Sandbach ansd More 19th November 2015

"Are you sure this is the path?"

Carved 9th century Anglo-Saxon Crosses in the centre of Sandbach.

St Mary's Church, Sandbach.

Our lunch spot, unexpected to find a suitable perch in the middle of no-where.

Room for two on the higher level with views over a delightful stream - I sat on the lower level with views of a grassy bank!

Views of Mowcop from the Trent and Mersey Canal East of Hassall Green.

The Salt Line - our route back to the car.

Walk stats: Distance: 10.4 miles. Climb: 341'.

Time: 5 hours 29 minuyres. On the move walking average: 2.3 m.p.h. Overall walk average: 2.0 m.p.h.

Group: Martyn, Celia and Phil.

This was the first time that we had used this car park at the start of Salt Line, West of Hassall Green. This made our walk a figure of eight, rather than the circular walk we did last time starting in Sandbach.

 We set off anticipating mid-day showers, afternoon Sun and fairly strong wind. We did get very light rain as we approached Sandbach which stopped totally by lunch. We had no Sun and no wind, but it was pleasant warm, good conditions for walking.

 This was a surprisingly varied walk and included the delightful centre square of Sandbach with its Anglo-Saxon crosses surrounded by thatched properties. 

 The surprise of the day, just as we wondering whether we would find a suitable spot to sit for lunch, when we came across what seemed to be like a two step stile facing a stream or was it meant to be a pic-nic table. We used it as a place to sit while we had lunch, at least it provided a dry place to sit at the right time and very welcome it was too. Who would expect to find this in the middle of no-where?

After lunch we soon encountered the steady drone of fast moving traffic along the M6, something that we didn't get away from until we were well past Hassall Green on the canal towards Thurlwood.

 It was along this section that we had good views Mowcop Castle.

 The last section of the route was along the old railway track known as the Salt Line. This is a delightful path lined with trees and would even be suitable for people with wheelchairs.

 We arrived back at the car, having had a good walk with our legs telling us this walk was longer than any other walk this month!

 Birds seen or heard today included: Wood nuthatch, Common blackbird, Blue tit, Great tit, Black-billed magpie, Grey heron, Mallard, Black-headed gull, Great tit, Carrion crow, Rook and Woodpigeon.

 After walk drinks were enjoyed at the Stamford Bridge, just off the Tarvin Road, East of Chester.

 Purple Moose's Elderflower Ale went down well, I was almost tempted to have a take-away!

Around Moel Plas-yw from Cilcain 14th November 2015

Looking across the valley towards the Cheshire plain from the bridleway 

leading to Moel Arthur car park.

Looking across the valley towards the Cheshire plain from the bridleway 

leading to Moel Arthur car park.

The valley on the South of Moel Plas-yw.

Birds in silhouette, but what are they?

Fieldfare.

Penycloddiau from the path the West side of Mole Plas-yw.

Walk stats: 7.6 miles. Climb: 998'.

Time: 4 hours 28 minutes. On the move walking average: 2.1 m.p.h. Overall walk average: 1.7 m.p.h.

Group: Martyn and Roger.

Looking at the forecast up to Friday morning, most people would have abandoned any idea of walking today. However the forecast on Friday afternoon gave a window of opportunity with a cold but dry forecast at least up to lunch. With this in mind we decided to set off a little earlier in than usual for what is a local walk, in the hope that we would miss the worst of any rain.

 In fact the morning was better than expected, still on the cool side (probably about 7 Celsius or lower), but at least there was no rain and very little wind.

 The views from the bridle path towards the Cheshire plain and across the Mersey were pretty good.

 As we walked along the path on the Western side of Moel Plas-yw we coul see lots of people on the slopes waving white "flags", apparently beaters for a shoot that was going on in the valley below. After passing them, I think we saw more pheasants than the beaters were able to drive towards the guns, perhaps Common pheasants aren't as daft as we think they are!

 we soon arrived at the tree, where a few months ago I left my flask, alas the wasn't to be a celebration for a lost but now found flask. Hopefully the new owner will put it to good use, without sampling the remains of my soup!

