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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.

Thursday 26 February 2015

Moel y Parc and Penycloddiau from Aberwheeler 26th February 2015

The French connection!
Near the summit cairn on Moel y Parc.
At the cairn on Penycloddiau, but who's that centre stage?
One view from our lunch spot on the South east side of Penycloddiau.
Looking towards Moel Fammau.
Catkins  Spring is here!
Michel getting to grips with his new GPS.
"We've done 17.45 km, no that's the time the Sun sets!!"
Aberwheeler on the left and Bodfari in the centre.
The view ffrrom our final descent.
Walk stats: Distance: 9.9 miles. Climb: 2485' (Possibly wind assisted, but it did feel like it!).
Time: 5 hours 32 minutes. On the move walking average: 2.2 m.p.h. Overall walk average: 1.8 m.p.h.
Group: Martyn, Sue and Michel, Phil, Wendy, Annie and Fran.
Travelling to the start point, we were in heavy rain, but as we turned towards Aberwheeler the rain stopped!  Optimistically we hoped that all the rain had gone through early and that the Beeb would be right and we could look forward to Sunny times ahead. We did up to the summit of Moel y Parc, but soon after the start of the descent and then the ascent of Penycloddiau we had an unpleasant 20 minutes when of hail/rain an strong wind when we thought Celia had made the right decision!
 Thankfully the final approach to the summit cairn on Penycloddiau we were back in sunshine and we had glimpses of Moel Siabod capped in snow. The views towards the Halkyn Mountain and Moel Fammau were much clearer.
 Lunch was taken on the South east side of Penycloddiau, where a little outcrop of rock sheltered us from the cooling "breeze".
 Fran had joined us today, and Tito as requested made contact the agreed time.
 Unusually today, the rest of the group had to wait for me to finish my after lunch cup of tea before we could continue the descent of Penycloddiau to the Llangwyfan car park!
 After lunch meant we were in more sunshine and after about an hour Phil and me had to take off a layer to be more comfortable!
 The views now towards the Vale of Clwyd were now superb, although surprisingly the high peaks of Snowdonia couldn't be seen.
 Birds seen or heard today included: House sparrow, Jackdaw, Rook, Green woodpecker, Wood nuthatch, Meadow pipit, Skylark, Raven and Mallard.
 Overall this was a superb walk, a mud free morning and glorious Spring sunshine in the afternoon, with catkins, primrose and snowdrops all putting on a display.
 After walk drinks were enjoyed at the Blue Bell at Halkyn. Several brews were sampled, including the ciders! No problems today about the Blue Bell being open, we didn't get there till about 16-00!

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