afon Ystrad,

Cows crossing the Afon Yrstad - first for me.

Cows crossing the Afon Yrstad, but there is still some that need encouraging to go the right way.

Guilty!

The view from my "happy bush"

"Are you sure we are still on the path?"

"I'm not sure either."

"Do you realise we have just walked throuigh that maize field!"

The Jesse window at St. Dynog's Church, Llanrhaedre.

Our lunch spot aat St. Dynog's Church, Llanrhaedre.

Ann Parry's graves stone, a special holy women that God spoke to and kept his promiss to her.

St. Dyfnog's Well and babtismal pool.

Are these the three wise men?
No they just don't know where they are going!

The Clwydian Hills as we  left Llwyn bach towards Ystrad Hall.

Final views of the Clwydian Hills.

The trapped bush has escaped!

Walk Stats:

Distance: 7.8 miles. Climb: 617’. (7.5 m.p.h. 685’)

Time: 4 hours 54 minutes. On the move walking average: 2.0 m.p.h. (2.1 m.p.h,)

Overall walk average: 1.7 m.p.h. (1.6 m.p.h.)

Temperature: At 17.8 Celsius at the start and didn’t change much throughout the walk, reaching 18.3 Celsius mid-afternoon.

Beaufort Wind force: 0 – 3. Mainly calm /light air, but briefly reached a 10.2 m.p.h. gentle breeze, but never feeling cold.

Group: Martyn. Sue and Michel, Ed, Nigel, Fran and Mike.

A later than usual start as the Met forecast indicated that there would be heavy rain until about 11-00. It was about 11-15 by the time we set off from our parking spot at Brookhouse as part of the group had difficulty finding the start point!

This is a walk we have done many times, but the paths have often been overgrown with vegetation in places, today was no exception.

The first surprise today was seeing cows being driven across the Afon Ystrad.

The first challenge of the day was on the path next to the Afon Clwyd where ever stile was broken and a challenge to the over seventies to climb over!

The second challenge was crossing the maize field as we headed towards Llanrhaedre, but eventually we all managed to escape and were happy to find the road and the path to our lunch spot at St.Dyfnog’s Church at Llanrhaedre.

After lunch everyone went into St. Dyfnog’s Church to see the Jesse window before visiting Ann Parry’s Grave and St. Dyfnog’s Well.

Route finding after leaving St. Dyfnog’s Well is always a challenge as the route description has changed, today was no exception, but we eventually got back on track.

The original description describes going through a golf course, but now it goes through a holiday lodge park with good path markers.

At one point we went past Mike’s cousin’s cottage, and luckily she was in the garden as e went past.

On this occasion, no one wanted to go on the Denbigh Castle extension, and preferred to head back to the cars and head to a suitable hostelry for refreshments.

Birds seen or heard today included: Common buzzard. Great cormorant, Mallard, Woodpigeon, Common blackbird, Jackdaw, Rook, Barn swallow and Mike’s Kingfisher.

It was a good decision to start an hour later and after a brief rain shower requiring the use of an umbrella; it was largely bright and sunny.

Overall an enjoyable walk worth celebrating at the Dinorben Arms at Bodfari, even if he price of a pint is on the rather pricy side!

Arriving at home, it was even warm enough to be able to clean my boots outside before enjoying the Bayern Munich v Man U match on TV!

Melin-y-Wig and Derwen 30th August 2023

A suggested very short walk from Boncyn Llys car park.

The only part of the suggested walk that we followed, the path through the delightful Beech avenue.

Typical problems through the forest south of Glan-y-gorse.

Fungi seen in the forest south of Glan-y-gorse.

The only way to go is this way, even if we want to go in the opposite direction!

The same photo with a little more added light!

A different fungi seen in the forest south of Glan-y-gorse.

Is it or isn't it Moel Famau?

The view from our lunch spot, looking towarsds Melin-y-Wig.

About to leave our lunch spt near the two river gates.

The reason for the river gates.

A training jeyt flies over the opposite side of the valley southwest of Derwen.

The preaching cross in the grounds of St. Mary's Church at Derwen.

St.Mary's Church, Derwen, still God's House.

Ffynnon Sarah.

A good view of the Clwydian Hills.

Walk Stats:
Distance: 8.7 miles. Climb: 1027’. (7.8 m.p.h. 839’)
Time: 4 hours 53 minutes. On the move walking average: 2.0 m.p.h. (2.1 m.p.h,)
Overall walk average: 1.8 m.p.h. (1.6 m.p.h.)
Temperature: At 16.7 (most of the walk) – 22.7 (at Derwen in the Sun) Celsius
Beaufort Wind force: 0 – 2. Mainly Calm /light air, but briefly reached a 7.7 m.p.h. light breeze.
Group: Martyn, Fran, Nigel and Ed.
The forecast for today kept changing, but all suggested it would be better in the afternoon. We arrived at the start with it raining, but only had to sit in the cars for a few minutes before it stopped. Rain was still a possibility in the morning, so some of us were still armed with our umbrellas!
At the start there was a short walk posted on the notice board, perhaps we should one day follow this route as an extension to our planned walk. The only part of this route we followed was the delightful path through the avenue of Beech trees.
As ever the challenge today would be path finding through the forest south of Glan-y-gors. Today was no exception, but Ed using his GPS with its map succeeded in getting us to the exit stile that we wanted.
As we descended the road towards Melin-y-Wig it started to rain, just enough for us to don waterproof jackets or use an umbrella. Thankfully it didn’t last and for the rest of the walk it was the Sun that made us feel it was a little on the warm side.
Just after passing through Melin-y-Wig we followed the path along the bank of the Afon Clwyd, and near two gates across the river, we stopped for lunch, taking advantage of fallen trees or the stile as perching spots.
At Glyn Mawr, much restoration of the cottages and outbuildings had been made and wild flowers made a delightful splash of colour next to two of the walls opposite the cottage. I should have taken a photo!
At Derwen we visited St. Mary’s Church, no longer used for services, but as the gate said still “God’s House”.
After visiting Ffynnon Sarah, we headed along the track towards the chicken farm and at the gate we all put our boots through the Quill disinfectant boot wash.
As we approached Braich, we were greeted by two children (and their mother) waving to us. Some of us waved back.
As we reached the road, it was good to see that a new gate had been installed and the hazards we had to negotiate last time were no longer there. Reporting problems to the local Rights of Way Officers can sometimes get good results.
Birds seen or heard today included: Black billed magpie, House martin, Barn swallow, Eurasian jay, House sparrow, Grey heron, Jackdaw, Rook, Carrion crow, Woodpigeon and Common buzzard.
Overall an enjoyable walk, despite the bad points being highlighted on my blog description of the walk!
After walk drinks were enjoyed at the Druids Inn at Llanferres, where Purple Moose’s Cwrw Eryri went down well, but Fran as the driver had to do with a glass of Coca Cola and a packet of crisps!