 Lunch was taken early today, in fact we had finished lunch and were walking again before the normally accepted lunch time, and Fran wasn't even with us!

 As we set of after lunch, it just started to rain a little and by the time we were on the bridle way South of Tardd-y-dwr, Roger was glad that he had put his over trousers on at lunch time.

 During the last half an hour of the walk, the rain steadily got heavier, but thankfully eased of as we arrived back at the car.

 Birds seen or heard today included: Carrion crow, Jackdaw, House sparrow, Black-billed magpie, Blue tit, Great tit, Chaffinch, Rook, Common pheasant, Common blackbird, Fieldfare, Redwing, Mistle thrush, Dunnock and Common buzzard.

 After walk drinks were enjoyed at the Blue bell Inn at Halkyn, where the real fires were really welcome (outside temperature still only 7 Celsius) and the Liverpool Organic brewery brew went down well.

 Overall a good walk, making the most of the good part of the day and still home early, despite the traffic congestion aroud the road works near Airbus at Broughton.

Around Bryn Pydew and Gloddaeth Hall 12th Novemner 2015

An interesting walk to the Bryn Pydew Obelisk.

Coastal view from the Bryn Pydew Obelisk.

Llandudno and the Great Orme from the Bryn Pydew Obelisk.

"They did it this way."

Gloddaeth Hall from Bryn Pydew Quarry Nature Reserve.

Gloddaeth Hall in the distance - our after lunch uphill challenge.

Lunch is over, time to go before it starts to rain.

Penrhyn and the Little Orme on the horizon.

Walk stats: Distance: 6.7 miles. Climb: 1486' (GPS wind assisted reading), probably nearer to half of that!

Time: 3 hours 51  minutes. On the move walking average: 2.2 m.p.h. Overall walk average: 1.7 m.p.h.

Group: Martyn, David S., Tim and Phil.

A good morning forecast with wet and windy weather heading our way in the afternoon. We arrived at the car park with the car indicating the outside temperature was 13.5 Celsius, at times in the morning it felt warmer than that! It was definitely a shorts day!

 The views from the Bryn Pydew Obelisk were superb, especially towards Conwy Mountain and the Northern Carneddau. The coastal views towards the Great Orme and the Little Orme were good too. The wind farm off Abergele was clearly in view to the North west.

 After leaving the oblesik we passed the home of Llandudno's Punch and Judy, at least that is what was implied by the van parked outside.

 Lunch was taken at the Bryn Pydew Quarry nature Reserve, just South of Glanwydden. Convenient limestone rocks on the edge of the quarry gave reasonable, but perhaps not the best of angled perches, but at least we could sit down in a relatively sheltered spot. I even had reasonable views towards Gloddaeth Hall, our afternoon highest point and the Little Orme, often on our itinerary, but not today.

 Towards the end of lunch we started to feel a few spots of rain, and one by one, most of the group started to put on waterproof jackets. 

  Even after going through the grounds of Gloddaeth Hall and heading towards Bodysgallen Hall, when the rain was at its worst, the strong breeze did its best to make sure you didn't get too wet.

 We arrived back at the car a little sooner than was ideal, on this occasion my short cuts shortened the walk a little too much!

 Nevertheless we had a had a  good walk, mainly in warm unseasonal like conditions, happy that we had missed the wind and horrendous rain forecast for later in the day.

 Birds seen or heard today included: Common blackbird, Eurasian jay, Black-billed magpie, Jackdaw and Wood nuthatch.

 After walk drinks were enjoyed at the Britannia Inn at Pentre Halkyn, where the Lees bitter was in fine fettle (but that isn't unusual for this hostelry).

Marian Ffrith and Around Moel Hiraddug 5th November 2015

The remains of Grove Mill.

The remains of Marian Mill.

A very small calf looking for its mum?

Moel Hiraddug from Offa's Dyke, South of Bryn Cnewyllyn.

