An Unexpected Walk From Pont Rufeinog Station 28th November 2009

Heading of towards the snow and into the unexpected!

Snowdonia capped in snow, a delightful but unexpected view.

walk stats: Distance:6.3 miles;Climb:892'.

Time:3 hours 55 minutes, On the move walking average:2.2 m.p.h.; Overall walk 1.6 m.p.h.

Group:Martyn, Richard and Dave J.

Weather was better than expected, dry and sunny, but throughout close to zero, icy snow on the puddles on the paths when we found one!

Our first problem arrive very early on in the walk when our planned footpath was closed, but another footpath, probably better than the first, which took us as far as our link to the next walk. It started well, but we were soon trying to follow a footpath that on the ground did not exist. Thankfully GPS lead us to a quarry path and the road!

Gratefully we enjoyed lunch, sitting on the wall in the car park at the top of the Crimea Pass.

The unexpected bonus for the day was the fact that the high peaks were decked in snow, most spectacularly displayed from the Denbigh Moors on our way home.

Birds seen or heard today included:Robin, Blue tit, Great tit, Carrion crow, Jackdaw, Jay, Dunnock, Mallard, Black-billed magpie, Chaffinch and Raven.

After walk drinks were enjoyed at the Britannia at Pentre Halkyn, where Brewers Dark as well as the normal Lees bitter were quaffed.

Maen Achwyfan, Garth and Felin Blwm Woods 26th November 2009

The Watchtower from near Plas Uchaf.

Too much Sun!

Lunch in the sunshine - Richard not at his best!
The view from the watch tower.
At the Watchtower in Coed y Garreg.

Walk stats: Distance:8.9 miles; Climb:1454'.

Time:4 hours 33 minutes; On the move walking average:2.5 m.p.h.;Overall walk average:1.9 m.p.h.

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

What a glorious day this turned out to be for walking. Sunshine throughout, excellent distant views and in the main shielded from the wind. However at times the wind was quite brisk and kept the temperature in to single figures, almost shorts weather at times!

This was a walk where the paths through the woods, particularly Coed Felin Blwm and Coed Garth were delightful.

The viewpoint of the day was at the Watchtower in Coed y Garreg, now cleared from trees making the view across the Dee Estuary towards Liverpool superb.

Birds seen or heard today included:Kestrel, Starlings (a flock of at least 200), Buzzard, Blue tit, Long-tailed tit (even Tim said he could identify them!), Pheasant, Black-billed magpie, Great tit, Carrion crow, Rook, Jackdaw, Nuthatch, Bullfinch, Goldfinch, Meadow pipit, Redwing and Fieldfare.

After walk drinks were enjoyed in the warmth of the Britannia Inn at Pentre Halkyn, where once again the Lees bitter was excellent.

Dates and Walks November 2009

Updated 19th November 2009.

Happy birthday Fran - 21 today again!

Congratulation to Annie on becoming a Grandmother and to Philip and Sam on the safe arrival of their daughter Eva.

"Eva was born Friday 29 October to Philip and Sam' s delight and mine of course. She weighed 8lb7. Mother and baby went home on Sunday and all is well! See you on Thursday." -Annie H.

Advanced notice: Tim and Carol have kindly invited us to join them for a meal together on the evening after our New Years Day walk.

Thursday 5th November 2009.

Lindow, Saltersley and Mobberley.

Distance: 10.6 miles ;Climb:885'.
Start: Twinnies Bridge Car park, Wilmslow Grid ref:SJ840823.
Leave Chester 9-00 a.m.
This walk is taken from Graham Beech's book "East Cheshire Walks", and is one we last did January 2008. A good varied walk, but not too much climb involved!

Saturday 7th November 2009.

Shining Tor, Errwood Reservoir, Pym Chair, Todd Brook and Dunge Valley.

Distance: 11 miles;Climb: 2300' .
Start: Pym Chair Car Park. Grid ref:SJ995767.
Leave Chester 8-00 a.m.

This walk combines one walk from the "Pathfinder Guide to the Peak District" and one walk from Graham Beech's book "East Cheshire Walks", although we probably won't do either in their entirety. The Shining Tor walk is superb and the second one involves some interesting route finding, hopefully successful this time!

