Mynydd Marian 11th November 2026

Looking westward from the Llanddulas Beach Car Park.

Great cormorant perched on every post as hightide approached.

The Great Orme on the skyline.

Looking over the golf course towards Colwyn Bay.

Crossing the high stile leading to the Conwy Brewery.

The view from our lunch spot on Mynydd Marian.

The delightful section of the North Eales Path crossing the top of a limestone plateau.

More of the North Wales Path that goes past the caravan park.

On the North Wales path leading to Llanddulas.

Mike at the junction of two paths, one leading to Craig y Forwyn and the other the North Wales Path.

Nigel and Mike, crossing Craig y Forwyn.

Leaves in their Autumnal colours.

More Autumnal coloured leaves.

The delightful woodland path below Craig y Forwyn.

The delightful Autumnal sound of rustling as you walk through the dry leaves on the woodland floor.

Birch polypore.

The altar in St. Cynbryd's Church, Llanddulas.

The beach at Llanddulas appearing as the tide goes out.

Distance: 8.2 miles. Climb: 994’. 150’ more for Mike and Nigel that went over the top of Craig y Forwyn.
Time: 4 hours 58 minutes. On the move walking average: 2.4 m.p.h.
Overall walking average: 1.6 m.p.h.
Temperature: Around 6.8 to 9.8 Celsius
Beaufort Wind Force: 1. At most just Light air.
Group: Martyn, Mike, Nigel and Fran.
Another good day for walking, not wall to wall blues skies throughout, but not far off. Not to cold, and pleasantly warm when we were in the direct sunshine.
The tide was well in, when we arrived at the Llanddulas beach car park. Birds seen or heard today included: Great cormorant, Oystercatcher, Black billed magpie, Common blackbird, Lesser black back gull and Long tailed tit.
Distance views were pretty good, especially towards the Great Orme and along the coast towards Rhyl.
As we approach Ty Mawr, a new fence and cattle pen had been erected since we last did the walk in March. However, the path was still accessible and we managed to reach the stile leading to the path between the Conwy Brewery’s two buildings.
Lunch was taken at the top of Mynydd Marian, where there was a suitable bench that we were able to use, enabling us to bask in the warm sunshine as we had our lunch.
Today was the first time that the leaves were displaying their Autumnal colours, and we could enjoy that characteristic Autumn rustling sound made as we walked through the dry fallen leaves.
Once again, we took a look inside St. Cynbryd’s Church we its delightful stain glass windows.
We arrived back at the car, having had a good walk, and looking forward to a refreshing drink of Lees bitter or Guinness Zero if you were driving. Another warm welcome as the real fire was roaring away in the first room as we entered the Blue Bell at Halkyn.
Not everyone enjoyed their Lees bitter today, although it tased good to me.

Hilbre Island and West Kirby Marine Lake 4th November 2026

 

A pair of Goosander on the Marin Lake.

A different pair of Goosander on the Marin Lake

Looking across the Marine Lake towards Hilbre.

Another male Goosander on the Marine Lake,

Mute swans on the Marine Lake.

Mute swans on the Marine Lake.

Setting off to Little Hilbre.

Looking across the estuary towards Point of Ayr.

Middle Isle and Hilbre from Little Hilbre.

Approaching Middle Isle.

Our lunch spot is view on the left of the island.

The old slip way and Lifeboat Shed on Hilbre Island 

This was my lunch spot.

Grey seal on the sand bank, basking in the warm sunshine.

One of the many Brent geese around Hilbre Island.

One of the many Oystercatchers on Hilbre Island.

The Common scoter off the north end of Hilbre Island.

The Common scoter off the north end of Hilbre Island.

A Common kestrel on Hilbre Island.

A Common kestrel hunting over Hilbre Island.

Lunch time on Middle Ise.

Leaving Middle Isle after lunch.

The War Marial on Grange Hill seen from the beach as we left Little Hilbre.

Crossing the sands from Little Hilbre to West Kirby.

Looking across the Marine Lake from the northern end of the lake,

The Little egret on the rocks by the Old Baths on the Marine Lake,

Distance: 6.3 miles. Climb: 207’.
Time: 3 hours 46 minutes. On the move walking average: 2.4 m.p.h.
Overall walking average: 1.7 m.p.h.
Temperature: Around 10.2 to 12.7 Celsius
Beaufort Wind Force: 2. Mainly no more than Light breeze.
Group: Martyn, Sue and Michel, Nigel, Elaine and Mike.
Another good day for walking, warm and sunny a times, but overcast for a while after lunch and once again warm sunshine as we walked around the Marine Lake towards the end of the walk.
Lunch was taken on Middle Isle, where we sat on the rocks, sheltering from any breeze.
We were treated to some of Elaine’s very morish homemade shortbread. Thank you, Elaine.
Birds seen or heard today included: Goosander, Little egret, Common redshank, Mute swan, Herring gull, Black-headed gull, Eurasian curlew, Oystercatcher, Brent goose, Carrion crow, Raven, Common kestrel, Shelduck, Common scoter, Pied wagtail and a pipit (probably a Rock pipit).
We arrived back at the cars, having had a very enjoyable walk, but surprised that it turned out to be over 6 miles.

A Stroll Along the West Kirby Parade 28th October 2026

 

Common redshank on the pontoon on West Kirby Marine Lake.

Turnstone on the rocks.

More Turnstone.

A Little egret joins the Turnstones.

Looking across the Marine Lake.

Looking across the lake towards Flintshire

Looking back towards the Sailing Club.

A Raven foraging in the Marine Lake edge.

An immature Herring gull.

A Pied wagtail foraging in he wind surfers car park.

A Great cormorant fishing in the Marine Lake.

Approaching High tide at West Kirby.

The waves crashing on the causeway by the  Yacht Club.

The waves crashing on the rocks near the Yacht Club.

Turnstones on the Marine Lake rocks.

One Common redshank with the Turnstones.

Goosander on West kirby Marine Lake.

A female Goosander on the Marin Lake.

A Winter plumage Back-headed gull.

Another female Goosander.

I had planned to walk around the Marine Lake, but I arrived by the lake only a hour before high tide, so I had to be satisfied with a stroll along the Parade (just 2 miles and Zero Climb!

However, there were eight Goosanders fishing on the Marine Lake and a Raven foraging on the edge of the Lake.

Other birds seen included: Pied wagtail, Common redshank, Turnstone, Great cormorant, Little egret,  Black-headed gull and Herring gull.