Pen y Bwlch Gwyn 27th October 2007

This really does give a feel of the weather conditions experienced during the middle part of the walk!

The Afon Tryweryn. A penny for your thoughts.


Getting away from friend!

On the approach path above Llyn Maen Bras

Walk stats: 10.9 miles; Climb: 2003'.

Time: 5 hours 53 minutes; Walking average: 2.3 m.p.h.; Overall walk average: 1.9 m.p.h..

Group: Martyn, Richard, Celia, Sylvia and Dave J.

This was a walk completed in what can be described as not quite ideal weather conditions. Light drizzle accompanied us for most of the day, and at times we seemed to be in cloud. Distant views flitted in and out and at one crucial point in route finding were non existent. We ended up going over Pen y Bwlch Gwyn, rather than around it. The GPS for once proved a real asset, enabling us to get back on track on at least two occasions. The walk went close to a beautiful tumbling section of the Afon Tryweryn before climbing to some of the more remote hills North of Bala. Dave Berry's route description, at time didn't seem up to its usual standard, particularly around Penmaen-mawr cottage. At one point a post did not exist, and later on a ladder stile had turned into a step stile. despite our problem in route finding, this walk has a lot to offer, and must be repeated when the Summer sun is shining. Only then will we be able to appreciate the full beauty and many outstanding viewpoints offered on the walk. Lunch was taken in the shelter of some gorse bushes, overlooking Llyn Maen Bras, the first glimpse of which reassured us that we were on the right track.

The only animals seen today a Rabbit and a Gery squirrel.

Birds seen or heard included: Grey Heron, Long-tailed tit, Herring gull, Meadow pipit, Buzzard, Fieldfare, Carrion crow and Wigeon (about 12 birds, a surprise to first hear and then see on Llyn Maen Bras as we set off from our lunch spot).

As is often the case refreshments were taken at the Cholomendy Arms. The beers sampled today included Woodland Schooner and Wheetwood Blonde.

Dates and Walks October 2007

Updated 25th October 2007

Good news - the Britannia Inn at Pentre Halkyn is again open all day on a Thursday.

Thursday 4th October 2007

Lady Bagot's Drive with St., Christopher's blessing.

This was a walk that we last did on a very windy day early in the year, and part of the route was flooded and we ended up wading through knee deep water. Hopefully we won't encounter similar conditions this time, and if we are lucky we might see Salmon leaping. This walk combines two of the walks taken from Dave Berry's book "Wales in the Vale of Clwyd".

Start: Ruthin riverside car park. Grid ref: SJ121582.

Leave Chester 9-15 a.m. and meet at the riverside car park.

Saturday 6th October 2007

Stanage Edge.

Distance: 11-12 miles; Climb:1800'.

This is a walk first completed by the group in September 2006, and if the walk is completed as described in Mark Richards' book "Walks in the High Peaks" it will take us about 7 hours (the time it took last time). This is a wonderful walk and is very likely to match the Roaches in popularity.

Start: Hathersage car park: Grid ref: SK231814.

Leave Chester 8-00 a.m. and meet at Hathersage car park.

Thursday 11th October 2007

On foot to Eyarth Halt, Craig Adwy-wynt and Nantclwyd Hall.

Distance: 13 miles; Climb: 1500' at a guess.

This combines two more walks from Dave Berry's book "Walks in the Vale of Clwyd". We have done these walks before, but together. There are several opportunities to make the walk shorter if need be, but none miss out the fields with bulls encountered last time.

Start: Ruthin riverside car park. Grid ref: SJ121582.
Leave Chester 9-15 a.m. and meet at the riverside car park.

Saturday 13th October 2007

Cwm Cynllyd, Cwm Dyfrdwy and Caer Gai.

Distance:11-12 miles; Climb: 1500' at a guess.

This combines three walks from Dave Berry's book "Walks Around Y Bala and Penllyn". The first walk is described as an exhilarating walk exploring the attractive sides of Cwn Cynllyd. It reaches a height of over 1200' and has stunning views of the Aran ridge.

