The way ahead with the Great Orme in the Distance.
Looking back towards Rhyl.
There's always one that wants to give everyone else ear ache!
A flower that I haven't as yet identified.
Common mallow - one flower that I could identify!
A Red poppy.
Looks like a Welsh poppy, but isn't!
A Common blue - I think!
A pair of Stonechats.
Strolling through Gopa Wood.
One man and his dog admiring the view over the golf course towards Pensarn Beach.
Walk stats: Distance: 8.3 miles. Climb: 810'.
Time: 4 hours 51 minutes. On the move walking average: 2.1 m.p.h. Overall walk average: 1.7 m.p.h.
Group: Martyn, Annie, Phil, Wendy and David S.
We arrived at the start to warm sunshine, hoping that the rain forecast for North Wales wouldn't quite reach us. Thankfully it didn't and the only rain we experienced was after leaving the Blue Bell in Halkyn and we had to drive through torrential rain for a few miles.
At the start of the walk, part of the beach was fenced off to protect a Ringed plover nesting site, but alas we did't spot any today.
As we headed towards Llandulas, the area adjacent to the path was adorned with flowers, so much so that at one point the rest of the group had to wait about 10 minutes for me to catch up. When I caught up they seemed to have enjoyed the opportunity to sit on the rocks for a rest.
As a change we decided to follow the walk entirely as described, but failed as we attempted to give a friendly Sheep dog the slip as it lead us around Gopa Wood. It was always about fifty yards ahead of us, stopping every now and then to check that we were still following. It even walked up to the view point and lead us towards a seat, and only left as we took the path away from it. By this time we were a little worried that it would follow us to the road, but thankfully it carried straight on as we headed down the steps.
Lunch was take below the South limestone cliffs on Pen-y-corddyn-mawr where we were all able to find a suitable stone on which to perch. We enjoyed lunch basking in the sun with fine views across the valley towards Craig y Forwyn and watching the bees and butterflies foraging on the Rock roses around us. I don't think I have seen so many Rock roses in one place as we did today. The other delight was the number of Blue butterflies that we saw flying around the flowers on this slope.
We encountered one problem on the walk as we approached Garth Gogof, a tree had fallen across the path, but between David's brute force and Phil's assistance we eventually managed to get past it.
We arrived back at the car, with the Sun still shining, have had an enjoyable walk, still dry and mud free and having been led by a very friendly Sheep dog on paths on his path.
Birds seen or heard today included: Greenfinch, House sparrow, Herring gull, Great cormorant, Lesser black-backed gull, Pied wagtail, Grey wagtail, Barn swallow, House martin, Dunnock, Mallard, Jackdaw, Carrion crow, Raven, Common buzzard, Black-billed magpie, Stonechat, Meadow pipit and Common blackbird.
After walk drinks were enjoyed at the Blue Bell Inn, where at last David S was able to sample his first pint of Dark Blue.
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