Wednesday 11th November 2009
Holywell Common, Pen-y-Ball and Pantasaph.

Distance: 10-11 miles ;Climb: 1167.
Start: Crooked Horn Inn, Brynford (Park near to sign) Grid ref:SJ186741.
Leave Chester 9-00 a.m.
Another two walks from Dave Bery's book "Walks Around Holywell and Halkyn Mountain". It;s nearly two years since w last did these two walks together! Always a good walk, if you try to forget that climb up the road to the Pen-y-Ball Monument!

Saturday 14th November 2009.
Under Moel Siabod.

Distance: 8 miles ;Climb: 1000+ .
Start: On the railway bridge, just North of Pont y Pant Station. Grid ref: SH754537.
Leave Chester 8-00 a.m.
This is another walk taken from Mike Burnett's book "Walks East of Snowdon". He describes it as a wild walk which crosses the high moorland to the East of Moel Siabod. Does that mean we can expect wet feet too! The walk apparently gives spectacular views of Moel Siabod and the Carneddau.

Thursday 19th November 2009.

Around Styal.

Distance: 9.5 miles;Climb: 621' .
Start: Twinnies Bridge Car park, Wilmslow Grid ref:SJ840823.
Leave Chester 9-00 a.m.
This walk is taken from Jen Darling's book "Best Pub Walks in Cheshire" which we last completed in December 2007. Another chance for Annie to have a longer than usual lay in!

Saturday 21st November 2009.
Another Variation on the Lathkilldale.

Distance: 10 miles;Climb: 1000+'.
Start: Monyash Car park. Grid ref:SK149666.
Leave Chester 8-00 a.m.
This variatiion is taken fromthe "Pathfinders Guide to the Peak District", but in the main is very similar to the Mark Richard's walk that we have done before. Lathkill dale is one of the most beautiful dales in the Peak District and is good to visit in all seasons.

Thursday 26th November 2009
Maen Achwyfan, Garth Woods and Felin Blwm Woods.

Distance: 9-10 miles;Climb:1264'.
Start: Opposite the church in Whitford. Grid ref:SJ147782.
Leave Chester 9-00 a.m.
Two walks taken from Dave Berry's book "Walks Around Holywell and Halkyn Mountain". Although we have already completed the "Maen Achwyfan" walk quite recently, it is the only walk that fits in with the "Garth Woods and Felin Blwm Woods" walk. This latter walk features attractive ancient woodlands following a way-marked Flintshire countryside circuit. O the way back we will try to avoid the gate and the wasps nest encountered last time!

Saturday 28th November 2009.
Dolwyddelan Castle, Blaenau Dolwyddelan and Coed Mawr and Maybe Moel Dyrnogydd.

Distance: 8-12 miles ;Climb: 2000+' .
Start: Pont Rufeinig (Roman Bridges Station). Grid ref:SH713514.
Leave Chester 8-00 a.m.
This walk could combine upto three walks from Mike Burnett's book Walks East of Snowdon". He describes one walk as a fascinating walk with dramatic views of Dolwyddelan Castle and superb views of the Lledre Valley. The second walk as a walk exploring the settlements above Dolwyddelan, once focused on quarry workings. The third as a fascinating walk visiting four sites - two quarries and two farms and crosses the Afon Lledr twice, once by a footbridge and once by strategically placed stepping stones. Moel Dyrnogydd will only be attempted if the weather demands an extension!

Monyash and Lathkilldale 21st November 2009

The crystal clear River Lathkill.

The bird of the day, but can you see it?

Walk stats: Distance10.1 miles (11 miles):Climb:1223' (1400').

Time:4 hours 51 minutes; On the move walking average:2.7 m.p.h.; Overall walk average:2.1 m.p.h..

Group:Martyn, Richard, Roger, Dave J., and Mike D.

