RSPB Burton Mere Wetlands NR 4th July 2026

 A Few Photos from my stroll around RSPB Burton Mere Wetlands NR Today.

Grey heron on Reception Pool.

A Greylag goose on The Mere.

Great willowherb.

Rosebay willowherb.

Bindweed.

Oystercatcher on Bridge Pool near Marsh Covert Hide.

Red soldier beetle on a thistle heard.

A female Tufted duck with at least eight ducklings.

An Oak eggar moth caterpillar.

A young Moorhen foraging on the boardwalk.

Black tailed godwits, Knot and Shelduck on Centenary Pool.

Lapwing  on Centenary Pool.

Black tailed godwits, Black headed gulls and a Spotted redshank on Centenary Pool.

Black tailed godwit, Black headed gull and the Spotted redshank.

A different Spotted redshank on Centenary Pool.

A feeding Buff tailed bumble bee.

The beauty of a thistle head.

A Great white egret on the Reception Pool.

Looking over the Main Scrape towards Moel Famau.

Birds seen or heard at RSPB Burton Mere Wetlands NR today included: Woodpigeon, Common blackbird, Black headed gull, Teal, Avocet, Shoveler, Shelduck, Jackdaw, Common coot, Moorhen, Tufted duck, Mallard, Lapwing, Grey heron, Little egret, Great white egret, Canada goose, Black tailed godwit, Knot, Greylag goose, Chiffchaff, Sedge warbler, Great whitethroat, Winter wren, Dunnock, Goldfinch, Blackcap, Cetti warbler and Marsh harrier.

An Early Morning Walk Along River to Chester 24th June 2026

Wildflowers at the Saltney Ferry Footbridge Parking area.

A better picture of the wildflower at the Saltney Ferry Footbridge parking area.

The Ox-eye daisies haven't woken up yet!

The Cornflowers are looking good.

Looking towards Saltney from the Saltney Ferry Footbridge.

The footpath all to myself! 

I rarely had the path to myself, even during the solo walking days of the pandemic!

The Black Poplar 

(Grown at Chester Zoo and the sapling was planted here on te Welsh side of the border before the pandemic).

Lady's bedstraw next to the Coastal Path.

Pedestrian traffic lights on the riverside path at The Cop on Sealand Road, Chester.

Major works requiring pedestrian traffic lights at The Cop, Sealand Road, Chester.

Looking towards Crane Wharf on the way to Chester.

Gateway to The Roodee Racecourse.

The Riverside Promenade past the racecourse.

Spot the Great cormorant perched on the branch of a dead tree.

The Groves, Chester.

Grosvenor Park, Chester.

Preparing for a major event in Grosvenor Park.

I think this is that event.

Distance: 5 miles. Climb: 200'.
Time: 1 hour 50 minutes. 
Overall walk average: 2.7 m.p.h.
An early start, I was on Saltney Ferry Footbridge before 07-00, when the temperature was very pleasant, around 20 Celsius. However, by the time I arrived at Chester Roodee Racecourse, it was already starting to feel too warm and quite muggy. The feel-like temperature must have been getting close to 30 Celsius.
Ideally, I should have left home and hour earlier than I did, but had I done that I might have arrived before the Square Bottle was open, and I would have to wait for my breakfast!
Today was more of a bird hearing walk than a birdwatching walk.
Birds seen and heard  today included: Carrion crow, Jackdaw, House sparrow, Winter wren, House martin, Barn swallow, Long tailed tit, Mallard, European robin, Great cormorant, Herring gull, Lesser black back gull, Black headed gull, Oystercatcher, Common blackbird and Woodpigeon.
Birds only heard: Chiffchaff, Blackcap, Greenfinch, Common buzzard, Sedge warbler, Greater whitethroat, Collared dove
and Black billed magpie.
The newly created wildflower area by Saltney Ferry Footbridge car parking area was still looking good, even if the Ox-eye daisies hadn't fully opened up.  The Cornflowers were even better than they were on Sunday.
Plenty of early morning dog walkers were out along the riverside path (Coastal Path), as well as a few cyclists (thankfully none were lycra louts!).
I arrived at the Square Bottle, thankful that I had decided to have a walk in the "coolest" part of the day, but still needing to change my shirt  before going on for an excellent full English breakfast.

