Walks and Dates October 2012

Thursday 4th October 2012.

Moel y Gaer, Moel Fammau and the Western Fringes.

Distance:10-11 miles. Climb: 2000'.

Start: Car park at Bwlch Penbarras. Pay and display (£1 the last time we were there). Grid ref: SJ162606.

Leave Chester 9-00a.m.

This walk combines two walks from Dave Berry's book "Walks on the Clwydian Hills". An opportunity to explore the Western slopes of Moel Fammau before climbing its summit. The return route uses the main path of Offa's Dyke back to Bwlch Penbarras.  An easy start, a stiff climb in the middle and a stroll back to the car. Plenty of opportunity for good views in all directions, if it is clear when we get to the Jubilee Tower.

Saturday 6th October 2012.

Dunsop Head and Whitendale.
Postponed until 2013.
It looks like being another day to finish painting the fences and garden shed!

Distance:12 miles; Climb:1684'.

Start:Dunsop Bridge Car park. Grid ref:SD661501.

Leave Chester 8-00 a.m.

This is another walk taken from Terry Marsh's book "Fifty Classic Walks in Lancashire". He describes it as a long and demanding walk across isolated moorlands, not recommended in poor visibility! Can we meet the challenge? Eagle owls ar known to live in the area, but will we see one? Let's hope for a good day.

Thursday 11th October 2012.

Erddig, Wat's Dyke and Sontley.

Distance: 10-11 miles. Climb: 1000'.

Start: Felin Puleston Car park, Wrexham. Grid ref: SJ325492. To get to the car park, take the A483 towards Wrexham, turn left onto the A5152 to Rhostyllen and Wrexham. Turn right onto a side road sign-posted Erddig, and almost immediately turn left down a side track sign-posted Felin Puleston Countryside Centre to a parking area by farm buildings.

Leave Chester at 09-00 a.m.

This walk combines two walks from Dave Berry's book "Walks Around Rhuabon Mountain, the Clywedog Valley and Hope Mountain". They are described as a walk through the Erddig Estate and the attractive farmland of Felin Puleston. It also includes an impressive section of Wat's Dyke.

Saturday 13th October 2012.

Mynydd Eilian and Point Lynas.

Distance: 9-10 miles. Climb: 1000'.

Start: Llaneilian Car Park. Grid ref: SH474929.

Leave Chester at 08-00 a.m.

This walk combines two walks from Dave Berry's book "Best Walks in North Wales". The walk visits one of Anglesey's high points, and follows a section of the Coastal Path. A good section of the coastal path is on concesssionary paths that are closed on some days, but having checked with Anglesey Council this date isn't one of them. Walking along the coast is always good at any time of the year, especially if you get good weather' Let's hope we do.

Thursday 18th October 2012.

A Tale of Two Mountains, Limestone and Lead.

Distance: 10 miles. Climb: 1500'.

Start: Maeshafn. Roadside parking near the phone box. Grid ref: SJ202610.

Leave Chester at 09-00 a.m.

This walk combines two walks from Dave Berry's book " More Walkd in the Clwydian Hills". The mountains visited are Moel Findeg and Nercwys Mountain. The walk also crosses the limestone country between Eryrys and Graianrhyd, and is described as the best section of hill covered limestone walking in the area.

Saturday 20th October 2012.

A Four Rivers Walk.

Distance: 10.0 miles. Climb: 500'.

Start: Hornby car park by the bridge over the river. Grid ref: SD585683.

Leave Chester at 08-00 a.m.

This is another walk taken from Terry Marsh's bok "Fifty Classic Walks in Lancashire". After meetin a couple on the Ward's Stone Walk, who said that walking in the Hornby area was superb, I thought that it would be good to check it out with this walk. This walk follows parts of the rivers Greta, Lune, Wenning and Hindburn. There is minimal climb, so this should be a stroll in what is described as an area of historical interest and includes a "castle"!

Thursday 25th October 2012.
Walk cancelled.

Newton Mountain Forest, Cae-Llwyd and Ty Mawr Reservoirs.

Distance: 10 miles. Climb: 1000'.

Start: Lay-by near Bethlehem Chapel, Rhosllanerchrugog. Grid ref: SJ289468.

To get to the lay-by enter Rhos on the B5097 from the North.go past Ysgol y Grango, and just past the Coach and Horses pub turn right along Mountain Street. At the junction by the Sun Inn, turn left along Hall Street to find a lay-by by Llys-y-Mynydd and opposite Bethlehem Chapel.

Leave Chester at 09-00 a.m.