Looking towards Dyserth and Graig Fawr and the coast beyond from Offa's Dyke, South of Bryn Cnewyllyn.

Two unconcerned Alpacas Tyddyn-y-cyll.

The delightful stream alongside the woodland path on the Dyserth to Prestatyn Walkway.

Walk stats: 5.5 miles. Climb: 1009'.

Time: 3 hours 8 minutes. On the move walking average: 2.1 m.p.h. Overall walk average: 1.7 m.p.h.

Group: Martyn, David S and Phil.

The weather forecast for today wasn't good, but at least it wouldn't be cold and the morning should be mainly dry. In fact it was very pleasant upto lunch. Some of the paths were on the muddy side, making gaiters an asset. The information board at Marian Mill (Felin Mawr, a flour mill) was one of seven mills between Marian Mill and Dyserth. We only noticed Grove Mill, so where were the other five?

 Some of the views today were good, first of Moel Hiraddug and Graig Fawr and then as approach from the path North of Cwm we had good vies towards the Little Orme. It was along this section that we decide to have lunch wher convenient stones provided dry perches for all of us. 

 We could see the rain clouds approachingas we had lunch, encouraging us to put on waterproofs just in case, one of us in fact put on overtrousers too!

 Arriving back at the we decide we should quit while we were still dry and head for early refreshments at the Britannia Inn.

 Birds seen or heard today included: Carrion crow, Jackdaw, Common blackbird, Goldfinch, Black-headed gull, Common pheasant and Fieldfare.

 Overall a very pleasant varied walk, making us quite smug that we had definately had the best of the day.

 In fact by the time we had arrived in Pentre Halkyn it was raining quite heavily. The Britannia Inn had a roaring fire on making us retreat to the opposite end of the bar. The landlady was surprised when we said that today the two of us were "it", she retorted "Didn't the others want to get their hair wet?"  As both David and myself are follically challenged, we couldn't possibly comment!
 As we arrived at the car park (designated for walkers using the Dyserth-Prestatyn Walkway) we met a local man who pointed out that th area next to the car park is earmarked for industrial develop and asking us to sign a petition against the proposals. More information can be opbtained on https;//www.facebook.com/dontdestroydyserth/

St Cwyfan's Trail 29th October 2015

Our first glimpse of the Clwydian Hills - not an objective today.

Four young calves looking lost and wondering where there mums are!

Looking down towards Denbigh and the Vale of Clwyd.

Inside St. Cwyfan's Church.

The grave of the man that saw three centuries.

Emerging from St. Cwyfan's Church.

Our last view of the Clwydian Hills.

Once a teacher, always a teacher!

Trying to identify all of the sacraments in "Seven Sacraments" window in St. Tyrnog's Church, Llandyrnog.

Another stained glass window in St. Tyrnog's Church, Llandyrnog.

Scarecrow outside, St. Tyrnog's Church, Llandyrnog - two notices - "Messy Church" (always good to see) and "Thank the Lord for the Harvest"(Also good to acknowledge).

Walk stats: Distance: 7.1 miles. Climb: 526'.

Time: 4 hours 24 minutes. On the move walking average: 2.1 m.p.h. Overall walk average: 1.6 m.p.h.

Group: Martyn, Annie, David S and Paul.

Thankfully today the BBC and the Met Office got it right, the rain stopped as we arrived at Llandyrnog and within half an hour of walking the Sun was shining and with a fleece on I soon felt overdressed, but not for long!

 This is a walk that isn't particularly special, especially if you are trying to think of what would make a good photograph, but still is it is a delightful walk when the Sun was shining brightly and there was hardly any breeze to to call.  Days like this are special and we should be thankful for this as well as the scarecrow outside St. Tyrnog's Church, Llandyrnog notice "Thank the Lord for the Harvest".

 It was good today to see that two historically significant churches, St. Cwyfan's, Llangwyfan and St. Tyrnog's Church, Llandyrnog were both open  and we were able to see inside both.

