Nant y Pandy and the Slopes of Moel Fferna 13th May 2026

St Thomas's Church, Glyndyfrdwy.

Nanty Pandy.

On the path in the Nant y Pandy valley.

Getting around the fallen tree the easy way.

A "waterfall" on the Nant y Pandy.

The biggest waterfall in Nant y Pandy.

The main waterfall in Nan -y Pandy.

The descending stream in Nant y Pandy.

Not the prettiest breed of sheep in a field near Nant.!

Descending the moor to our lunch spot.

Tormentil next to the moorland path.

New growth on the fir trees next to our lunch spot.

Relaxing at lunch.

The view from my lunch spot.

The clouds moving over Moel Fferna.

Clouds moving over the slopes of Moel Fferna.

Who has left their Lekis this time?
Memories of previous visits!

The Llantysilio Range from our footpath across the slopes of Moel Fferna.

Distant views of Moel Fferna.

A dead tree highlighted when the Sun's rays made it glisten.

A blocked path and the way we made progress.

It looks like a faceoff, but the sheep turned round and ran off.

Taking the high road.

It looked like a crop of Gorse. If not why were the plants all roughly the same height?

More black sheep.

Two quite large lambs.

Farmer Taylor and Farmer Dodd in discussion.

A good showing of Bluebells in the lane leading to Glyndyfrdwy and our parked car.

Distance: 7.9 miles. Climb: 1696'.
Time: 5 hours 28 minutes. On the move walking average: 2.2 m.p.h. Overall walking average: 1.5 m.p.h.
Temperature: 4.5 Celsius at the start. 9.7 Celsius at lunch in the warm sunshine. 12.2 Celsius mid-afternoon.
Beaufort Wind Force 3 – 5. Mainly a Gentle breeze, but gusted to a 19.2m.p.h. Fresh breeze as we crossed the slopes of Moel Fferna.
Group: Martyn, Mike and Nigel.
The forecast for today wasn’t good, lots of rain, very windy and feel-like temperatures of around 6 Celsius.
Fran was put off by the forecast, but three of us decided to risk it. Thankfully it was the right decision! We did get a couple of showers in the morning, but it never felt as cold as in he forecast. In Nant y Pandy, we were protected from any wind, and it wasn’t until we crossed open moorland that we felt any wind at all.
At lunch time, we managed to shelter from the wind by a small wood, and the Sun came out, making it feel very pleasant half an hour stop.
Birds seen or heard today included: Blue tit, Great tit, Common pheasant, Common blackbird, Chiffchaff, European robin, Willow warbler, Barn swallow, Common chaffinch, Blackcap, Goldfinch, Common buzzard Stonechat, Meadow pipit and Mallard.
Overall, it was a very varied and enjoyable walk, and unexpectedly we arrived back at the car with all of our gear dry!.
After walk drinks were enjoyed at the Grouse Inn at Carrog, where two of us enjoyed Lees Founder’s and Mike sampled the Guinness Zero served in Guinness Zero glass.

Nigel presented us with gift of rhubarb that Elaine had picked from her garden. Thank you, Elaine.

Home to Shotton Along the River 9th May 2026

A few of the flowers seen along the river taday.

Dandelion.

Creeping buttercup.

Plantain.

Plantain.

Green alkanet.

Hawkweed.

Red clover.

White campion.

Garlic mustard.

The yellow flowers of Bird's foot trefoil.

Three-cornered garlic.

Hawthorn blossom.

A squirrel carving in Alexandra Road Park, Shotton.

A singing Skylark, even if you can't see it!

