Walks and Dates December 2014

Updated 25th December 2014.

Happy Christmas Everyone.

Thursday 4th December 2014

Burton and Parkgate.

Distance:10 miles. Climb:350'.

Start: Roadside parking on Denhall Lane next to benches overlooking the marshes. Grid ref: SJ301747.

Leave Chester 9-00 a.m.

The Burton circuit is taken from Jen Darling's book "Walks in West Cheshire and the Wirral". The extension will involve some road walking through Neston to link up with the Wirral Way and onto Parkgate. The return route will use coastal paths as much as possible and passes Neston Old Quay and Denhall Quay on the way back to Denhall Lane.

Saturday 6th December 2014.

Mynydd Marian.

Distance: 7-8 miles. Climb: 1000'.
Start: Llandulas Beach Car Park. Grid ref: SH907786.
Leave Chester at 08-30.
This walk is one that we often usually do on a Thursday, but I need to get back quite early, so I thought that it would be good one to do.
This walk is taken from Dave Berry's book, "Walks on the North Wales Coast". It combines an interesting section of the coat line with the attractive limestone countryside between, Old Colwyn, Llysfaen and Llandulas.

Thursday 11th December 2014.

Grindley Brook to Marbury.

Distance: 8-9 miles. Climb: 200' at a guess.
Start: Layby on the A41, East of Grindley Brook Locks Cafe and about 400 m before the roundabout / junction with the A49. Grid ref: SJ 524428.
Leave Chester at 09-00.
This walk is one that Phil saw in the Times, planned by Christopher Somerville, so ignoring the preduces of many of the group I decided to give a go! The walk starts at the Horse and Jockey, but we will start in the layby a little East of that particular hostelry.
The walk is described as one which goes through a countryside that is a maze of drumlin hills and kettlehole lakelets. I womder if we will be able to identify these two features of the landscape. He describes the walk as being boggy in places, but he did it in February, hopefully it won't be as bad for us! The walk included parts of Bishop Bennett's Way, the Sandstone Trail, South Cheshire Way and parts of the Shropshire Union Canal.

Saturday 13th December 2014.

Garreg Fawr and Coedydd Aber.

Distance: 10 miles. Climb: 1800 - 2000'.
Leave Chester at 08-30 a.m.
Start: Forestry Commission car park (pay and display)at Bont Newydd. Grid ref: SH62720.
This walk combines two walks from Dave Berry's book "Walks On the North Wales Coast" , well all of one walk and part of another!
The Garreg Fawr walk explores the foothills of the Carneddau between Llanfairfechan and Abergwyngeryn, giving us contrasting views of coast and mountains. The second walk visits Aber Falls using paths on each side of the valley. All the recent rain could make the falls spectacularly at their best.

Wednesday December 18th 2014.

Halkyn, Limestone, Lead and Moel Ffagnallt.
(See start point change below)

The walk this week has been changed from the Tursday to the Wednesday, as I anticipate that many in the walking group will want to go to Gordon's funeral.
Distance:10 miles; Climb:1000'.
Start: Britannia Inn, Pentre Halkyn. Grid ref: SJ211711. As the Blue Bell Inn is closed until 17-00, we will start this walk at our usual start point at the Britannia Inn.
Leave Chester at 09-00.
We haven't started a walk from this location for quite some time. I thought that as this is the last walk before Christmas that it was a good time to do so. It combines two walks from Dave Berry's book "Walks Around Holywell and Halkyn Mountain". This walk combines two of my favourite walks in this fascinating area on our local patch. As this the last walk before Christmas fruit cake will be provided, but has been maturing for more that a year, sample it at your risk!

Saturday 20th December 2014.

Holywell, Bagillt and Flint.
Postponed - Billy no mates again!

Distance: 9-10 miles. Climb: 430'.
Start: Flint Caste Car Park (East of the castle and West of the Lifeboat Station). Grid ref: SJ 246733.
Leave Chester at 09-00 a.m.
This walk uses three walks from Dave Berry's book "Walks Around Chester and the River Dee."  This is essentially a linear walk, so we will have to arrange enough cars to have cars at both Flint and Holywell or alternatively use the bus to take us from Flint to Holywell. (Leaves Flint McDonald's on Holywell Road, at 10-14).
The walk starts at the highest point in the walk, so could really be regarded as a gentle stroll down to the coast and back to the coast to Greenfield Docks and back to Flint!
The last time we did this walk was on a Thursday and everyone said that they enjoyed it, so I thought that it would be a good walk to do for those that didn't have to do any last minute Christmas shopping.
At this time of the year thee are plenty of Wintering birds on the coast, so it would be well worth bringing binoculars with you if you have them.

Thursday 25th December 2014.

No walk for obvious reasons!

Saturday 27th December 2014.

Llanfairfechan to Aber Ogwen and Back.
Postponed - Billy no mates again! 

Distance: 10 miles. Climb: 200'.
Start: Llanfairfechan Promenade Car Park. Grid ref: SH679754.
Leave Chester at 08-30.
We have done this walk many times, and on occasions have taken advantage of the picnic tables at Aber Ogwen car park or even sheltered for lunch in one of the hides at the Spinnies Nature Reserve.
This is a very pleasant walk at this time of the year, although in the past we have experienced quite bracing winds! Coastal walks are always delightful, especially when you can combine them with a bit of birdwatching! High tides about 14-00. This should make the burds come closer to shor on the return journey.