Walks and Dates July 2016

New walk for Thursday 28th July 2016.

Saturday 2nd July 2016.

Morfa Conwy, Conwy and Deganwy. 
Postponed. See below for new walk.

Distance: 10-11 miles. Climb: 300'.

Start: Conwy Morfa Car park. Grid ref: SH762787. To get to the car park, leave the A55 at Junction after going through the Conwy Tunnel, follow signs for the Marina and then Aberconwy Park. (PC also there).

Leave Chester at 08-30 a.m.

This walk combines one walk  from Dave Berry's book "Walks on the North Wales Coast and two walks from his book "Best Coastal walks in North Wales". The Deganwy walk we have done several times before, but never at this time of the year, so hopefully it won't be so muddy underfoot as our usual Winter excursion! We may also take the opportunity to explore the Conwy town walls.

Saturday 2nd July 2016.
Cadair Bronwen and Cadair Berwen from Lladrillo.

Distance:10-11 miles; Climb: 2500'.
Start: Llandrillo riverside car park. Grid ref:SJ035372.
Leave Chester 8-00 a.m.
This walk is taken from John Trentor's book "Walks in and Around the Berwyn Mountains". The last time we did this walk, the weather wasn't very kind to us and we resisted the temptation to explore a little further the main ridge on the Berwyns. Nevertheless this is a really good walk and in good weather the extension to Moel Sych is a very likely option. Can be rather boggy, especially as we descend from the moors towards Llandrillo.

Thursday 7th July 2016.

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

Distance: 8-10 miles; Climb: 1600'.

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 Grouse Inn at Carrog, and hopefully it will be good weather and we can sit outside overlooking the Dee valley.

Saturday 9th July 2016.

The Roaches and Lud's Church.

Postponed until 24th September 2016.

Distance: 9 -10 miles. Climb: 2000'.

Start: Roadside parking below the Roaches North of Upper Hulme. Grid ref: SK004621.

Leave Chester at 8-00 a.m. 

This walk is taken from the Pathfinder Guide to the Peak District.  The Roaches has become one of our annual favourite walks, but this route is one that we have only done once before.  It includes the main Roaches ridge, and possibly Hen Cloud. The planned return route will be back along Black Brook. Can be boggy, especially on the lower route back from Lud's Church. We usually do this walk in the Autumn, so hopefully conditions underfoot will be better at this time of the year.

Thursday 14th July 2016.

Craig Adwy-Wynt, Nant Clwyd Hall and the Afon y Maes Valley.

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

Start: Llanelidan. Grid ref: SJ108503. To get to the parking area, take the A494 Ruthin to Bala road, 2 miles after Pwllglas, turn left towards Llanelidan. Keep ahead at the crossroads as you enter the village, then go down a "No through road" past houses, telephone and a chapel to the end of the road where there is a parking area.

Leave Chester 9-00 a.m.

This walk is taken from Dave Berry's book "Walks in the Vale of Clwyd", and explores the beautiful, unspoilt undulating countryside around the Nant Clwyd Estate.  Last time we did this walk, it was so warm that decided to shorten the walk slightly and head for refreshments. Hopefully we will complete the whole walk and explore one or to new paths that link the start point and the described walk.

Saturday 16th July 2016.

Cadair Idris - as requested. 

Postponed until 17th September 2016.

Distance: 10-11 miles. Climb: 3400'.

Start: Minffordd Car Park on the junction of the B4405 (Tal-y-Llyn Road) and the A487 (Machynlleth Road). Grid ref: SH732115.

This walk is taken from John and Anne Nuttall's book " The Mountains of England and Wales Volume 1 Wales". It is a long time since this walk has been on the list. This will be by far the greatest climb on any walk planned this year, and considering the speed at which I walk uphill these day, I anticipate it being a long day. Although this walk can be up to 11 miles, it is possible to shorten the walk considerably, although the shortened route does involve quite a steep descent.

