A Watkin Path Adventure 21st April 2021

The new path at the start of the Watkin Path.

The new access path section of the Watkin Path

Thwe first waterfalls come into view.

Thankfully Ed didn't make a speach!

One of the many Wheatears seen today.

The view from my lunch spot.

Ed's view from our lunch spot.

The summit clears!

One of the many waterfalls seen from the Watkin Path.

Crossing the bridge with the best views of tw waterfalls.

Another Wheatear turns ts back on us.

Final view of the summit from the Nan Gwynnant Car Park (now Pay and Dislay - £6 for over 4 hours - I got my money worth today!)

Distance: 6.2 miles (7.5 miles). Climb: 1861'. (2264').
Time: 6 hours 11 minutes. On the move walking average: 1. 6 m.p.h. Overall walk average: 1.0 m.p.h.
Temp: 11.6 Celsius (Max). Beafort Wind Force: 2 (Light breeze).
Group: Martyn and Ed.

he big mistake of the day was believing the weather forecast predicting feel like temperatures of -3 Celsius and cold north east winds gusting to 24 m.p.h. i know we didn't make it to the summit, but we ended up cooking in our Winter weather gear. I only felt comfotable after lunch when I changed into my shorts at short sleeve shirt to make the final descent from the top quarry buildings.

We only saw the summit an hour after we decided to return back down the Watkin Path to Nant Gwynnant.

Birds seen or heard today included: Great spotted woodpecker, Black billed magpie, Chiffchaff, Willow warbler, Wheatear, Raven, Common blackbird, Goldfinch and Herring gull.
Overall an enjoyable walk, dspite our failure (mainly my Tortoise like pace) to reach the top, but at least I didn't break my the statement made over twenty years ago that I don't want to go up the Watkin Path to Snowdon ever again!

Halkyn Mountain, Moel Ffagnallt and Moel y Gaer, but not as we planned it 17th April 2017.

Roger at the trig point on Halkyn Mountain.

Hazy Moel Famau from the trig point on Halkyn Mountain.

A Willow warbler, south of Pen yr Henblas Quarry.

Limestone pavement we didn't expect to see!

Lamnb feeding near Moel Ffagnallt.

"Mum, we don't like the look of those two men".

The view from the Millenium Memorial Cairn on Moel Ffagnallt.

The rampart on Moel y Gaer with Halkyn in the distance.

The information board at Halkyn.

Distance: 9.4 miles. Climb: 1105'.
Time: 5 hours 6 minutes. On the move walking average: 2.4 m.p.h. Overall walk average: 1.8 m.p.h.
Bearfort Wind Force: 0 - 2 (Mainly calm, but very occasionally usting to a light breeze.)
Temperature: Max about 14.7 Celsius - pleasantly warm throughout the walk.
Group: Martyn and Roger.

Another great day for walking, blue skiesand Sun all day, the only down side was duistant views were very hazy.

We aren't complaining, it was great to have a Saturday walk that involved a little uphill and only gave distant views of any river.

Across Halkyn Mountain were were seranades by Skylarks, Chiffchaffs and Willow warblers, what more could you want.

All was going well until we tried locating paths around Linden Farm. stiles seemed be missing and some headed into overgrown scrub, but a friendly owner at Linden Farm but us right, but unfortunately sents us in totally the wrong direction. Seeing him agafter an hour of going in circles, he eventually pointed out the direction we really wanted to go in!

My advice to any walkers - don't plan to use any paths that go anywhere near Linden Farm, west of Pant-y-Pwll Quarry.

If I remembr correctly, Mike and I had problems trying to locate paths and stiles in this area on earlier ventures.

Thankfully we got back on track and on familiar territory on Halkyn Mountain, east of Pwll Melyn.

It was about 12-25 - time for lunch and found two convenient stones on which to sit and enjoy our lunch.

I presented Roger with a piece of my mature fruit cake and in turn he presented me with some Margaret's Welsh cakes - I think I got the better deal!

