Owain Glyndwr's Mount, Nant Friddisel and Moel Fferna 26th June 2014

The River Dee from Owain Glyndwr's Mount.

A wood sculpture - looked like a vulture from high above the farm, Carrog Uchaf.

"Last one over's a ....!"

Lunch time at the wind shelters on Moel Fferna, but alas the one that shelters everyone (except one) from the wind is now full!

The red blob appears again ( Moel Fferna cairn and shelters on the right).

Heading down the much eroded path towards the Nant y Pandy road.

Walk stats: Distance: 8.1 miles. Climb: 1632'.

Time: 4 hours 47 minutes. On the move walking  average: 2.1 m.p.h. Overall walk average: 1.7 m.p.h.

Group: Martyn, Sue and Michel, Annie, Phil, Tim and David S.

The weather today turned out to be quite variable in that whenever there was no breeze, it felt quite humid. Rain was minimal, although most decided to put waterproof jackets on just after lunch, but in reality it wasn't necessary!

 Views today were good, although in the distance it was a little on the grey side.
  Unexpectedly today the farmer's wife at Carrog Uchaf came out to make sure that we had closed the access drive gate near the entrance to the A5. I reassured her that we had closed the gate and that we hadn't meant to be sheepdogs and drive the sheep through the farm yard. She seemed happy enough and said I must go, "I've left the mother in law on the commode!" That's certainly a first for the blog.
 Birds on the moorland today were few, as there was a clay pigeon shoot in progress, we didn't see many hit their target, so perhaps the pheasant later in the year will have a good chance of escaping!
 Birds seen or heard today included: Barn swallow, Mallard, Tufted duck, Chaffinch, Blue tit, House martin, Barn swallow, Common swift, Common buzzard, Meadow pipit, Carrion crow, Woodpigeon, Common pheasant, Grey wagtail and Jackdaw.
 On our descent, we were quietly amused to see one of the 4 by 4's having a wheel changed, one working, more than a dozen supervising, it doesn't only apply to road workers!
 Moel Fferna isn't everyone's cup of tea, but some still appreciate it's annual inclusions on the walks list. I'd hate to think that it would be included on the same sort of "I go shopping list" as the delightful roller coaster Llantysilio Ridge!
 After walk drinks were enjoyed at the Grouse Inn at Carrog, where Lees " Golden Rider" brew went down well as we sat outside looking over the beautiful River Dee.
 We met a couple of cyclist, one Welsh, one English. Michel mentioned that out usual Welsh speaking group member wasn't with us. When informed he was from the valleys (South), the North Walian said "Well he's not really Welsh!"

Walks and Dates June 2014

Updated 25th June 2014.

Thursday 5th June 2014.

Tremeirchion, Y Graig, Sodom and Moel Yr Gaer.

Distance: 9 miles;Climb:1600'.
Start: Off road parking, minor road East of Tremeirchion. Grid ref:SJ095740.
Leave Chester 9-00 a.m.
The walk is based on two walks from Dave Berry's book "Walks on the Clwydian Hills". This is another walk that is one of my favourite walks and one that often appears on the list most years. At this time of the year it should give us the opportunity to look for Spring/Summer flowers, particularly around Y Craig Nature Reserve. We will probably visit St Beuno's chapel on the hill again. In the past it has been quite muddy in places, but hopefully not this year.

Saturday 7th June 2014. 
Postponed - Billy no mates again!

Tre Dryw, Brynsiencyn and Bryn Celli Ddu.

Distance: 10 miles. Climb:500'.
Leave Chester at 08-30.
This walk involves two walks from Robert Harris's book "Walks in Ancient Wales". Although these  two Anglesey walks are quite near to each other, it isn't easy to link them using footpaths and country roads, so we will have a short drive after the second walk to get to the start of the second. The walk includes visiting several burial chambers and standing stones and is the main interest in putting these walks on the list.

Thursday 12th June 2014.

Cyrn-y-Brain and Coed Llandegla.

Distance: 10 miles. Climb: 1500'.
Start: Car parking area opposite the Ponderosa Cafe. Grid ref: SJ192480.
Leave Chester at 09-00 a.m.
This walk is taken from Dave Berry's book " Walks Around Ruabon Mountain, the Clywedog Valley  and Hope Mountain." He describes it as a walk exploring open access moorland with panoramic views and contrasting forest paths.

Saturday 14th June 2014.

Meini Hirion and More

Postponed as I need to be back in Chester for about 17-30. 

See below for new walk.

Distance: 10 miles. Climb: 500'.

Start: Coastal car park near Wylfa Power Station. Grid ref: SH356938.

Leave Chester 08-00.

This walk involves two walks from Robert Harris's book "Walks in Ancient Wales". Much of the walk is along quiet lanes, but we will uses field paths and part of the Coastal Path to link the two walks. The walk goes South down an access road to Tregele, down a minor road to link with the path to some standing stones to meet up with the second walk. From Llanfechell we will take the path North around Pen y Bryn and on to Cemaes and return along the Coastal Path. Bring binoculars with you.

The Point of Ayr RSPB Hide and Talacre to Prestatyn.

