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.

Around Minera Mountain 10th June 2026

The start of our walk today.

"Fran you are going the wrong way!"

It's the Buttercup season

Red clover is doing well here too/

Ragged robin next to the path in Minera Mines Country Park.

Common spotted orchid next to the path in Minera Mines Country Park.

Foxgloves showing well

Guinea fowl, but they ae not included on the birds seen today.

So this is the Nature Reserve.

Lime kilns near the Minera Quarry,

Minera Quarry.

"Come on, can't you go quicker?"

"Mum, reading the notice is easier in English."

Just in case you wanted to read it as well.

Another view of the Minera Quarry.

Bird's foot trefoil in the field as we approached Minera Mountain.

Guess what, I can see Moel Famau!

A helicopter coining into land.

Approaching the trig point on Esclusham Mountain

Arriving at the trig point on Esclusham Mountain.

Hold on to your hats!

Annie with her patient friend on approaching the trig point on Esclusham Mountain

The disused mine area on Minera Mountain.

Another view of the disused mine area on Minera Mountain.

Walking through the bracken.

Fran says "Is this they we should be looking after the environment?"

Nearly back on track to the path leading to Fron Deg.

Not the easiest gate to negotiate!

Ox-eye daisies at the Minera Lead Mine Centre.

Distance: 6.9 miles. Climb1037’.
Time: 4 hours 36 minutes. On the move walking average: 2.2 m.p.h. Overall walking average: 1.5 m.p.h.
Temperature: 12.6 -13.7 Celsius.
Beaufort Wind Force: 3-4, mainly a Gentle breeze, but reached a 17.2 m.p.h. Moderate breeze near the trig point om Minera Mountain.
Group: Martyn, Mike, Fran, Annie and cockerpoo.
The weather forecast wasn’t brilliant, and we were anticipating frequent showers, possibly heavy.
We thought we had got away with it, but with less than a mile to go we had a downpour that made some of us grateful that we were sheltered enough to use our umbrellas!
We had a similar downpour just as we arrived back at the cars, one of the worst times for it to rain!
This was another day when natures the beauty showed well with lots of spring / summer flowers evident.
We saw plenty of Common sotted orchids, but they couldn’t match the splendour of the orchids seen last Saturday.
Route finding was easy s far as the trig point on Esclusham Mountain, but after that, it became more of a challenge!
We set off on what looked like a path that would be a short cut to the path we wanted that would lead to Fron Deg. Alas it ended up being a challenging tramp across bilberry and bracken terrain, at one point even Annie’s dog decided to lay down for a rest!
Lunch was taken much later than usual, as we all wanted put the moorland challenges behind us before relaxing at lunch.
It was 13-30 before we had lunch, and even Fran had only asked once “when are we stopping for lunch?” Outputs from Solar panels never even mentioned!
Luch was taken near Fron Deg, where all four of us manage to sit on a stile.
After lunch, we decide that the easiest option was to return to the start by using several sections of roads as well as on section of field paths.
Birds seen or heard today included: Common blackbird, Common pheasant, Chiffchaff, Winter wren, Great tit, Willow warbler, Meadow pipit, Skylark, Carrion crow, House sparrow, Jackdaw, Eurasian curlew and Cuckoo.
We arrived back at the cars, having had an enjoyable walk (for some), and worthy of celebrating at the Pant yr Ochain with a pint of Titanic s Plum Porter and a Guinness Zero (Chilli crisps included!).
However, I don’t think this route across Mineral Mountain will be repeated!