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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, 12 February 2011

Llugwy and Lledre Valleys and Llyn Elsi 12th February 2011

The Afon Llugwy at Betws-y-coed.
Mike on Sarb Helen.
Our first view of Llyn Elsi.
Crossing the Afon Lledre.
Martyn at the Monument above Llyn Elsi.

Walk stats: Distance:10.3 mile. Climb:1857'.
Time:5 hours 40 minutes. On the move walking average:2.6 m.p.h. Overall average:1.8 m.p.h.
Group: Martyn, Dave J and Mike D.
This turned out to be another great day for walking. Short sleeved shirt all day, I should have warn my shorts!  In the main bright and sunny and hardly any wind.  The path from Betws-y-coed showed that it had recently been flooded, but thankfully today it was quite firm underfoot. Sarn Helen from the Llugwy Valley to the Lledre Valley was pretty good too.  The rack from Pont-y-pant along the Lledre Valey was a bit boggy in places, but we cut up to the forest edge to avoid most of it.  Lunch was enjoyed, basking in sunshine by the Afon Lledre our only entertainment being a calling Raven!
The trek through the forest back to Llyn Elsi was a bit of a slog 'till the lake came into view.  Here the nearest island was occupied by a large number of noisy Herring gulls that had disappeared by the time we revisited it an hour later. This time a pair of Goldeneye and a Tufted duck were in view.
The views from the Monument were superb on both visits with Moel Siabod and the Carneddau being bathed in sunshine.
Once again we found some of the mysterious "Star jelly" alongside Llyn Elsi, but this time was actually in water on the edge of the path.
Birds seen or heard today included: Woodpigeon, Collard dove, Mallard, Herring gull, Jackdaw, Carrion crow, Jackdaw, Blue tit, Great tit, Coal tit, Common buzzard, Raven, Jay, Black-billed magpie, Canada goose, European robin, Blackbird, Chaffinch, Lesser black-backed gull and Greenfinch.
A delightful walk ending with a really good second pint of Lees bitter at the Britannia Inn at Pentre Halkyn.

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