Distance: 10 miles. Climb: 200'.

Start at Talacre Beach Car Park, on the right just before the Smugglers Inn. Grid ref: SJ124848.

Leave Chester at 08-30 a.m.

This is a walk that is always on the list at this time of the year, as it is always a good time to see Little terns, so bring binoculars with you. Hopefully we will see orchids too.

As a change, we will complete the walk in the opposite direction to the one that we will normally take. 

Thursday 19th June 2014.

Eglwyseg Escarpment and Trevor Rocks.

Distance:9-10 miles. Climb:1200'.

Start: Off road parking on the Panorama road just East of the monument. Grid ref: SJ247426.

Leave Chester at 09-00 a.m.

This must be one of the best walks in the Llangollen area, especially on a sunny day. a walk that makes you feel like you're  on top of the world with superb views in all directions, including the Dee Valley, Dinas Bran, the Llantysilio Mountains and the Berwyns. Always a favourite walk and on the list at least once every year. Good whatever the time of the year.

Saturday 21st June 2014. 
Postponed - Billy no mates again!

The Big Moor Including Curbar Edge, Froggatt Edge, White Moor and Baslow Edge.

Distance: 9-12 miles. Climb: 1500'.

Start: Curbar Edge National Trust Car Park: SK262747
Leave Chester 08-00 a.m.

The Big Moor walk is taken from Robert Harris' book "Walks In Ancient Peak District". This walk is a superb walk along mainly gritstone edges and gives plenty of opportunity to search out a few sites of historical interest. These include Stoke Flats Stone Circle, Hurkling Stone, Swine Sty Enclosure and Swine Sty. Some of them aren't easy to recognise even when you know that the grid reference is right! We did find one or two last time we explored this area.

The extension is 2-3 miles and allows us to traverse across Baslow Edge back to the car park.

Last time we did this walk we didn't complete the extension, making the walk around 10 miles.

Thursday 26th June 2014.

Owain Glyndwr's Mount, Nant Friddisel and Moel Fferna.

Distance: 8-10 miles; Climb: 2262' at a guess.

Start: Pont Carrog. Grid ref: SJ115437.

Leave Chester 9-0 a.m.

This walk is taken from Dave Berry's book "Walks Around Llangollen and The Dee Valley", along with an extension to visit the summit of our old friend Moel Fferna. The exact approach and route of descent will be decided on the day depending on the weather conditions!

After walk drinks will be at the Berwyn Arms at Glyndyfrdwy, and hopefully it will be good weather and we can sit outside overlooking the Dee valley.

Saturday 28th June 2014.

Moel Siabod. 
Postponed until next month - Celia's request.
See below for new walk.

Distance: 6 miles. Climb: 2400'.

Start: Layby on the A5, East of Pont Cyfyng about 1 mile East of Capel Curig.

Leave Chester at 08-30.

 This is the route described in the Nutalls book "The Mountains of England and Wales. Volume 1 Wales., although we may change the route of descent on the day. The route takes up the minor road towards Llyn y Foel, skirts the lake before climbing up the ridge to the trig point on the summit of Moel Siabod.

Stanage Edge from Hathersage.

Postponed - having my loft hatch repaired.
I will probably put this walk on again in June 2015.

Distance: 11-12 miles; Climb:1800'.

This is a walk first completed by the group in September 2006 and repeated again in October 2007. If the walk is completed as described in Mark Richards' book "Walks in the High Peaks" it will take us about 7 - 8 hours (the time it has taken us in the past). This is a wonderful walk and if the weather is true Summer weather, the 7-8 hours shouldn't be a problem.

Start: Hathersage car park: Grid ref: SK231814.

Leave Chester 8-00 a.m.

The Eglwyseg Escarpments and More 19th June 2014

Walking above Trevor Rocks.

A male Stonechat singing as we descended from Trevor Rocks.

Looking towards the quarries and the Llantysilio Mountains.

The Eglwyseg Escarpment.

They took the high road, we took the low road!

Walk stats: Distance: 9.3 miles. Climb: 1197'.

Time: 5 hours 23 minutes. On the move walking average: 2.1 m.p.h. Overall walk average: 1.7 m.p.h.

Group: Martyn, Annie, Sue and Michel, Phil and David S.

This turned out to be a glorious day for walking, lots of sunshine, but times when the clouds took over, making sure we didn't overheat for long! In fact at times we also had a pleasant cooling breeze.

Always a good walk, but on a day like this, this is a walk that would be difficult to beat, with its high vantage point along the higher escarpment giving superb views in to the Dee Valley and the hills beyond, not to mention that the climb is minimal.

 This turned out to be a special day for seeing birds of prey, five in all. Birds seen or heard today included: Sparrowhawk, Common kestrel, Common buzzard, Peregrine falcon, Red kite, Woodpigeon, Meadow pipit, Skylark, Stonechat, Redstart, Winter wren, Willow warbler, Carrion crow, Rook, Wheatear and Barn swallow.

 After walk drinks were enjoyed at the Pant yr Ochain at Gresford, where we were able to sit out enjoying our drinks. The Snowdonia Ale was back on form!

