A Riverside Walk with an added Sealand and Hawarden Bridge Loop 30th Deceber 2020

A Riverside Walk with an added Sealand and Hawarden Bridge Loop.

Heading towards the sun over Queensferry.

Approaching the Blue (Red dragonBridge over the A494 Welsh Road.

Snow on the Clwydian Hills - seen from the Blue (Red dragon, Bridge).

A colourful Route 5 signpost.

Approaching the Blue Queensferry Road Bridge from Hawarden Bridge.

Hitching a ride in "windy" conditions?

Distance: 13.0 miles. Climb: 198'.
4 hours 48 minutes. On the move walking average: 3.0 m.p.h. Overall walk average: 2.7 m.p.h.
Group: Martyn.

I was in two minds as to whether to walk today, especially after the Chester Branch cancelled their walk, but at least i was walking from home so icy roads wasn't an issue.

I set off in my full Paramo winter gear, anticipating wintery showers and that's what I got. after an hour the rain, almost sleet at times was in my face, and I almost decided to head back for home. Thankfully I pressed on and after an hour of feeling sorry for myself, it cleared up and remained dry for the rst of the walk - at times it was even sunny!

This was the first time that I had explored the link from the Wales Coastal Path to the Hawarden Bridge to Chester Path /Greenway Cycle route that crossed the A494 Welsh Road via the Blue (Red Dragon) Bridge.

Although not planned, I ended up walking with a dog walker for quite a while on the Hawarden Bridge Loop, naturally keeping to the rcommended social distance all the time. He shared some interesting memories of his time working at the former John Summers Steel Works that we approached on this part of the walk. I even have another path to investigate in the future, although it is a there and back path on the north side of the river from Hawarden Bridge.

I don't know what wa happening in North Wales today, but I was surprised to see at least 4 private jets come into land at Hawarden Airport, no Beluga and only the Police Helicopert took off!

Birds seen or heard today included: Mallard Moorhen, Common blackbird, Collard dove, Woodpigeon, European robin, Goldfinch, Long-tailed tit, Common kestrel, Redwing, Fieldfare, Common starling, Grey heron, Great cormorant, Black headed gull, Herring gull, Black billed magpie, Pied wagtail, Grey wagtail, Commo chaffinch, Rook, Jackdaw, Dunnock, Winter wren and Carrion crow.

Overall an enjoyable walk, no stopping for lunch and ready to put my feet up when I arrived home!

Saltney Riverside to Queensferry and Back 24th December 2020

Saltney Riverside to Queensferry and Back.

Looking towards Queensferry from the Saltney Ferry Footbridge.

Great cormorants resting on the wooden jetty near Sandycroft.

What's new on the Wales Coast Path?

Heading back to the Higher Ferry 

or 

What's new on the Wales Coast Path?

Distance: 9.4 miles. Climb: 80'.
Time: 3 hours 9 minutes. On the move walking average: 3.3 m.p.h. Overall walk average: 3.0 m.p.h.
Group: Martyn.

The weather today was too good to be inside, so just after 09-30, I set off.   Initially I had planned to go as far as the Sealand Pumping Station, but arriving there, the warm sunshine encouraged me to carry on as far as the Queensferry Road Bridge.  On this occasion, I decided to keep to good tarmac paths and retraced my steps back to the Higher Ferry Footbridge - just because I wanted to keep my boots clean.

Lots of people were out, walkers, dog walkers, joggers, bike riders and ues the odd lycra lout racer. It's amazing how many of them have bright coloured gear so that they can se them a long way off in front of you, but so few seem to have a bell or audible means of warning to let you know they are approaching from behind!

Wales is supposed to be in "stay at home" lockdown with all exercise starting and finishing at home, but the parking areas on both sides of the Saltney Ferry / Higher Ferry Footbridge were full as I went past just before mid-day. I suppose it is possible that all the drivers/passengers of these vehicles had disabilities that gave them a legitimate reason for driving to the start to take their exercise.

Birds seen or heard today included: Mallard, Moorhen, Great cormorant, Grey heron, European robin, Fieldfare, Common blackbird, Jackdaw, Carrion crow, Pied wagtail, House sparrow, Rook, Black billed magpie, Woodpigeon, Collared dove, Dunnock, Black headed gull and Herring gull.

It was bright and sunny throughout the walk, at times feeling chilly in the northerly wind, my only regret was not wearing sunglasses!

If you hadn't spotted the "What's new on the Wales Coast Path", it is in fact the appearance of a new fence from the Sealand Pumping Station to the Queensferry Roadbridge, although there are stil gaps at each of the passing places.