 Lunch was taken just after heading South east off the road after passing Fron Baanadl. We sat on the field edge/fence boundary, it was so warm it could have been been a mid-Summer day, not the end of October!

Birds seen or heard today included: Carrion crow, Jackdaw, Rook, Herring gull, Sparrowhawk, Blue tit, Great tit, Common buzzard, Pied wagtail, House sparrow, Black-billed magpie, Eurasian jay and Fieldfare (the first returning birds seen on a walk this Autumn/Winter).

 Thanks to Paul's inquisitiveness concerning "Seven Sacraments" window in  the St. Tyrnog's Church, Llandyrnog, we were able to enjoy after walk refreshments at the Blue Bell Inn at Halkyn, we arrived at at 15-03!

Walks and Dates October 2015

After several of the group suggesting that I should should allow adverts on the blog, I have decide to allow adverts to appear. Hopefully it will generate enough income to cover the cost of putting all the photos on the blog. If the ads become annoying, let me know and I will stop them. This is only a trial period to see how it goes.
Thursday 1st October 2015.

Llanfair Talhaiarn, Moel Unben and Mynydd Dir.

Distance 10-11 miles; Climb:2000'.

Start: Riverside car park in Llanfair Talhaiarn. Grid ref:SH927702.

Leave Chester at 9-00 a.m.

This walk is taken from Lorna Jenner's book "Walking in the Vale of Clwyd and the Denbigh Moors". This is a walk that we really enjoyed in the past, hence its inclusion on the list again. It is nominally only a 5 mile walk, but the extension doubles it. However the last time we did the walk, the route to Mynydd Dir was closed at the footbridge over the Afon Elwy, so our walk was shorter than expected. We may of course decide to do the same even if the footbridge is again open.

Saturday 3rd October 2015.

Haigh Country Park and Wigan Pier.

Distance:9-10 miles. Climb: 350'.

Start: Haigh Hall and Country Park, School Lane, Haigh,Wigan, Lancashire. WN2 1PE Grid ref: SD559086. Car park is Pay and Display, but not as much as the £6 Mike paid at the Wigan car Park in 2011! On the their web page it said £1-50 all day.

Leave Chester 8-30 a.m.

This walk is taken from Terry Marsh's book "Fifty Classic Walks in Lancashire", with an extension to explore the Haigh Country Park and beyond. Haigh Country Park was one of the first to be named as a Country Park. The walk will probably start along the towpath of the Leeds - Liverpool Canal where we can start the return using the walk description which starts from Wigan Pier.   This should be an easy walk, without too many challenges, but I don't think we will be extending the walk as much as we did last time, 13.7 miles is a little outside my comfort zone these days!

Thursday 8th October 2015.

An Ancient Packhorse Trail Around Caergwrle.

Distance: 10 miles. Climb: 700'.
Start: Caergwrle Village Car Park on High Street. Grid ref: SJ305574
Leave Chester at 09-00 a.m.
This walk is taken from R.J.A. Dutton's book "Hidden Highways of North Wales". This walk heads East via Bryn-y-Gaer, Shordley Hall, Town Ditch, Honkley Farm and eventually reaches the Golden Grove Inn. The return route is is via Burton Lane, Rackery Farm, Rackery Hall and Gwasted Farm. The walk includes drovers roads and a corpse road.

Saturday 10th October 2015.

Around Llangernyw.

Distance: 8-9 miles. Climb: 1500'.
Start: Llangernyw, Near PC, down the lane by the church. Grid ref: SH876674.
Leave Chester 8-30 a.m.
This is a figure of eight walk around Llangernyw. part of the walk is based on a walk from Lorna Jenner's book "Walks in the Vale of Clwyd and in the Denbigh Moors". It is described as being a delightful walk centred on the pretty village of Llangernyw. It includes terraced woodland paths besides a cascading stream through former pleasure gardens of Hafodunos Hall. The extension to the walk, explores the countryside North of the village and follows a section of the Afon Elwy, passes the remains of  a motte and then  explores the area North west of the village on the way back to Llanefydd.
The last time we did this walk, the weather was horrendous, with torrential rain for most of the afternoon. Hopefully it will be a little kinder this time.