Having spent so much time in the "wilderness", we re-routed our walk and headed directly on the road to Moel y Crio and onto Moel y Gaer.

The final stretch of the wealk was along the road from the Rhosesmor Primary School back to the car to the Common Ground opposite the Blue Bell, Halkyn - sadly not allowed to open under current Welsh Covid Regulations.

Birds seen or heard today included: Black billed magpie, Woodpigeon, Common pheasant, Carion crow, Jackdaw, Raven, House sparrow, Dunnock, Chiffchaff, Winter wren, Willow warbler, Meadow pipit, Blue tit and Skylark.

We arrived back at the car, just after 14-30, in time to get home to watch TV at 15-00, that is if we wanted to watch TV then.

Another day when we ended up we clean boots, but the biggest bonus for me was, I still had five of Margaret's Welsh Cakes to eat when I got home!

A Huw Tom Trail Start, Foel Lus and More 14th April 2021

The beach view from Dwygyfylchi.

The sea still comes rolling in.

The infamous Penmaenmawr Quarry clock.

Ed at the New York Cottages, Penmaenmawr.

The miners' cottages on Erasmus Street.

At the start of the Jubilee Path around Foel Lus.

At the top of Foel Lus.

One of the many Wheatears seen today

A foel an mare on Waen Gyrach.

The valley track back to Dwygyfylchi.

Millenium stones at Dwygyfylchi.

Distance: 8.4 miles. Climb: 1360'.
Time 5 hours 8 minutes. On the move walking average: 2.4 m.p.h. Overall walk average: 1.6 m.ph.
Beaufort wind forces: 0 - 2 (Calm to light breeze - mainly the former.).
Temperature: Max 12.2 Celsius, but felt cooler out of the Sun.

Group: Martyn and Ed.

This could truthfully be described as a perfect day for walking, wall to wall blue sky for 90 of the walk, hardly any wind and warm sunshine enough to make you feel good! Definately a hkorts day!

The main objective of the walk wasto include the start of the Huw Tom trail that we missed out last week, but that only about three miles of our walk.

We started the walk from Dwygyfylchi and headed for the beach and onto Penmaenmawr. it was over sixty years ago that I last set foot on this beach!

The view towards te coast were superb, wih the Irish Sea looking blue and distance clouds looking like a mountain range. everyone we saw out walking spoke to us, whether in reply or being the first to say hello. what a good uplifting day this was!

After visiting the top of Foel Lus, we descended to the Huw Tom Tail, and had lunch at the same place as last week, but thankfullthis tim t was in sunshine and there was no hail!

Birds seen or heard today included: Greenfinch, Herring gull, Common blackbird, Chiffchaff, European robin, Winter wren, Skylark, Meadow pipit, European robin, Willow warbler, Common buzzard, Wheatear, Carron crow, Jackdaw, Raven, Collared dove, Stonechat, Meadow pipit, Black billed magpie and Skylark.

We arived back at the start, having has had wha was probably our best walk inthe "Welsh Stay n Wales" directive in 2021.

A Huw Tom Circuit from Rowen 7th April 2021

The start and finish of the walk today.

Llangelynin Old Church.

Don't follow anyone on this path!

The only crossing point over the Afon Gyrach for us today!

At the start of the Huw Tom Trail for us today - also our lunch spot.

Tal y Fan with a slight snow covering.

Welsh mountain ponies near Waen Gyrach.

Waen Gyrach.

What's that dot above Craig Celynin?

It's a Red kite.

Ed marks the centre of Caer Bach.

More traditional residents near Caer Bach.

Huw Tom's House.

A stone stile that I won't feel sorry if I don't ever cross it again!

The Cromlech seen from the north east side.

