Moel Famau and Its Western Fringes 15th September 2016

Setting off on the upper path from Bwlch Penbarra.

The view towards the Vale of Clwyd.

Arriving at the Jubilee Tower on Moel Famau - time to shed a layer and have a drink.

At the top of the Jubilee Tower on Moel Famau with Offa's Dyke Footpath to Prestatyn behind us.

Looking back towards Moel Famau, now with a hint of a blue sky.

Exploring a new path leading towards Fron Haul.

Looking North towards Offa's Dyke Path and the path we had originally planned to use to descend towards the Vale of Clwyd.

It looks like a pincer movement after crossing the steam.

I'm ready for that uphill struggle now.

Phil - nearly there. Blue skies, but still no breeze.

Waiting for the "leader" as usual!

Walk stats: Distance: 6.5 miles. Climb: 1182'.

Time: 4 hours 54 minutes. On the move walking average: 1.8 m.p.h. Overall walk average: 1.3 m.p.h.

Group: Martyn, Sue and Michel, and Phil.

Arriving at Bwlch Penbarra car park, the Vale of Clwyd was clothed in mist, and Phil being the reactionary that he is persuaded us that it would be better to climb to Moel Famau first, anticipating that climbing to the Jubilee Tower after lunch would be more unpleasant with the forecast suggesting it would get very warm and humid.

 We set off, taking the higher path above Offa's Dyke Path, hoping to avoid a group of dog walkers that had set off just before us.  We did catch up with them, as one of them had a Golden labrador that had decided to have a sit down protest, forcing them to wait. The dog did, with Michel's encouragement follow us up to its owner, but then sat down again, and this time he wasn't going to budge in an upward direction. 

 Soon after that we arrived at the Jubilee Tower as it suddenly appeared out of the mist. No views today and surprisingly no wind, it must be a first for Moel Famau, just when you could do with one!

 It did look as though it was starting to clear, but it was still very humid, so we decided to take a short cut and explore a path heading West towards Fron Haul.

 This proved to be a good decision and meant we avoided the stony track that we had originally planned to use.

 Lunch was taken near to Fron Haul, where there was a bench overlooking the Vale of Clwyd just beginning to come into view. 

 After a leisurely lunch break of over half an hour we set off along the path that could be described as the Western fringes path.

 At Fron-bellaf we decided again to avoid the higher route that involved more climb and continued ahead towards Coed Ceunant. This route thankfully gave us a little intermittent shade except for the last few hundred yards climb to the car park.

 Arriving back at the car, we now remembered why we haven't used this path for over 15 years and a hot and humid day wasn't a good day to try it out again.

 Birds seen or heard today included: Meadow pipit, Raven, Carrion crow, Jackdaw, Woodpgeon, Blue tit, Wood nuthatch, Stonechat and Common buzzard.

 We set off from the car park, looking forward to a refreshing pint of Purple Moose, Snowdonia Ale and thankful that the air con in my car was functioning again.