Thursday 15th October 2015.

Llansannan and Mynydd Tryfan.

Distance: 8-10 miles; Climb:1500'.

Start:Car park behind PC opposite the Post Office in Llansannan. Grid ref:SH933658.

Leave Chester 9-00 a.m.

This walk is mainly a walk taken from Lorna Jenner's book "Walking in the Vale of Clwyd". This is a varied walk along the Afon Aled and its tributaries, through rolling pastures edge with thick hedges and pockets of woodland, with a backdrop of mountains. However we will include an extension to include Mynydd Tryfan. The last time we did this walk we had a little difficulty finding some of the paths, must do better this time!

Saturday 17th October 2015.

Moel Plas-yw, the Alyn Valley and Coed Ddu. 
In search of lost property! 
This walk will probably be completed on the first Saturday when there are two members of the Saturday regulars wanting to walk.

Distance:11 miles; Climb:2000+'.
Start: Car park area West of Cilcain. Grid ref: SJ170652. 
To get to the car park take A541Mold - Denbigh Road. After Hendre take the road signposted Cilcain. In the centre of Cilcain, at a crossroads turn right (West) and continue West past the church. After about 400 yards take the minor road left. The parking area is about 300 yards along this road, on the right after a few houses. In all about 700 yards from the crossroads in Cilcain.
Leave Chester at 9-00 a.m.
Another two walks from Dave Berry's book ""More Walks on the Clwydian Hills". The Moel Plas-yw walk impressed us last time with its excellent views and delightful woodland valley paths. A visit to the summit of Moel Arthur could be an extension at the end of the walk for some! It is more likely that we will take a few short cuts to reduce the overall mileage a little and climb too!
 We last did this walk on 3rd September 2015, but it will only be a repeat for me! The walk originally planned for today was around Llyn Brenig, and we did that last month, so I thought I would use this as an opportunity to se if my flask was still where I left it. If it is, I'm not expecting the soup to still be hot! It's a good job a bought myself a new flask.

 Thursday 22nd October 2015.

Penycloddiau and Moel Arthur.

Distance: 9-10 miles. Climb: 1500'.
Start: Llangwyfan Forestry car park: SJ138668
Leave Chester 09-00 a.m.
This walk combines two walks taken from Dave Berry's book "Walks in the Clwydian Hills".  This area of the Clwydians has so much to offer, and Moel Arthur and Penycloddiau are particularly good.  On a good day the views from both hill forts are superb, especially if it is a clear frosty day.

Saturday 24th October 2015.

Clywedeg Reservoir and Moel y Fron.
Postponed.

Distance: 10-11 miles. Climb:1600'.

Start: On the road parking in Cyffylliog. Grid ref: SJ060578. But meet at the riverside car park at Ruthin. Grid ref: SJ 121582. Car parking is very limited in Cyffyliog, so I've switched this walk from a Thursday walk to a Saturday walk as I can't remember when we last took more than one car on a Saturday.

Leave Chester.9-00 a.m.

This walk combines two walks from Dave Berry's book "Walks Around Hiraethog Moors and Lakes". This has always proved to be an enjoyable walk in the past and features attractive wooded river valleys, open hills, forests, upland reservoirs and excellent views on a good day.

Thursday 29th October 2015.

St. Cwyfan's Trail and More.

Distance: 9-10 miles. The main part of the walk is taken from Dave Berry's book "Walks in the Clwydian Hills

Start: Roadside parking in Llandyrnog on the Llangynhafal road (Gladstone Terrace) . Park on the wider part of the road after Nant Glyd. Grid ref: SJ109650.

Leave Chester at 09-00 a.m.

The main part of the walk is taken from Dave Berry's book "Walks in the Vale of Clwyd" and the extension explores the area South west pf Llandyrnog.