The second walk explores both sides of Cwm Dyfrdwy and the third walk is described as facinating walk featuring a Roman fort and houses of historic interest. The first and last walk both involve courtesy paths that don't allow dogs. That shouldn't be a problem for us these days.

Start: Snowdonia National Park car park at Pont y Pandy, Llanuwchllyn.

Grid ref: SH880298.

Leave Chester at 8-15 a.m. or Love Lane car park Mold at 8-30 a.m.

Thursday 18th October 2007

Whitford Wood, Downing and Maen Achwyfan.

This combines two walks from Dave Berry's book "Walks around Holywell and Halkyn Mountain. We have completed both walks before, but usually by tagging parts of the walks on to other walks. This will give us another chance to visit the watch tower, hopefully with less insects flying around it and the ground a little more settled after all of the felling that had been going on the last time that we were there.

Start: Whitford village centre. Grid ref: SJ147782.

Park opposite the church. Hopefully the new estate that was being built will be finished by now otherwise we may have problems parking.

Leave Chester 9-15 a.m. It may be worthwhile meeting at the Britannia Inn, Pentre Halkyn and taking as few cars as possible to the start point.

After walk drinks will of course be at the Britannia Inn.

Saturday 20th October 2007
Revidge and Ecton Hill.

Distance: 11-12 miles; Climb: 1500'.
Start: Hume End Car park; Grid ref: SK102593.
This walk combines two walks from Mark Richards' book "walks in the White Peak". It is a walk that we have done several times before and completed all weather conditions. The most memorable being one completed with knee deep dry snow covering most of the walk and then of course with Ecton Hill there's the mud! Hopefully we will experience neither on this occasion.
After walk drinks will of course be at the Wilkes Head in Leek.
Leave Chester at 8-15 a.m.

Thursday 25th October 2007

Mynydd Marian.

Distance: 7-8 miles; Climb: 1500'

Start: Llandulas shoreline car park, opposite the toilet block. Grid ref: SH907786.

This is one of my favourite walks and is a walk that we have done several times before, bit it is always one that I enjoy doing and want that is worth repeating at any time of the year. Walks along the coast are always special! This is a walk taken from Dave Berry's book "Walks on the North Wales Coast". Several good view points on this walk.

Leave Chester at 9-00 a.m. and meet at the car park at the Btitannia Inn, Pentre Halkyn. We can then go in convoy to the start point in Llandulas.

After walk drinks will of course be at the Britannia Inn. We now know it will be open whatever time we get there!

Saturday 27th October 2007

Around Pen y Bwlch.

Distance: 10+ miles; Climb: 1500' at a guess.

Start: Main car park at Bala (Pont y Bala). Grid ref: SH929362.

This is another walk from Dave Berry's book"Walks Around Y Bala and Penlylyn".

He describes it as a walk through the hills north of Bala. It skirts a prominent hill called Moel Emoel. but perhaps we may be able to reach its summit! The open hill section he advises is for "experienced walkers only and should be avoided in poor visibility!" A walk with a challenge! Are we up to it?

Leave Chester 8-00 a.m. (at Celia's house assuming that she is coming) or 8-30 a.m. at the Love Lane car park, Mold. It may be worth while meeting at the Love Lane car park and taking as few cars as possible. Parking fees are cheaper at Mold than Bala!

After walk drinks will probably be at the Cholomendy Arms at Cadole.

Mynydd Marian 25th October 2007

Walking along the North Wales coastal path towards Old Colwyn.

The old fossils of the day - but did I get it wrong?

Should this have been beneath the first picture!

Dave J. looking up to Craig y Forwyn - the highest point of the day.
Walk stats: Distance: 8.05 miles; Climb: 1003;
Walking average: 2.3 m.p.h.; Overall walk average: 1.9 m.p.h..

