Dates and Walks January 2011.

Updated 11th January 2011.

Happy New Year to Everyone.

Saturday 1st January 2011.

Hilbre Island and the West Kirby Round.

Distance:9-10 miles, although we can make it shorter if need be! Climb:300'.

Start:The Parade by the Marine Lake at West Kirby. Park near the old baths, opposite the Lifeboat Station. I expect this will be a popular place for a New Year's Day walk, so if we park at the end of the Parade towards the Yacht Club, we should have a better chance of parking near each other. Grid ref:SJ21458601.

Leave Chester 9-00 a.m.

This walk combines two walks from Raymond Roberts' booklet "Wirral Walks - the West Wirral Six". This is the first time that we have attempted to go over to Hilbre Island, but the tide will be on its way out when we set off, so hopefully we can follow it out. If not we may have to visit Red Rocks first and have lunch on Hilbre. Although it won't be the best time for bird watching, it should still be worthwhile bringing binoculars, and there is a good chance of seeing Seals.

After returning to the mainland we will head down along the beach to Red Rocks where we will have lunch. Fruit cake will be provided, so let me know if you intend coming. If we complete the whole walk from Red Rocks we will set off down the road towards Hoylake and then on to Grange Hill before returning past the Beacon, through Ashton Park back to the start. If a shorter walk is required, then after lunch we can return to West Kirby along the path through the sand dunes.

Thursday 6th January 2011.

Thurstaston Common, Stapledon Wood, Caldy and More.

Distance:8-10 miles. Climb:1000'.

Start: Thursaston Visitor Centre Car Park. Grid ref:SJ239835.

Leave Chester at 9-00 a.m.

This is a repeat of the walk that we did on 1st January 2010 and combines two walks from Raymond Roberts' booklet "Wirral Walks - the West Wirral Six". This is a relatively easy walk with good views along the way, especially from Thurstaston Hill. We hope to walk back from Caldy to Thursaston along the beach, so bring binoculars with you.

Saturday 8th January 2011

Errwood and Burbage Edge.

Distance:9-12 miles. Climb:2000'.
Start: The Street car park at the Eastern end of Errwood Reservoir. Grid ref:SK013757.
Leave Chester 8-00 a.m.
This is another walk taken from Graham Beech's book "East Cheshire Walks". This is another walk from the Goyt Valley and involves sections in Derbyshire and Staffordshire, if we take the longer route. He describes the views on the walk as being outstanding. We have walked in this area several times, but I don't think we have walked on both sides of Errwood Reservoir on the same walk.

Thursday 13th January 2011.

Rhyl and the Clwyd Estaury, Rhuddlan and beyond.

Distance:10-11 miles; Climb:500'.

Start: Rhyl, Foryd Bridge Car Park (Pay and Display). Grid ref:SH99618063.
Leave Chester at 9-00 a.m.
This walk combines a walk from Dave Berry's book "Walks on the North Wales Coast" with a walk from Lorna Jenner's book "Walking in the Vale of Clwyd and Denbigh Moors". This is another walk when binoculars will be useful. Hopefully we will get better weather than last year. Rhuddlan Castle is a CADW site, but I think it closes for the Winter.

Saturday 15th January 2011.

The Dolwyddelan to Ty Mawr Round.Distance:9 miles. Climb:1800.

Start: Dolwyddelan Station Car Park. Grid ref:SH738522.
Leave Chester 8-00 a.m.
Last year we visited Ty Mawr on several occasions, but thought that we could devise a better route. This our chance to prove it! The planned route follows a path alongside the Afon Bwlch y Groes, crosses Bwlch y Groes, passes through Pigyn Groes and onto the Penmachno to Ty Mawr Road. The return route follows the road past Ty Cyfyng where we then follow forest and quarry tracks back to Dolwyddelan as we have done in the past. No route description this time, just a map!

Thursday 20th January 2011.

Great Warford, Lindow Common and the Carrs.

Distance:10 miles; Climb:500'.

Start: Twinnies Bridge, Wilmslow. Grid ref:SJ839823.
This walk is based on a walk from Graham Beech'e book "Walks in east Cheshire", but as is often the case we are starting at a different place than that in the walk description. The link parts of the walk we have done many times on our walks in the Wilmslow area. He claims that the Great Warford walk involves little used paths, hopefull they won't be too overgrown.

Saturday 22nd January 2011.

Holcombe Moor, Bull Hill and Peel Tower.

Distance:9-10 miles; Climb:1200'.
Start:Car park beside the B6214 Holcombe to Haslingden Road. Grid ref:SD782184.
Leave Chester at 8-00 a.m.
This walk is based on a walk from Terry Marsh's book "Fifty Classic Walks in Lancashire". His walk is only 4.5 miles, so there is a little more exploring of Holcombe Moor to do in order to stetch it to the 10 miles. The walk heads for Bull Hill first and visits the Pilgrim's Cross, circles around the slopes of Bull Hill before arriving back at the Pilgrim's Cross. The walk then picks up the described route over White Hill and Harcles Hill to Peel Tower. This walk does have the possible problem that it crosses an MOD firing range, so if we hear gunshots or the Red Flags are flying, we may need to rapidly rethink our plans!

Thursday 27th January 2011.

Moel Findeg, Deborah's Well and Around Bryn Alyn.

Distance: 9-11 miles. Climb:1500'.

Start: Roadside parking near the telephone box in the centre of Maeshafn.
Leave Chester at 9-00 a.m.
This walk uses two walks from Dave Berry's book " More Walks in the Clwydian Hill". We will complete the Moel Findeg walk, but probably only part of the Bryn Alyn walk. The first walk explores open country, attractive woodlands and superb views, especially from the summit of Moel Findeg. The second wlk explores the impressive limestone scenery around Bryn Alyn known locally as the Pothole Mountain.

Saturday 29th January 2011.

Traeth Lafan and Its Foothills

with an extension to the Traeth Lafan Nature Reserves.

Distance:10-11 miles. Climb:1500'.
Start: Aber Ogwen Coastal Car Park. Grid ref:SH616724.
This walk uses two walks taken from Dave Berry's book "Walks On the North Wales Coast". The Traeth Lafan and it Foothills walk is an annual favourite and has in the past given us some wonderful experiences, especially in Winter trampling through soft fluffy knee deep snow that didn't stick or wet our legs. The coast at this time of the year is good for Wintering birds, so it is worthwhile bringing binoculars with you.