Distance: 5.8 miles
Time: 2 hours 30 minutes. Walking average: 2.3 m.p.h.
The forecast for today wasn't good, with a warning that rain was highly likely. However, the window was only light, so I decided too risky it, but made sure my umbrella was near to hand. In fact, it sunny for most of the time. There were a few spots of rain as I arrived at Shotton Station, but not enough to get my umbrella out.
Overall, another enjoyable solo walk, celebrated with a meal and a pint of Weetwood's Silverback stout at the Central Hotel in Shotton.
Birds seen or heard: Chiffchaff, Winter wren, Common blackbird, House sparrow, Greater whitethroat, European robin, Herring gull, Black headed gull, Lesser black back gull, Lapwing, Black billed magpie, Dunnock, Oystercatcher, Skylark, Mallard, Woodpigeon, Collared dove, Canada goose, Goldfinch, House martin, Barn swallow, Common Chaffinch, Blue tit, Great tit. and Common pheasant.
Flowers seen included: Oil seed rape, in Creeping buttercup, Cow parsley, Plantain, Yarrow, Corn flower, Crane's bill, Red clover, Red valerian, Hedge geranium, Nettle, Comfrey, Dandelion, Vetch, Garlic mustard, Three cornered leek, White campion and Greater periwinkle.
Trees seem included: Hawthorn, Sycamore, Common lime and Common Maple.

Rivacre Valley Country Park 6th May 2026

The path leading away from the Ranger's Cabin.

Leading the way.

Light coming through the trees in Well Wood.

The bridge over Rivacre Brook.

Still talking?

The first Bluebells, just past their best.

More Bluebells.

Lilly still leading the pack!

Rivacre Brook.

Another delightful woodland path.

Come back you've gone the wrong way.

More Bluebells not quite at their best.

Bluebells and Red campion in Clayhill Wood.

A few Bluebells looking a little better.

Not quite a waterfall, but it's the best you can get on Rivacre Brook in Clayhill Wood.

Having rest or still waiting for someone!

Rivacre Brook.

Lilly still in the lead!

"Which way now?"

"Come back, you are going the wrong way."

Walking around the golf course.

More of Ellesmere Port Golf Course.

The best  Bluebells seen today, in the shade on the Golf Course.

More of Ellesmere Port Golf Course.

The path through Church Wood next to the Golf Course.

More of the Church Wood path.

A pond near the Golf Course - a direction helper!

This etched map on a stone was also indicative that we were on the right track.

The footbridge that we eventually crossed.

Heading towards the start of our walk.

Even closer to the cars now.

Distance: 4.1 miles. Climb: 23'.
Time: 2 hours 25 minutes. On the move walking average: 2.4 m.p.h. Overall walking average: 1.7 m.p.h.
Temperature: 16.8 Celsius in the shade (felt much warmer in the warm sunshine).
Beaufort Wind Force 0, Calm, but occasionally you could just about feel it!
Group: Martyn, Fran, Nigel, Elaine, Mike, Sue Pearson and Lilly.
As it was a short walk, expected to be just 3 miles, we had a later than usual start, leaving my house at 10-00 and Upton at 10-15.
The walk was in fact over 4 miles, and took much longer than we expected, so we didn’t get back home in time for me to go to the Graham Booth’s funeral as I had hoped.  We did pass St. Mark's Church Saltney just at the time the coffin was about to be taken in!  I would have just made6 it, but wearing shorts would not have been appropriate attire for a funeral!
The walk took longer than expected, as e tried to follow directions from an old book, and some of the features described we never spotted! We didn’t even spot Hooton Church, although we did spot the cemetery!
Nevertheless, this walk proved to a delightful woodland walk, with only a few open areas near the golf course. Today was perfect for walking, the sun’s rays creating a dappled effect on the paths was a delight to see.
This was one of our Bluebell Wood Walks, but the Bluebells seen today were mainly passed their best. Perhaps next year, we should try doing this walk in April, rather than May.
As well as Bluebells, we did see Meadow buttercups, Red campion, Primrose, Herb robert, Cowslip and  Garlic mustard
Not many birds were seen or heard today, but those we did included: Wood pigeon, European robin, Common blackbird, Blue tit, Great tit, Great spotted woodpecker, Mallard and Jackdaw.
Butterflies seen included: Orange tip, Holly blue ansd Green veined white.
We all thought that this was a really delightful walk, and should be repeated again now that we have a better idea of where we should be going!

Good paths throughout the walk.  Perhaps next time we will spot the totem pole and Hooton Church spire!