Prestatyn to Talacre and Back 14th June 2014

Point of Ayr Lighthouse - approaching high tide.

Sue and dave on the beach at Talacre.

Heading through the sand dunes back to Prestatyn.

Pyramidal orchids along the path North of Prestatyn Golf Course.

Walk stats: Distance: 8.6 miles. Climb: 207'.

Time: 4 hours 15 minutes. On the move walking average: 2.6 m.p.h. Overall walking average: 2.0 m.p.h.

Group: Martyn, Mike, Celia, Sue and Dave P.

This was another bright and Sunny day, especially up to lunch time. In fact at times it felt a little too warm for comfort and despite being by the sea we didn't get much of a breeze to cool us.

 The tide was coming in as we got nearer to the lighthouse and was soon surrounded by water.

 As ever on days like this, the beach was pretty popular with lots of young people and young families enjoying themselves.

 Lunch was taken along the beach at Presthaven Sands where some of us took advantage of a washed up log as a suitable seat.

 Birds today were fewer than expected, but included: Little tern, Herring gull, Sedge warbler, Reed bunting, Jackdaw, Carrion crow, Great cormorant, Oystercatcher, Mute swan, Meadow pipit, Skylark, Common kestrel, Mallard, Mute swan, Greenfinch, Common starling and Common whitethroat.

 after walk drinks were enjoyed at the Britannia Inn at Pentre Halkyn. We were also presented with a bowl of very tasty chips which were soon devoured by the three of us!

 Overall a pleasant stroll along the beach, but not necessarily Celia's choice, if her comment of being bored is anything to go by!

Cyrn-y-Brain and Coed Llandegla 12th June 2014

Setting off from the Ponderosa.

Is it really Summer?

On the right path to the radio mast.

David's Mistle Thrush.

Lunch time in Coed Llandegla.

At the Faraway signpost.

Distant views of Snowdonia.

Walk stats: Distance: 7.5 miles. Climb: 807'.

Time: 4 hours 28 minutes. On the move walking average: 2.1 m.p.h. Overall walk average: 1.7 m.p.h.

Group: Martyn, Sue and Michel, Annie, Tim, David S and Celia.

What a glorious day for walking this turned out to be, sunshine all day and occasionally a cooling breeze, especially as we walked through Coed Llandegla.

 At times the tracks through the moorland areas weren't easy to find, and we ended up shortening the walk by a couple of miles or so, but with the temperatures well above 20 Celsius, no-one minded that we finished the walk a little earlier.

 After walk drinks were enjoyed at the Red Lion at Penyffordd, where some of enjoyed a pint of Doombar as we sat outside, some in the shade and some still wanting more Sun!

 We had good views whenever we found our self on open ground. The birds seen or heard today were only  few, but we did see for the first time on a walk a couple of Black grouse.

 Birds seen or heard today included: Jackdaw, Wheatear, Meadow pipit, Winter wren, Chaffinch, Skylark, Common whitethroat, Chiffchaff, Willow warbler, Mistle thrush and Black grouse.

 A good walk and once again we finished with clean boots!

Tremeirchion, Moel y Gaer, Sodom and Y graig 5th June 2014

At the top of Cefn Ddu.

Observing Dodd's 1st Rule of Walking. 

Sue agrees, but there's no room!

Lunch on Y Graig.

The little chapel on the hill above St Beuno's.

Inside the little chapel on the hill above St Beuno's.

Michel leading the "lost  sheep"!

When you find one lost sheep we should rejoice, but Michel found four!

Snowdonia from the Southern slopes of Moel Maenefa.

Walk stats: Distance: 8.5 miles (a little more for lost sheep!). Climb: 1590'.

Time: 5 hours 17 minutes. On the move walking average: 2.0 m.p.h. Overall walk average: 1.6 m.p.h.

Group: Martyn, Roger, Sue and Michel, Celia and David Savage,

This turned out to be a good day for walking, mainly sunny with a coolish breeze, particularly at lunch time when we had lunch on the lee side of the hill, rather than take advantage of the picnic tables that were on the top of Y Graig.

  We had several superb views of Snowdonia, none better than from Moel Maenefa towards the end of the walk.

 The bonus today was to arrive at the little chapel/ place for meditation above St. Beuno's at the same time as a young lady from America that had the key, and we were able to see inside for the first time.

 Birds seen or heard today included: Carrion crow, Rook, Blue tit, Great tit. Winter wren, Chaffinch. Eurasian jay, Black-billed magpie, Common buzzard, Common blackbird, Raven, Woodpigeon, Common pheasant, Great spotted woodpecker, Willow warbler and Chiffchaff.

 Plenty of flowers were seen today. They included: Red clover, White clover, Bird's foot trefoil, Broom, Common gorse, Daisy, Foxglove, Lesser stitchwort, Bluebell, Red campion, Red valerian, Buttercup, Herb robert, Mallow, Dog rose and Rock rose.

 Overall a good walk, with more up than you might expect.

 After walk drinks were enjoyed at the Britannia Inn, where the Lees bitter went down well, and is still going down well!