Distance: 8.8 miles. Climb: 2018' pm on GPS and 1796' on the other GPS.
Time: 5 hours 48 minutes. On the move walking average:2.0 m.p.h. Overall walkl average: 1.5 m.p.g.
Beaufort Wind Force: Mainly 2 (light breeze), but at one point gusted to 4 (moderate breeze).
Temperature: Lowest - 5.7 Celsius. Highest - 10.1 Celsius.
Group: Martyn and Ed.

Back to full Winter gear with feel like temperatures of 3 Celsius on the forecast

We just about experienced every weather condition today including, hail, snow, rain (just a few spots, calm to gusting moderate breeze and at times really pleasant warm sunshine. It was a day when gloves were on and off very frequently.

A very enjoyable walk with two minor issues. The first an attempt to cross the Afon Gyrach a little north of the usual footbridge, which we found wasn't possible todaythe water was to deep to ford. The second was a traditional stone stile over a large stone wall that was a little awkward to say the least!

Lunch was taken next to the arker syton, south west of Foel Lus where we took advantage of a long wooden bench, well designed for two people socially distanced, one at each end. It was as we had lunch, we experienced the worst of the hail, that made us rush to put on head coverings, but it only lasted a few minutes and was followed by the Sun putting in an appearance.

After lunch was the start of the Huw Tom Trail for today so our objective was the identify each of the places highlighted on the Trail description.

We also explored the site of Caer Bach, but much imagination was needed  recognise that whee we stood was in fact the centre of the fort.

Birds seen or heard today included: Green woodpecker, Great spotted woodpecker, Raven, Wheatear, Carrion crow, Meadow pipit, Jackdaw, European robin, House sparrow, Black billed magpie, Woodpgeon, Common blackbird and Red kite.

Exploring Wepre Riverside, Dee Park and The Wales Coast Path 6th April 2021

The former John Summers Steelworks Head Office / Clock Building on BBC Wales Today.

The John Summers Steelworks Head Office / Clock Building seen this morning from the Wales Coast Path adjacent to Sports Club Playing Field.

Hawthorn blossom starting to appear.

A male Common blackbird on the grass next to the Wales Coast Path, east of Wepre Riverside.

One of several ventilation pipes next to the Wales Coast Path, but what is it venting remains a mystery.

The Path through Dee Park leading to Shotton Station.

The Blue Queenferry Swing Bridge.

Hawarden Bridge from the Blue Queensferry Swing Bridge.

Two Oystercatcher on the old wooden landing stage south east of Hawarden Bridge.

A Little egret stalking the flood waters next to Wepre Gutter / Wepre Brook outflow.

The 1918 - 2018 Remembrance brazier at Wepre Riverside

Distance: 4.3 miles. Climb: 100'.
Time: 2 hours. On the move walking average: 2.7 m.p.h. Overalll walk average: 2.1 m.p.h.
Beaufort Wind Force: North westerly 2 -3, occasionally gusting to 4. Light breeze to moderate breeze.
Temperature: 6.1 Celsius in the main, but when in the warm sunshine 10.6 Celsius, but still feeling quite cool.
Group: Martyn.

With the Sun shiningand lots of blue sky, I decided to go for a short walk from Wepre Riverside and explore one or two paths exiting from the Wales Coast Path and entering Dee Park. It turned out that it headed towards Shotton, and I chose the path that led to Shotton Station before returning on the path adjacent to the John Summers Steelworks Sports Field back to the Wales Coast Path.

Uexpectedly, the former John Summers Steelworks Head Office / Clock Building was shown on BBC Wales this morning, pointing out that local volunteers were in the prcess of renovating it to be used as a Community Hub and Training Cente of some sort. a TATA engineer was also giving support. The BBC Wales footage showed the building before the current scaffolding was erected last Saturday.

Birds seen or heard today included: Common blackbird, Chiffchaff, Common chaffinch, European robin, Goldfinch, Mallard, Canada goose, Carrion crow. Jackdaw, Raven, Black headed gull, Herring gull, Lesser black back gull, Woodpigeon, Black billed magpie, Oystercatcher, Little egret and Great cormorant.