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When? Started: 1993 Who? Started with staff and friends from U H S, Chester. Organiser: Martyn Harris We walk every Wednesday and Saturdays, New Years day and May Day. How many walk? Walks take place as long as there are at least 2 wanting to walk on that day. More walk on a Wednesday than on a Saturday. Most ever: 29. Current group size walking: 2-7 in mid-week and 2-4 on Saturday. Where do we walk? Saturday: Anywhere in North and Mid-Wales, Peak District, Shropshire and the Long Mynd and as far North as the Trough of Bowland. Thursday: Anywhere within about 40 miles of Chester. Type of walk: Distance: 6 – 14 miles (but usually under 10 miles). Climb: up to 4000’ (but usually very much less!). People involved on walks in 2024:- Martyn Harris, Fran Murphy, Sue and Michel Pelissier, Mike Dodd, David Savage,, Ed Meads, Nigel and Elaine Taylor, Winston Feather.

Saturday 28 August 2010

The Tarren Hills 28th August 2010

A waterfall on the Nant Gwernol.
Our first view of Tarren y Gesail.
Heading up the grassy slope of Tarrenhendre.
At the cairn on Tarrenhendre.
At the trig point on Tarren y Gesail.

Walk stats: Distance:10.8 miles; Climb:3367'.
Time: 6 hours 38 minutes; On the move walking average: 1.9 m.p.h.;Overall walk average:1.5 m.p.h.
Group:Martyn, Richard, Celia and Dave J.
The weather forecast was for showers all day, and it turned out to be right, but we did have a few sunny spells, particularly at the start and the end of the walk. The walk started by following a path above the Nant Gwernol, a very picturesque route and then followed an old railway track. The going was easy, little did we know what was to challenge us later on. The final steep scramble through Heather, slate scree and a grassy slope to the ridge, wasn't exactly delightful. The relief of arriving on the slopes of Tarrenhendre was soon lost as we headed up the seemingly never ending grassy slopes to th cairn on the top. By this time we were accompanied by a strong North-Westerly wind and low cloud, so views were minimal. The route followed the fence and we were fortunate to get glimpses of good views down to the coast.
Surprisingly we saw other walkers on this route.
We arrived at the shelter and trig point on Tarren y Gesail, thinking that the rest of the route would be a gentle descent, but once again we were to be proved wrong. One section was very boggy, no wonder the OS map described it as "Fords"! However from Bryn Eglwys quarry the route was easy and soon turned into tarmac track all the way down to Abergwynolwyn.
Birds seen or heard today were few and far between but included: Chaffinch, Cola tit, Buzzard, Kestrel, Meadow pipit, Raven, European robin, Treecreeper, Winter wren and Red kite (seen just as we were leaving Abergwynolwyn).
After walk drinks were enjoyed at the Cholomendy Arms at Cadole, where the brews sampled were from the Boggart Brewery, the Cottage Brewery and Lees Brewery.
A good walk that would have been much better on a warm, sunny day with a gentle southerly wind to cool us!

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