Gronant Dunes Nature Reserve, Big Pool and Around Talacre Abbey 29th April 2026.

A Carder bee on the beach.

Nigel on top of he dune.

Th beach at Presthaven Sands

Activity on the sea.

Fishing boat heading out to sea.

Fishing boat on the sea.

Red campion and Bluebells in Big Pool NR.

Bluebells Garlic mustard in Big Pool NR.

Dandelion gone to seed.

A silent video of a pony ant trap racing around the track.

One of the ferns seen today.

Another of the dominant ferns.

"Fern wood."

Point of Ayr Lighthouse from the Caravan Park.

Nigel's sand dune from the Caravan Park.

The path above the Talacre Abbey Grounds.

Our lunch spot near Talacre Abbey Home Farm.

A good splash of Gorse in flower.

An obliging Speckled wood butterfly.

Amongst the Bluebells in Coed Bell.

Bluebells in Coed Bell.

Bluebells in Coed Bell.

Bluebells in Coed Bell.

Close up of Bluebells in Coed Bell.

More Bluebells in Coed Bell.

More Coed Bell Bluebells.

Even more Bluebells in Coed Bell.

On the path in Coed Bell.

Today, we couldn't get enough of the Bluebells in Coed Bell.

Distance: 7.4 miles. Climb: 945'.
Time: 4 hours 48 minutes. On the move walking average: 2.3 Overall walking average: 1.5 m.p.h.
Temperature: 14-20 Celsius.
Beaufort Wind Force Max 4 a 17.2 m.p.h. Moderate breeze.
Group: Martyn, Nigel and Fran.
We left Chester at 08-30, a little earlier than usual, and were walking before 09-45.
We started off wearing fleeces / jackets as it felt a little on the cool side with the cool easterly breeze. By the time we reached Big Pool, it felt much warmer, and our outer garments were banished to our rucksacks.
Even though we walking on the beach by Presthaven Sands at around high tide, the sea was still a good way off.
Birds seen or heard today included: Wood pigeon, Common chaffinch, Jackdaw, Carrion crow, House sparrow, European robin, Common blackbird, Common buzzard, Common whitethroat, Sedge warbler, Grasshopper warbler, Lesser black background gull, Herring gull, Dunnock, Barn swallow, Mallard, Skylark, Blackcap, Water rail, Canada goose and Greylag goose. Butterflies seen: Orange tip, Peacock and Speckled wood.
Flowers seen included: Dandelion, Selfheal, Common daisy, Red campion, Jack the lad, Red campion, Greater stitchwort and Bluebell (at their best in Coed Bell).
Lunch was taken on the track near Abbey Farm, where we took advantage of a low wall as perching spots. I was the only one to sit in the shade.
At lunch, Nigel had an unfortunate experience with a present left by dog. Much effort and lots of toilet paper, hand sanitiser and even some perfume (provided by Fran) were used to make his rucksack more presentable.
The highlight of the day was the Bluebells in Coed Bell – we weren’t disappointed. The display of Bluebells was magnificent, the best that we have seen this year by far.
Straight home today, with Nigel’s rucksack and walking shoes carefully placed inside a bin bag!
Overall, a very enjoyable walk.

We should have visited a local hostelry to toast the beauty of the Bluebells we had seen in Coed Bell, but alas we all had reasons to head straight back home!

Saltney Ferry to Shotton along the southern side path 25th April 2026.

The start of my walk.

The start of the riverside path on the south side of the river.

Dandelions line the path.

The path to Sandycroft.

Preparations for sending carbon dioxide to Morecombe Bay!

Horse riders on the main North Wales Coastal Path.

Easier to share the path with them than some cyclists!

A Red admiral butterfly on the path.

A Speckled wood butterfly on the path.

Grazing on the river bank.

The path to Queensferry.

Bluebells next to the riverside path.

Believe it or not, this is a Red kite.

A major project at this farm between Queensferry and Hawarden Bridge. 

This is all that remains of an impressive entrance to the original estate.

The last section of the path leading to Hawarden Bridge.

The former John Summer's Steel Works HQ.

Alexandra Road Park, Shotton.