Group: Martyn, Richard, Tito, Annie H, Dave J., Michel and Sue P..This is always a walk that is enjoyed at any time in the year, perhaps marginally better mid-week than at the weekend when you don't have to contend with more cyclists and golfers. Today the weather was mild and the tide was just about at its highest, and very few birds were evident along the boulders and sea defences. The best part of this walk is always the walk along the limestone outcrops of Mynydd Maiain and along the escarpment towards Craig y Forwyn and the Landulas quarry (now a landfill site and mecca for gulls).

This time we decided to take the path along the edge of Llandulas quarry rather than take the usual route following the North Wales Path under the cliffs. This route was much easier on the knees, but the expected views were missing due to the enclosed nature of the path. The route underneath the rock face is probably the best imposing views and the chance of seeing Peregrine falcons, but as our knees begin to complain more today's route may become our preference.

Birds seen or heard today included: Grey heron, Carrion crow, Jackdaw, Blue tit, Long-tailed tit, Great tit, House sparrow, Dunnock, Pheasant, Wood pigeon, Blackbird, Robin, Starling, Herring gull, Common gull, Black headed gull, Cormorant, Chaffinch, Raven, Canada goose, Pied wagtail and a Lesser spotted woodpecker (bird of the day).

Drinks were again enjoyed at the Britannia Inn at Pentre Halykn. The pub managers/tenants may change but the beer is always good!

Revidge and Ecton Hill 20th October 2007

On the summit of Revidge.

On the summit of Ecton Hill.

Looking towards Revidge from Ecton Hill.

Walk stats: Distance: 12.3 miles; Climb: 1537'.

Time: 6 hours 13 minutes; Walking average: 2.5 m.p.h.; Overall walk average: 2.1 m.p.h.

Group: Martyn, Richard, Sylvia and Dave J.

This was a walk that we have done in all sorts of memorable conditions, but this was probably the best. A cool crisp start with the sun shining on us for most of the day. Distant views weren't very clear, but they were still quite stunning. Most of the route was quiet, but one stretch coincided with the route taken by sixty Wallaby Festival 22 mile hike and there were quite a lot of people around the visitor centre at Hulme End. We enjoyed lunch, basking in the sun and with the luxury of picnic benches near the visitor centre. The high point of the first day was the trig point on Revidge, but the better viewpoint was the trig point on Ecton Hill. The final part of the walk was a gentle stroll down the Manifold valley, disturbed at time by the warning bells of cyclists.

The unusual find of the day was the remain of a balloon with the name tag from a young girl at a primary school in Huddersfield.
One or two butterflies were still flying and two different types of waxcaps were encountered, one an orange colour and the other white.
Birds seen or heard today included: Snipe (the second one seen this week) on Revidge, Grey heron, Carrion crow, Blue tit, Long-tailed tit, Stonechat, House sparrow, Fieldfare and Dipper.
Other animals seen include several Rabbits (one very large) and a Grey squirrel.
An excellent pint or two were enjoyed at the Wilkes Head in Leek. Hartington bitter really is the best bitter in the world!

Whitford, Downing and Maen Achwyfaen 18th October 2007

Approaching Maen Achwyfaen - also our lunch spot.

Things are looking up on the drive to Downing!

Walk stats: Distance: 9.3 miles; Climb: 834'.

Time: 5 hours 0 minutes; Walking average: 2.5 m.p.h.; Overall walk average: 2.0 m.p.h.

Group: Martyn, Richard, Celia, Tito, Annie H and Dave J.

We decided to meet at the Britannia Inn at Pentre Halkyn, hoping for a drink there at the end of the walk, if we could make the walk last until 4-00 p.m. when it opened. At this point only two cars were needed to transport us to the start point at Whitford. We were in the lead car, but after only 10 minutes the car following seemed to have disappeared, apparently they had followed a different car and ended on a housing estate where the car turned on to the drive. Only those in the car will know if they turned in to the drive as well. However all was not lost and they soon recovered and arrived at the start point in Whitford.