I arrived home and measured the temperature at home. It was 29.7 Celsius in the shade and 36.7 Celsius in the direct sunshine in front of my house.

Wildflowers growing in the pots at home.

Wildflowers growing in the pots at home.

Wildflowers growing in the pots at home.

Walks and Dates July 2026

Advanced Notice.

Wednesday 1st July 2026

The usual first Wednesday in the month short walk will not take place today so that many of the usual group can go to Meirion Ellis's Funeral.

Meirion’s funeral, will be held at Chester Crematorium at 12.00 on Wednesday 1st July.

John says that everybody is welcome to attend the funeral.

After the funeral there will be a celebration of Meirion’s life at Upton Golf Club and, again, all are welcome to attend.

 Wednesday 8th July 2026.

A Walk From Hadlow Station.

Distance: 4.1 miles. 5.5 miles with optional extension. (The extension comes at the end of the 4.1 miles main walk.

Climb: 65’. 82’ with optional extension.

Start Hadlow Station Car park: Grid ref: SJ332773 Post code: CH64 2UF.

Take the A540 from Chester. After passing the garden centre turn right onto the B5151 to Willaston. The car park is on the right immediately after going over the former railway crossing. (Turn in front of s garage).

Leave Chester 10-00.

Those planning to walk: Martyn, .

Those not walking:  Mike, Sue and Michel .

This is another walk taken from Anthony Annekin-Smith's book "Wirral Walks".

We have walked many times from Hadlow station, but this walk includes several paths that we haven't used on previous walks.

The route passes through quite farming country and includes Roman, medieval and turnpike roads. If they are still there, we will go past some Black poplars, one of the UK's rarest trees.

The walk final part of the main walk is along a short section of the Wirral Way.

Wednesday 15th July 2026.

Moel Famau, Moel Dywyll and Moel Llys-y-coed.

Distance: 8.0 miles. Climb: 1700'.
Start: Car park area West of Cilcain. Grid ref: SJ170652.

Leave Chester at 09-00 a.m.

Those planning to walk: Martyn .

Those not walking: Mike.

To get to the parking area, at the crossroads in Cilcain turn right (Westward), past the White Horse, Church and Village hall, at the end of a few houses on the right turn, left and the parking area is a few hundred yards further on on the right. 
This walk includes three hills along Offa's Dyke Footpath - Moel Famau, Moel Dywyll and Moel Llys-y-coed. The latter hill is not one of my favourite hills in the Clwydian range.  It is the ascent from North to South that I dislike so much, the fact that we will be descending from South to North - last time we did the walk in 2020, I think it was much better.
 On a good clear day we should get excellent views in all directions.
The last time we did this walk, we missed a path and then encountered a farmer that accused us of missing the path sign and ending up in his farm yard.  This time we will take a different path and so avoid any chance of confrontation.

Wednesday 22nd July 2026.

A Two Canal Walk from the Anderton Boat Lift.

Distance: 8-9 miles, Climb: < 400ft

Start; Anderton Boat Museum Car Park, Lift Lane, Anderton - CW9 6FW - SJ646754. Pay & Display.

Leave Chester 09-00.

Those planning to walk: Martyn (I will drive) , .

Those not walking: Mike.

From the Anderton lift descend to Winnington Swing Bridge and take the Weaver Navigation tow path downstream almost to Acton Swing Bridge. Here go right and up a slight rise to gain the Trent & Mersey Canal at Bridge 208. Go right along the tow path to Bridge 207 where go off left to reach Little Leigh. Suggested lunch break in the village. Leave Little Leigh on a path which leads back to the Trent & Mersey at Bridge 204. Continue left along the tow path and negotiate two tunnels by walking over the top. The descent from the top of Barnton Tunnel and another mile of tow path leads back to the car park.

