Garth and Felin Blwm Woods from Whitford 3rd March 2016

Celia at the Blue Bell - not walking, but not forgotten!

( A beer mat advertising one of the new organic real lagers on offer at the Blue Bell)

Looking towards the coast, just after leaving Whitford.

Snowdrops in Felin Blwm Wood.

"Well it's like this Tim"

There's more than one use for a board-walk!

New steps out of Garth Woods.

Waiting for the photographer again!

Looking across the estuary towards the Wirral, from the path above Trelogan.

Walk stats: Distance: 8.2 miles. Climb: 740'.

Time: 4 hours 56 minutes. On the move walking average: 2.1 m.p.h. Overall walk average: 1.7 m.p.h.

Group: Martyn, Roger, Annie, Phil, Tim and David S.

Weather today was supposed to be largely cloudy, but with a a cold North or North easterly wind, lots of warm sunshine was not on the menu! However we had hardly any wind and from about 11-00 onwards we had lots of warm sunshine, it could have been Summer, not just the start of Meteroligical Spring! We didn't see many birds, so perhaps they thought otherwise. Plenty of flying insects, but no Swallows!

 We had to persevere with plenty of muddy paths, but the views towards the coast and Hilbre bathed in sunshine  and capped with blue skies was a enough to distract us from the task we would have on getting home later!

 The path through Felin Blwm Wood and later Garth Wood are delightful as they contour high above the racing streams below.

We though find a dry place to sit at lunch time would be a problem, but thankfully we came across a new board-walk and at David's suggestion, we all agreed that it would be a good spot to have lunch just hoping that we wouldn't need to get up to let any walkers pass!

 On entering Friddoedd Wood, we had to negotiate a tree that had fallen and blocked the path, and encouraged by our two map readers we explored a new path across fields towards the road near Maen Achwyfan.

 At this point we decided that the best option was to take the direct road route back to Whitford, and thus avoid getting out boots any muddier! My boots weren't too bad, they only took me 20 minutes to clean!

 This was good walk, a possible addition to our Blue Bell Wood walks in May.

 Birds seen or heard today included: Rook, Common crow, Jackdaw, Common starling, Teal, Common blackbird, Dunnock, European robin, Woodpigeon and Common buzzard, 

 After walk drinks, as ever, were enjoyed at the Blue Bell Inn at Halkyn, where Siren Craft Brew's "Dinner for Ten" went down well as did the Blue Bell's "Dark Blue" locally brewed by Facers.