This was a walk completed in perfect walking conditions, not too warm, sunny (in the main) and hardly any wind. My only regret was that I didn't put my shorts on. This very pleasant walk in Pennant country eventually passed the watch tower, and for once, the views across the estuary were quite stunning.

Birds seen or heard today included: Snipe(the bird of the day), Grey Heron, Blackbird, Magpie, Jay, Great spotted woodpecker, Herring gull, Black Headed gull, Goldfinch, Robin, Blue tit, Great tit, Buzzard, Song thrush and Jackdaw.

A very enjoyable pint or two or three was enjoyed at the Britannia Inn at Pentre Halkyn - open again all day on a Thursday (also Friday and Saturday)!

More pictures may appear, but there is a problem with uploading pictures at the moment!

Cwm Cynllwyd and Caer Gai 13th October 2007

Martyn above the valley we should have gone down behind and to the right!

The upper valley in Cwm Cynllwyd.

Dave J. and Richard checking the route down the east side of Cwm Cynllwyd.
Richard at the start of the Aran courtesy path.

Is this small hill above the barn the site of Caer Gai?

Walk stats: Distance: 11.4 miles; Climb: 1866'.
Time: 6 hours 4 minutes; Walking average: 2.3 m.p.h.; Overall walk average 1.9 m.p.h.
Group: Martyn, Richard and Dave J.

This walk turned out to have more surprises than we expected. The weather was mild and dampish, but never enough to require waterproofs. Everything went well at first, but we got carried away a bit when we had statred on the Aran courtesy path and ended by continuing upwards for about a mile and 600' climb more than we needed to. We put our mistake down to the fact that a guide postseemed to be missing. However we did get some better views than we would otherwise would have, and Richard had a close encounter with a labrador whose comment was "you must smell good!." Richard put it down to the Pure fabric softener. The views of the Arans were always clouded over, although we did get a glimpse of Aran Benllyn for a short period. The main part of the walk took us in to the heart of Cwm Cynllwyd, a beautiful secluded valley, we suspect is seldom visited by walkers - the footpaths could hardly be seen and in some parts did not exist in a form that could be detected.

The second part of the walk to Caer Gai was a little disappointing in that the courtesy path to the roman fort had for some reason been closed and we could only surmise that the small hill above was the location.

Birds seen or heard today included: Buzzard, Raven, Fieldfare, Carrion crow, Jackdaw, Long-tailed tit, Blue tit, Robin, House sparrow, Herring gull, Magpie, Blackbird and Nuthatch.

After walk drinks were enjoyed at the Cholomendy Arms at Cadole. The beers sampled today were Woodland "Light Oak" and Thomas Wood's "Old Timber", not the best beers that we have tasted, but nevertheless welcome after a good walk.

On Foot to Eyarth Station and Craig Adwy-wynt 11 October 2007

The Clwydian Hills from Craig Adwy-wynt.

Crossing the ornamental bridge across the Clwyd at Nantclwyd Hall.

Lunch on Craig Adwy-wynt.

Flower of the day at Nantclwyd Hall.

Walk stats: Distance: 14.2 miles; Climb:1016'.
Time: 6 hours 38 minutes; Walking average: 2.6 m.p.h.; Overall walk average: 2.1 m.p.h.

Group: Martyn, Richard, Annie H, Celia, Tito, Sylvia and Dave J.

This was a longer walk than we expected and towards the end seemed like a marathon. Fortunately the weather was kind, almost perfect walking conditions, dry, not too warm with hardly any wind. The highlight of the day was the section on the limestone escarpment of Craig Adwy-wynt, our early lunch spot! The views of the Clwydian Hills from Craig Adwy-wynt were magnificent and this little ridge did seem like being on top of the world.

The beautiful Nantclwyd valley with its grass landing strip and ornamental wooden bridge reminded us of just how privileged some people are to have places like this as their front gardens.