This walk combines another two walks from Dave Berry's book "Walks Around Rhuabon Mountain, the Clyweog Valley and Hope Mountain". The walks explore the edges of Rhuabon Mountain and visits two of Rhosllanerchrugog's upland reservoirs.

Saturday 27th October 2012.

Weets Hill.

Walk cancelled.

Distance: 9-10 miles. Climb: 900'

Start: Saltersforth Wharfe near Barnoldswick. Grid ref: SD887545.

Leave Chester at 08-00 a.m.

This walk is taken from Terry Marsh's book "50 Classic Walks in Lancashire" . He describes it as a fairly easy walk , combining farm paths, moorland paths and canal towpaths. Weet Hill offers some of the best views in the South Pennines.

I have cancelled the last two walks in October, as I have a bad cough and am constantly having to blow my nose to avoid having to breathe through my mouth.

Hopefully if I stay in for a few days, I will recover in time to walk next Thursday.

Both walks will appear later in the year.

A Four Rivers Walk in Lancashire 20 th October 2012

Looking across  the River Wenning towards Hornby Castle.

The River Wenning at Wennington.

Our best view of Ingleborough.

Grumpy fishermen in the River Lune at Loyn Bridge.

Walk stats: Distance: 11.9 miles. Climb: 961'.

Time: 7 hours 12 minutes. On the move walking average: 2.1 m.p.h. Overall walk average: 1.7 m.p.h.

Group: Martyn and Mike D.

Weatherwise, this was a good day for walking, but conditions underfoot were such that the Peak District is a very poor second when it comes to mud! Not only did we have mud, but we also had flooded fields to negotiate.

Until we reached the River Lune we had only seen short glimpses of The River Greta and River Welling. Before lunch we had distant views of the three peaks of Yorkshire (Whernside, Pen-y-Ghent and Ingleborough), but their tops were in mist / cloud. Our best view came much later as we approached the railway line near Melling, but this time only Ingleborough could be seen.

On days like this, this walk didn't have much to commend it, and will probably be filed with walks like Arrenig Fach, as a walk never to be repeated!

Birds seen or heard today included: Jackdaw, Carrion crow, Rook, Chafffinch, Common blackbird, Mallard, Canada goose, Long-tailed tit, Common snipe, Eurasian curlew, Mute swan, Grey heron, Whooper swan and Goosander.

 The best part of the day, was finding that the Nertherton Hall at Frodsham was a Lees Pub. That pint of Lees went some way to revive two very tired walkers.  The excellent food and pot of tea helped too.

Limestone and Lead, and A Tale of Two Mountains 18th October 2012

"How big?"

On the way to Graianryd from Eryrys.

or

 The two that got away!

The start of the limestone shelves on Y Graig.

Changing rooms?

Those (minus the photographer) that made it to the top of Moel Findeg.

Walk stats: Distance: 11.1 miles. Climb: 1492'.

Time: 6 hours 17 minutes. On the move walking average: 2.1 m.p.h. Overall walk average: 1.6 m.p.h.

Group: Martyn, Roger, Annie H., Phil, David, Celia and Carol H.

A good forecast on the cards, but it wasn't quite as good as we expected. However it was largely dry and the rain was very light and the need to don waterproofs was questionable.

This was a very enjoyable walk, particularly around the limestone areas of Bryn Alyn, Y Graig and Mole Findeg. Good views North towards Moel Famau and the Clwydians.

Lunch was taken on the roadside, before heading through the wilderness to B5430 and the climb to Y Graig.

The walk ended up slightly longer than expected, as mistakenly we tried to keep to the high ground rather than drop down after passing Y Graig, and ending up retracing our steps to get back on track.

Fran and Tito, having completed the "Tale of Two Mountains" walk independently, met us at Maeshafn and joined us for after walk drinks at the Glasfryn. Purple Moose, Snowdonia wa the beer of choice for the discerning drinkers in the group.

Birds seen or heard today included: House sparrow, Goldfinch, Jackdaw, Common buzzard, Kestrel, Meadow pipit, Dunnock, Common blackbird, Mistle thrush, European robin, Woodpigeon and Carrion crow.

Mynydd Eilian and Point Lynas 13th October 2012

Looking across Porth Lynas towards the lighthouse.

Lloking towards Amlwch from the road below Mynydd Eilian.

At the trig point on Mynydd Eilian.

Grey seal in Porth yr Aber.

Grey seal in Porth yr Aber.

The Coastal path, heading Northwards towards Point Lynas.

At the viewpoint in front of Point Lynas lighthouse.

Walk stats: Distance: 7.4 miles. Climb: 1273'.