Not the best of weather to start with, as we arrived at Monyash in mist, but at least it wasn't raining much and the wind was light and the temperature still warm enough for wearing shorts. Distant views were a little foggy to say the least, but the lovely Lathkill Dale gave us plenty to cheer about. Coots were seen swimming below the water, a Mute swan impressed Roger with its flypast and we were entertained by several Dippers bobbing up and calling from their mid-steam branch or rock. The nature spot of the day was watching a fish trying to jump up one of the weirs on the River Lathkill. In the upper reaches of Lathkill Dale, the river had flooded across the path, but others before us had created a new path higher up the slope. The last half an hour or so produced the most rain, and we arrived back at the car it little wetter than e would have liked, but bone dry in comparison to lst Saturday's walk and we all still had dry feet!

Birds seen or heard today included:Robin, Carrion crow, Jackdaw, Blackbird, Raven, Raven, Magpie, Blue tit, Wren, Mute swan, Mallard, Pheasant, Dipper, Coot, Goldfinch, Moorhen and Fieldfare.

After walk drinks were enjoyed, especially by Richard, at the Wilkes Head in Leek, where once again the Hartington Bitter confirmed to each one of us that it is the best bitter in the world, worthy of a detour to Leek to sample!

Around Styal 19th November 2009

Leaving Styal Village heading for the cross. Styal Cross.

Giant's Castle Bridge over the Bollin.

On the Bollin Valley Way.

Distance:8.1 miles;Climb:1329' , although when we last did this walk it was only 956'. I think today's reading must have been too high due to the strong winds.

Time:3 hours 35 minutes; On the move walking average:2.7 m.p.h.; Overall walk average:2.2 m.p.h.

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

What a good day for walking this turned out to be. 15 Celsius on the car at the start and at the end, this was definitely a shorts day! The wind at times was quite brisk, but at least it was relatively warm. The Bollin was very pretty high and muddy coloured, no chance of spotting any fish! Surprisingly we had very little disturbance from low flying aircraft, despite being less than a mile away from the runway at Manchester Airport.

Lunch was taken alongside Rossmere, where a convenient fallen tree provided dry seating for most of us. Annie provided us with shortbread biscuits as a celebration of her birthday that had been two days before.

Birds seen or heard today included:Carrion crow, Jay, Long-tailed tit, Blue tit, Mallard, Coot, Moorhen, Black-headed gull, Wren, Great-crested grebe and Black-billed magpie.

After walk drinks were enjoyed at the Lord Ebdon in Knutsford where Norther Carnival bitter proved to be very tasty.

Beneath Moel Siabod 14th November 2009

A good path to start with, little did we know what came next!

At last we're back on a proper track!

Our lunch spot with a good view of Moel Siabod (photo below). Is everyone happy?
Moel Siabod in sunshine!

Walk stats: Distance:8.4 miles; Climb:994'.

Time:3 hours 51` minutes; On the move walking average:2.5 m.p.h.;Overall walk average:2.2 m.p.h.

Group:Martyn, Richard, Roger, Dave J. and Mike D.

Weather today was not exactly the weather we would have chosen, but at least it wasn't cold and in the main the rain was quite gentle even if it was persistent! This was a walk for good views, but we didn't get any 'till after mid-day! This would have been a lovely walk, had I not fallen in a stream and then had to wade across a marsh, knee deep in water, for more than a mile. At least I knew that i wasn't the only one with squelching boots reminiscent of childhood days when the water went over the top of your wellies! At least we managed to have lunch when the rain had stopped, Moel Siabod was in view and the Sun came out!

Some of us enjoyed the walk, but I'm not sure it will be on many of the group's favourites list! The walk may be repeated again, but only after a severe period of drought!

Birds seen or heard today were very few, but included:Blackbird, Dunnock, Jay, Meadow pipit, Carrion crow, Raven, Robin and Grey heron.

After walk drinks were enjoyed at the Britannia Inn at Pentre Halkyn where Lees Bitter and Brewers dark were on good form. On this wet and miserable day the real fire at the TV end of the room was a very welcome bonus!

Holywell Common, Racecourse, Pantasaph and Pen-y-Ball 11th November 2009.

At the trig point on Pen-y-Ball.

Walk stats: Distance:10.7 miles; Climb:950'.

Time:4 hours 54 minutes; On the move walking average:2.5 m.p.h.;Overall walk average:2.2 m.p.h.

Group:Martyn, Tim and Dave J.