Distance: 6.0 miles. Climb: 200'.
Time: 2 hours 30 minutes. Overall walking average: 2.4 m.p.h. Just a gentle stroll this morning - too many stops look at birds, flowers and butterflies!
Temperature: Not measured, but Met Office suggested it would have been about 20 Celsius for most of my walk.
Beaufort Wind Force: Not measured, but no more than 1 Light air.
Birds seen or heard today included: Wood pigeon, Collared dove, Common chaffinch, Jackdaw, Carrion crow, House sparrow, European robin, Common blackbird, Common whitethroat, Sedge warbler, Willow warbler, Lesser black background gull, Herring gull, Dunnock, House martin, Lapwing, Skylark and Red kite ( a bird I wasn't expecting to see )
Butterflies seen: Orange tip, Red admiral, Peacock, Small white and Speckled wood.
Flowers seen included: Dandelion, Selfheal, Common daisy, Red campion, Jack the lad and Bluebell.
I finished off the walk with an excellent pint of Gadd's (Ramsgate) brewery’s Stan the Man session bitter in the Cenral Hotel, Shotton.

Coed Allt-tywod, Coed y Garreg and Coed Pen-y-Gelli 22nd April 2026

 

Coed Allt-y-tywod, but not many Bluebells!

Wood anemone in Coed Allt-y-tywod.

Coed Allt-y-tywod - Bluebells looking better.

Coed Allt-y-tywod - Bluebells looking better.

Coed Allt-y-tywod - Bluebells up close.

Coed Allt-y-tywod - Bluebells looking even better.

Taking a close up photo of Bluebells in Coed Allt-y-tywod.

A close up photo of Bluebells in Coed Allt-y-tywod.

Coed Allt-y-tywod - Bluebells looking good.

Going through one of the new kissing gates on the path from Coed Allt-y-tywod on the way to Coed y Garreg.

Dandelions taken by Fran.

Greater stitchwort next to the  track.

An Orange tip taken by Fran.

View looking towards Liverpool- taken by Fran.

Birdwatching - no just looking at the two cathedrals in Liverpool.

Common dog violets in Coed y Garreg.

Lesser celandine in Coed y Garreg.

On the path through Coed y Garreg.

One of several Peacocks seen in Coed y Garreg.

The watchtower in Coed y Garreg.

Cowslips near Ffordd Las.

Bluebells on Coed Pen-y-Gelli.

An Early purple orchid in Chwarei Pen-y-gelli.

Fran's Early purple orchid.

Ransoms in flower on the edge of Chwarei Pen-y-gelli.

The path from Chwarei Pen-y-gelli through Coed Pen-y-gelli.

On the road to

Distance: 6.4 miles.
Climb: 787’.
Time: 4 hour 20 minutes. On the move walking average: 2.2 m.p.h. Overall walk average: 1.5 m.p.h.
Temperature: 15.2 Celsius after lunch.
Beaufort Wind Force: 2-4. A Light to Moderate breeze (Max 17 m.p.h. as we walked through Pant y Wacco.
Group: Martyn, Nigel and Fran.
The weather was almost perfect for walking, largely blue skies, bright and sunny, but with coolish breeze.
This was the first of the Bluebell Wood walks, and as ever, Coed Allt-y-tywod didn’t disappoint – the Bluebells were at their best in the northern section of the wood.
Coed y Garreg had few Bluebells, but a few had started to grow near to the path and on the northern most section near the watchtower.
Coed Pen-y-gelli was a little better, with lots of bluebells growing in the middle section of the wood.
A good number of butterflies were on the wing today, including Peacock and Large whites.
Lots of flowers were on show, including Greater stitchwort, Dog violet, Lesser celandine, Common daisy, Dandelion, Early purple orchid (spotted by Nigel), Red campion and Cowslip.
Birds seen or heard today included: Woodpigeon, European robin, Common blackbird, Chiffchaff, Great tit, Common chaffinch, Mallard, Blue tit, Goldfinch, Great tit, Blackcap, Carrion crow, Jackdaw, Common buzzard, Barn swallow and Herring gull.
Overall, an enjoyable stroll, enjoying the sound of the singing birds and all the blooming Spring flowers.
Not a quick walk, as so much time was spent looking at the flowers, butterflies and the views across the estuary towards Liverpool.
An earlier than usual finish, but just enough time to call in at the Bluebell for a pint of Lees bitter or Lunebrew, Blond (Fran) and lemonade (Nigel).