Wednesday 29thJuly 2026.

Chirk - Offa's Dyke, Two Canal Tunnels and a Castle.

Distance: 9.0 miles. Climb: 800'.
Start: Chirk Centre Car Park. Grid ref: SJ291377 or roadside parking on Ffordd-yr-Orsaf (Station Road) Grid ref: SJ285377.

Leave Chester at 09-00 a.m.
Those planning to walk: Martyn,  . 

Those not walking: Mike.

This walk is taken from Dave berry's booklet “Walks Around the Berwyns and The Ceiriog Valley". It is described as a walk of great variety and explores the attractive undulating countryside around Chirk. At times it follows the Offa's Dyke Footpath. Part of the route follows the Llangollen canal towpath and includes going through a short tunnel we may in fact go through a second tunnel. You may wish to bring a torch, but there is a handrail to guide you.

Chirk, Chirk Bank, The Temple and Chirk Castle 13th June 2026

Welsh poppies next to the path. 

One of the willd flower meadows that we crossed on the way to The Temple Folly.

Buttercups next to the path.

The permissive way to the Temple Folly.

The Temple Folly.

At the Temple.

Views towards Chirk and beyond.

White valerian.

Red valerian.

First views of Chirk Castle.

Alpacas on the run.

A type of Cornflower.

Kilns next to the road leading to the "Crogen" bridge.

The Afon Ceiriog from the Crogen Bridge.

The commemorative plaque on the bridge over the Afon Ceoriog.

One of three information boards about the Battle of Crogen next to the permissive path leading to Chirk Castle.

The informative totem pole in the Mindful Meadow in the grounds of Chirk Castle.

Yellow rattle in the meadow next to our lunch spot.

Our closest view of Chirk Castle.

The dead and living side by side.

An information boards celebrating the beauty of waterways aeound Chirk.

Distance: 6.3 miles. Climb: 715’.
Time: 3 hours 44 minutes. On the move walking average: 2.5 m.p.h. Overall walking average: 1.8 m.p.h.
Temperature: 13.5 Celsius at the start. In the main around 17.8 Celsius, although the breeze meant it felt cooler.
Beaufort Wind Force: Max 3, just a Gentle breeze.
Group: Martyn, and Mike.
The weather forecast looked pretty good today, except for strong winds, so we made a last-minute decision to walk from Chirk.
The walk took us through several wild flower meadow where “No Mo May” had been followed.
Permission to walk through the field to The Temple Folly has now granted, so there is no need to feel guilty when you walk to the folly.
Approaching Pont Raen, we forgot to take a minor road to the right, and ended up at the bridge with the plaque commemorating the Battle of Crogen.
This had the advantage that we didn’t have to walk the long access road through the grounds of Chirk Castle. It did however, shorted the walk by a couple of miles!
Lunch was taken in the “Mindful Garden” in the grounds of Chirk Castle. This a very pleasant, peaceful spot with plenty of picnic tables in a wildflower meadow, that thankfully seems to be ignored by the crowds visiting he castle.
After lunch, our route from the castle followed field paths through the grounds, eventually arriving at Chirk Station.
Birds seen or heard today included: Common blackbird, Common pheasant, Chiffchaff, Winter wren, Great tit, Blackcap, European robin, Common kestrel, Common buzzard, Common chaffinch, Goldfinch, House martin, Mallard, Rook, Barn swallow, House sparrow, Jackdaw, Carrion crow, Blue tit and European robin.
We arrived back at the car, with a strong smell of chocolate in air, a legacy of a nearby factory.
Overall, it was an enjoyable walk, despite it being a little on the short side.
Once more, we headed to the Pant yr Ochain for some liquid refreshment. Mike enjoyed his pint of Purple Moose’s Cwrw Eryri with some Sweet Chilli crisps, and I enjoyed a pot of tea with extra hot water.
I dropped Mike off in Upton, and it was still early enough to cross Chester before the races on the Roodee had finished.