 As the most centrally placed mountain in Wales the panorama from the summit stretches from Plumlumon in the South to Snowdon in the North and the coast in the West. It is claimed that on a good day Ireland can be seen.

Thursday 21st July 2016.

Moel Maenefa and Coed Cwm.

Distance:11 miles; Climb: 1500'.

Start: Off road parking just East of Tremeirchion. Grid ref:SJ095740.

Leave Chester 9-00 a.m.

This walk combines two walks from Dave Berry's book "Walks On the Clwydian Hills - New Edition". The Moel Maenefa walk is a new one for me and is described as being a walk of great variety, exploring the foothills of the Northern Clwydians and the Vale of Clwyd, offering expansive views. One of the walks also goes around Coed Cwm and explores the attractive countryside between Rhuallt and Cwm. Route finding through Coed Cwm could be intresting, if I remember correctly from our previous visits!

Saturday 23rd July 2016.

The Ceiriog Valley and Y Foel.

Distance: 11 miles. Climb:2139’.

Start: Pontfadog Car Park. Grid ref:SJ234380.

Leave Chester at 9-00 a.m.

We usually do this walk on a Thursday, but car parking is limited, so I thought that I would switch it to a Saturday, when there is likely to be one car involved.

This walk is based on a walk taken from the “Walking Wales” magazine called “Churches in the Valley Walk”. However we will extend it to include the summit of Y Foel and the Biddulph Tower. Our return route from Y Foel will be decided on the day, but won’t be the heather hopping route chosen last time! The main route in the beautiful Ceiriog valley passes 7 churches and eventually rises to the hill top road where there are superb views to be had, especially towards the Berwyns and the Shropshire Hills.

Thursday 28th July 2016. 

The Three Lakes Walk. 
Postponed. Heavy rain has been forecast for the week before and this area can be boggy enough even when it hasn't rained for a long time.
See below for new walk.

Distance:11.6 miles; Climb:1523'.

Start: Park on grass verge just before crossing over the dam (Eastern side of the Llyn Aled). Grid ref:SH916579.

Leave Chester at 08-45 a.m.

The start of this walk is a little further than we usually go, so I have brought the leave Chester time 15 minutes earlier.

This walk is taken from Dave Berry's books "Walks in the Hidden Heart of North Wales" and Walks Around Hiraethog Moors and Lakes" whichever you prefer. Same walks, just different covers, and one walk has been extended a little in the former book. Llyn Aled, Llyn Alwen and the Alwen Reservoir are the three "lakes" visited. In the past sections have been quite boggy to say the least, but hopefully it won't be too bad at this time of the year.  This walk is not everyone's cup of tea, but over the years, it has become one of my favourite walks on the Denbigh Moors.

New Walk. Thursday 28th July 2016.

Holywell Common, Racecourse, Pantasaph and Pen-y-Ball.

Distance: 10-11 miles. Climb:950'.

Start: Opposite the Crooked Horn Inn, Brynford (don't park in the Crooked Horn Car Park)
Grid ref: SJ185740

Leave Chester 9-00 a.m.

Another two walks from Dave Berry's book "Walks Around Holywell and Halkyn Mountain". It;s nearly two years since w last did these two walks together! Always a good walk, if you try to forget that climb up the road to the Pen-y-Ball Monument!

Saturday 30th July 2016.

St. Celynnin's Church and Tal y Fan.

Distance: 8 miles. Climb: 2000'.

Start: Roadside parking in Rowen, on the right by houses just after passing the Post Office. Grid ref:SH761719.

Leave Chester 8-30 a.m.

This walk is taken from Dave Berry's book "Walks Around Betws-y-coed and the Conwy Valley". This walk is described as exploring the scenic upland pastures, full of antiquity, featuring a remote ancient church, Maen Penddu (standing stone), a burial chamber and Cae Bach (hill fort). Visiting Cae Bach may involve a there and back extension! Although this walk is shorter than our usual walks, Dave Berry does suggest that we should allow at least 5 hours and is for experienced walkers only!