It main walk is described as a delightful walk in the countryside North of Llandyrnog and visits the smallest church in the Vale of Clwyd.
 The extension follows part of the Clwydian Way alongside the Afon Clwyd South of iys confluence with Afon Clywedog.

Saturday 31st October 2015.

Clip-y-Orsedd, The Druid Circle and Foel Lus.
Postponed - see note on November walks.

Distance:11 miles. Climb:2400'.

Leave Chester 8-30 a.m.

Start: Car park behind the bank in Llanfairfechan. Turn right of Village Road. Grid ref:SH682747.

This walk uses two walks Dave Berry's book "Walks on the North Wales Coast." These two walks combine to make one of my favourite walks in this area as they explore the hills behind Llanfairfechan and Penmaenmawr and usually appears on the list at least once a year. Hopefully we will visit the impressive Druids' Stone Circle and contour around the superb high level Panoramic Walk round Foel Lus. The last time we did this walk it was very windy and we decided not to do the Panoramic Walk round Foel Lus. We may do the same this time, even if the weather is good!

Moel Arthur and Penycloddiau 22nd October 2015

At the top of Moel Arthur.

Dave Evan's dream home almost complete, unfortunately not by him.

The view from our lunch spot - chosen by the advance party!

Heading up the Northern slope of Penycloddiau, but who's that in front?

On top of Penycloddiau.

"It's less than it was on Moel Arthur!"

The second glider of the day - over Penycloddiau.

Moel Arthur from the Southern slopes of Penycloddiau.

Walk stats: Distance:7.9 miles. Climb: 1678' (Probably a little less than this wind assisted GPS reading).

Time: 4 hours 23 minutes. On the move walking average: 2.3 m.p.h. Overall walk average: 1.8 m.p.h.

Group: Martyn, Annie, David S., Nigel and Phil.

This looked like being a good day for walking with no rain in the forecast and temperatures around 11 Celsius but with a wind chill making it feel like 6 Celsius. The first time for months I put my waterproof jacket on and kept it on for all of the walk, I should have removed it for the last mile or so had I been bothered to do so!

 This proved to be the case and our steep ascent up the Northern side of Moel Arthur  was somewhat wind assisted. David measured the wind speed on the top of Moel Arthur it it was about 27 m.p.h., gusting to about 40 m.p.h. The wind was certainly strong enough to make hats difficult to wear and handkerchiefs needed to be firmly gripped!

 We decided or should it be I decided that we would take the path contouring around Moel Arthur, hoping that it would be relatively sheltered and for much of the time it was. 

 Towards the end of this section we came across Dave Evans's unusual designed property, now almost competed by its new owners. It caused much discussion, but we were all intrigued as to what it would look like inside. It certainly had a superb outside patio that looked down the valley towards Vale of Clwyd. 

 However as we continued to contour around Penycloddiau, some of the path became exposed to the strong and cool North westerly winds but at the same time gave us good near distant views. A sort of mist/cloud prevented the high peaks of Snowdonia from being in view.

 Lunch was taken at the last available inlet by the land mark water tank as it gave us much needed shelter from the wind.

 It was decided by the leaders of the pack to take the path on the West side of Offa's Dyke Path and one that included a longer section of the ridge to Penycloddiau It was along this section that we saw a couple of Ravens, a bonus as it was too windy for most birds today.

 Despite it being windy we did see two gliders circling around, one over Moel Arthur in the morning and one over Penycloddiau in the afternoon.

 Birds seen or heard today included: Common kestrel, Raven, Meadow pipit and Common buzzard.

 Overall a good walk, to be repeated maybe more than once every year.

 The pace setters didn't realise that they were meant to aim for us to get back to the car at about 14-45, so we went to the Britannia Inn at Pentre Halkyn for our celebratory drink. As usual for the Brit we had a warm welcome from the landlords as well as the roaring fire. As Nigel isn't able to join us very often, it was a good job he enjoys a pint of Lees bitter in perfect condition as it was today and invariably is at this hostelry.