Time: 5 hours 10 minutes. On the move walking average: 1.8 m.p.h. Overall walk average: 1.4 m.p.h.

Group: Martyn, Roger and Celia.

Rain in the morning with the prospect of better weather in the afternoon. Thankfully we didn't get too much rain and just a twenty minute shower of any substance and we finished the walk in glorious warm sunshine.

However conditions underfoot were wet and muddy, making going progress slow as we endeavoured to stay upright or avoid getting wet feet!

The distance may have been relatively short, but it was still a good five hour walk. I think we need to change our definition of a good walk from being one of length to one of the length of time it take us to complete it!

The views today were good, especially from Mynydd Eilian towards the Great Orme and from the coast when even the Isle of Man could be seen.

Birds seen or heard today were few, but the best came at the end  when we saw Red-billed chough and Gannets as we walked around Point Lynas Lighthouse. Birds seen or heard today included: Common blackbird, Winter wren, Eurasian curlew, Woodpigeon, Common pheasant, Stonechat, Herring gull, Great black-backed gull, Oystercatcher, Great cormorant, Jackdaw, Carrion crow, Raven, Goldfinch, Linnet, Red-billed chough and Gannet.

It was good to see a couple of Grey seals quite close to the shore in Porth yr Aber.

After walk drinks were enjoyed at the Britannia Inn at Halkyn, where the Lee bitter went down well.

Sontley 11th October 2012

The Afon Clywedog near the start of the walk at Felin Puleston.

A discussion at the "Cup and Saucer" at Erddig.

The focus of the discussion!

Erddig Hall, our only view!

The highlight of the walk, a good section of Wat's Dyke.

Walk stats: Distance: 9.5 miles (without any extension!). climb: 431'.

Time: 5 hours 7 minutes. On the move walking average: 2.3 m.p.h. Overall walk average: 1.9 m.p.h.

Group: Martyn, Annie H., Sue and Michel, Celia, Dave. S., and David J.

Today wasn't the best of days for walking, but we got exactly what it said on the tin, warm with light rain all day! 

As this was an area that I had not walked in before and sections of Wat's Dyke were in the offing, I was really looking forward to the outing. This walk has much to offer and needs to be done in Summer when it is very dry underfoot and Maize hasn't had a chance to grow! Our detours around the edge of Maize fields increased our expected walk mileage by 2 miles, I think we should have followed Dave J., and followed walk B!

Birds seen or heard today included: Long-tailed tit, Winter wren, Common blackbird, Eurasian jay, Black-billed magpie, Snipe, Lesser black-backed gull, Grey heron, Mallard, Grey wagtail, Carrion crow and Jackdaw.

After walk drinks were enjoyed at the Pant yr Ochain, Gresford, and Snowdonia Ale (Purple Moose Brewery), went down well.

However the best news of the day was to hear from Dave J that Sylvia will be going home very soon.

Moel Famau and Its Western Fringes 4th October 2012

Our first view of the day as we set off along the Offa's Dyke path from Bwlch Penberra.

Group photo at a style some of us remember all too well!

Our lunch spot, back on the Offa's Dyke path, just South of Moerl Llys-y-coed.

Everyone in the picture, if you include my shaddow!

Not a group photo, but most of them are there!

On the Jubilee Tower on Moel Famau.

Walk stats: distance; 8.7 miles. Climb: 1976'.

Time: 5 hours 16 minutes. On the move walking average: 2.0.m.p.h. Overall walk average: 1.6 m.p.h.

Group: Martyn, Roger, Phil, Dave J., Annie H., Sue and Michel, Carol H., Celia, David S., Sue and Dave P.

This was an almost perfect day for walking, dry with good periods of sunshine and when we experienced any wind it helped us on our ascent of Moel Famau.

Before lunch the views were superb and many of the mountains of Snowdonia could be seen, although not always identified correctly!

We have done most of this walk before, but on this occasion, we ( I )  decided that we should try a track that allowed us to miss out the steep climb up Moel Llys-y-coed. this proved to be a really good joice, despite the fact that it reduced our mileage to below 10, but no-one complained!

Two of us happily walked in shorts, but some how they seemed to slow us down and we were almost always at the back! We did however take a "short cut" and caught most of them up just before the car park, despite being buzzed by a model aircraft!

Birds seen or heard today included: Meadow pipit, Stonechat, Goldfinch, Carrion crow, Common buzzard., Woodpigeon, Raven, Yellowhammer, Nuthatch, European robin and Common kestrel.

After walk drinks were enjoyed at the Glasfryn, where Purple Moose, Snowdonia Ale went down well, as it always does after a good walk!