The necessary switch to Wednesday this week meant that only three of the regulars could make it. The weather was kind to us in that it was dry and cool for most of the walk, but we did get a little sunshine with blue skies. Views weren't that clear, but we did get glimpses of the Clwydians and fairly good views across the Dee estuary.

This was a good day for birds, they seemed to be everywhere. Birds seen or heard today included: Bullfinch, Chaffinch, Dunnock, Goldfinch, Pied wagtail, Yellowhammer, Black-billed magpie, Raven, Jackdaw, Carrion crow, Common gull, Black-headed gull, Herring gull, Buzzard, Kestrel, Fieldfare, Redwing, Mistle thrush, Song thrush, Collared dove, Woodpigeon, Starling, Greater spotted woodpecker and House sparrow.

After walk drinks were enjoyed at the warm and welcoming Britannia Inn at Pentre Halkyn.

Shining Tor, the Goyt Valley and the Toddbrook Circular 7th November 2009

Heading for Shining Tor. On the path from Pym Chair to Shining Tor.

At the trig point on Shining Tor, not quite living up to its name. The approach to Errwood Reservoir.

One of the views from the path above Summer Close, looking across the valley towards

Pym Chair.

Walk stats: Distance: 10.6 miles; Climb:2495'.

Time 5 hours 19 minutes; On the move walking average: 2.3 m.p.h.; Overall walk average:2.0 m.p.h. Dave J., Richard, Roger and Mike Dodd walked a little further!

Group:Martyn, Richard, Roger, Celia, Dave J., and Mike D.

This turned out to be a better day than we expected, although at times it was a little on the cold side (3 Celsius when we arrived at Pym Chair). However we did have good warm sunny
spells too, particularly in the morning, but after we had reached the summit of Shining Tor! This walk, down to Errwood Reservoir past Errwood Hall and the shrine back to Pym Chair is a a delightful! Lunch was taken back at the cars, although some decided to dine a little further away.

The afternoon walk, not as delightful as that of the morning, did present as expected challenges to both route finding and the waterproofing on our boots. Thankfully we did find the correct way to approach Summer Close from Tunstead Farm, but it was hardly any better than earlier attempts in terms of the underfoot conditions and the need to cross streams by paddling!

Once again I decided that I had had enough and diverted from the described route along the road past Jenkin Chapel back to Pym Chair, along with Celia. The rest of the group decided to continue the walk via Saltersfoot. I know who made the best choice when they arrived back at the car looking like drowned rats and we were safely in the car before any substantial rain started!

Birds seen and heard today included:Robin, Red grouse, Meadow pipit, Chaffinch, Blue tit, Long-tailed tit, Grey heron, Blackbird, Fieldfare, Redwing, Carrion crow, Jackdaw and Buzzard.

After walk drinks were enjoyed by most of us at the Cross Keys at Knutsford where several good beers were on offer, but Deuchars IPA was the chosen one today. Dave and Roger missed out, having headed straight home due to evening engagements.

Lindow, Salterley and Mobberley 5th November 2009

The advanced party? Getting ready to leave our lunch spot.

Walk stats: Distance:10.9 miles; Climb:495'.

Time: 4 hours 55 minutes; On the move walking average: 2.6 m.p.h.; Overall walk average: 2.2 m.p.h.

Group:Martyn, Richard, Roger, Sue and Michel, Fran and Tito, Celia, Tim,Annie H, Sylvia and Dave J., and Georgie the Jack Russell.

In today's conditions this walk didn't have a lot to offer, but at least we had a little bit of Sunshine at lunch where a fallen tree provided suitable places to sit. However to cheer us up, Sue P provide Parkin, Sylvia provide her cake and Annie provided chocolate biscuits, all devoured with relish.

The only other event of the day was two very friendly horses greeting us at one of the stiles, making crossing the stile and the field a nervous experience for some.

Birds seen or heard today included:Long-tailed tit, Robin, Blackbird, Great-crested grebe, Mallard, Dunnock, Housesparrow, Blackbird, Coot, Jay, Fieldfare, Chaffinch and Buzzard.

after walk drinks were enjoyed at the Lord Eldon in Knutsford, where Norther Jewell was the beer quaffed by most of us. (Dave and Sylvia missed out, they sent a text saying that they got "lost" and had gone straight home in the rain!