This is the longest walk that we have done on a Thursday so legs were tired as we entered the bull field, I don't think many of us could have broken any records had they come towards us!. Fortunately neither of the bulls took much interest in us, although they did way us up before continuing to graze.

Birds seen or heard today included: Buzzard, Kestrel, Peregrin, Blackbird, House sparrow, Magpie, Jay and Carrion crow.
After walk refreshments were taken at the Glasfryn where Purple Moose's Snowdonia Ale was quaffed by most of us.

Celia and Tito declined to join us on this occasion since they had more pressing engagements!

Stanage Edge 6th October 2007

Camp Green near St., Michael's church, Hathersage.

One of the millstones that litter this area below Stanage Edge. Climbers on the cliffs above.


Richard at the trig point at High Neb


Martyn at the trig point on the rocks above the Cowper tone. Stanage Edge behind.

Walk stats: Distance: 12.9 miles; Climb: 1780'.

Time: 7 hours 28 minutes; Walking average: 2.3 m.p.h.; Overall walk average: 1.7 m.p.h.

Group: Martyn and Richard.

This was a walk stating in Hathersage with the prospects of the weather being wall to wall sunshine. This proved not to be the case. It started warm and rather sultry with hardly any breeze, but the afternoon was much better as we walked along Stanage Edge, not much sunshine with a cool gentle breeze. This made almost perfect walking conditions. This is certainly a very popular area, I don't think that we have seen so many rock climbers as we did today. his walk has a magnificent long length of ridge top to walk on and makes you feel on top of the world. This time we managed to follow the walk as described and crossed Higger Tor. A short scramble was required, but we were rewarded with a brand new vista across the valley to Burbage Edge and further down to Stanage Edge.

Birds seen and heard today, mainly towards the end of the walk included: Carrion crow, Rook, Jackdaw, a pair of Stonechats, Meadow pipit, Willow warbler; Robin, Blackbird, Kestrel, Jay, Buzzard and excellent views of a Goshawk (obviously the bird of the day!).

A rabbit and a Grey squirrel were the only mammals to be seen.

Refreshments were taken at the Little John Inn in Hathersage where a good pint of Storm's Tornado was enjoyed. This was an inn of character and had wide range of clientele, perhaps little too much noise for us with its loudish music, but at least the beer was good!

Lady Bagot's Drive With St. Christopher's Blessing 4th October 2007

The Clwydian Hills.

Dave J and memories of a close encounter on a windy day .

Walk stats: Distance: 12.5 miles; Climb: 607'.
Time: 5 hours 48 minutes; Walking average: 2.6 m.p.h.; Overall walk average: 2.2 m.p.h.
Group: Martyn, Richard, Annie H and Dave J.

This was a very pleasant walk in almost perfect walking weather, a marked contrast to the last time when gale force winds were blowing and in one place we had to wade through a flooded river section. The only inconvenient part of the walk was the need to go around the outside of a very large field to avoid crossing the field that was in the process of being ploughed/planted. We visited St. Saeran's church with its medieval painting and and the door with it's ancient graffiti. The views of the Clwydian Hills were outstanding bathed in glorious sunshine with blue skies above. The Clywedog and Clwyd rivers tumbled alongside lady Bagot's Drive and then meandered gracefully through the Vale of Clwyd, but without evidence of Salmon leaping (the water wasn't deep enough yet).
It was claimed that a Natterjack toad was seen on the walk! Trout were seen in the River Clwyd.
Birds seen or heard included: Buzzard, Carrion crow, Jackdaw, Robin, Blackbird, Goldfinch, Grey wagtail, Dipper, Blue tit, Great tit and Long-tailed tit.
The resident Ruthin itinerant was again spotted, this time resting beside the River Clwyd. On the final part of the walk we were entertained by two model aeroplane enthusiasts.
Refreshments were enjoyed at the Glasfryn. Its roaring fire was perhaps a little unnecessary on this occasion, but it won't be long before it will be added bonus!