Walks and Dates October 2016

Updated 19th October 2016.
The walk on the 27th October has been cancelled as I will be going to a funeral on that day.
I have switched the walk to Wednesday 26th October, so hopefully some of the Thursday group will be able to join me.

Saturday 1st October 2016.

The Morda Valley.
Cancelled -I've lost the desire to walk in the rain all day!
This walk will replace the walk originally planned for the 8th October 2016.

Distance: 9.0 miles. Climb: 1270'.
Leave Chester: 08-30 a.m.
Start: Craignant Car Park and Picnic Site. Grid ref: SJ254349.
This is a walk by Neil Coates that appeared in the Ramblers Summer magazine 2016. It is described as a leisurely walk, following sections of the Offa's Dyke path and the Ceiriog Trail. In addition sections it follows narrow lanes and upland tracks leading in to beautiful backwaters of the Welsh Marshes.
This walk in fact overlaps at one point with the last walk that we did from the Pontricket start point, so it will probably appear on the Thursday list in the near future.

Thursday 6th October 2016.

The Sandstone Trail - Rock Farm to Birch Heath.

Distance: 10-11 miles. Climb: 640'.

Start: Tarporley. Car Park adjacent to the Rising Sun. Grid ref: SJ553628.

Leave Chester at 09-00 a.m.

This is the third in our walks along the Sandstone trail. It involves part of Walk 4 and  probably all of Walk 5 from Carl Rogers' book "Circular Walks on the Sandstone Trail".  Perhaps not the most inspiring section of the trail, but I'm sure we'll get the best out of it, providing it doesn't rain!

Saturday 8th October 2016.

Skelmanthorpe Circular Trail.
Postponed - see 1st October above for the replacement 
Morda Valley walk.

Distance: 10 miles. Climb: 1500'.
Start: New Street Car Park, Skelmanthorpe. Grid ref: SE231105 or Savoy Youth & Community Centre, 32A Elm Street, Skelmanthorpe. Grid ref: SE232106.
Leave Chester 08-00 a.m.
This another walk in the Kirklees area. It is described as a 10 mile walk introducing you to stretches of  Denby Dale, including parts of he Dearne Way and the Kirklees Way. The Kirklees Light railway also operates in this area.
It is always good to explore new areas.

Thursday 13th October 2016.

Gop Hill, Golden Grove and Sea Views From Llanasa.

Distance: 8-9 miles. Climb: 1500'.

Start: Car Park in Llanasa opposite the pub and church.  Grid ref: SJ106815

Leave Chester at 09-00 a.m.

We have walked in this area many times, so this is a walk that uses sections of  each of them as well as exploring a few new paths.
 The walk includes mainly field paths to Trelawnyd and then visits the cairn on the Gop. The walk then follows a path that goes all the way round Gop Hill past the caves before joining the Clwydian Way to Gwaenysgor and on to a section of Offa's Dyke Path. 
The final part of the walk passes St. Elmo’s Summer House and Golden Groves on the way back to Llanasa. 
This should be an exhilarating walk with breathtaking contrasting views or at least that is how the route description is described.

Saturday 15th October 2016.

Y Bala and Beyond Llanfor. 

Distance: 10-11 miles. Climb:1600'.
Start: Pont y Bala car park. Grid ref: SH929362.
Leave Chester at 08-00 a.m.past we have parked next to the football field.)
This walk uses two walks from Dave Berry's book"Walks Around Y Bala and Penlylyn". The main walk explores the varied countryside North of Bala, including the wild remote upland around Moel Emoel. The second walk allows us to explore Bala itself and discover some of its history.

Thursday 20th October 2016.

The Alun Valley, Moel y Waun, Llyn Gweryd and Limestone Pastures.

Distance: 9-10 miles; Climb: 1000'.
Start: Llandegla Village car park, adjacent to the bus shelter and opposite the Post Office. Grid ref: SJ196523.
Leave Chester at 9-00 a.m.
This walk combines another two walks from Dave Berry's book "Walks on the Clwydian Hills". He describes one walk as being delightful and the other as being an easy walk with scenic delights. What more could we want from a walk, and as we know Dave Berry is frequently delighted on his walks! From past experience parts of the route can be muddy underfoot.

Saturday 22nd October 2016.

Llangernyw and More.

Distance: 8-9 miles. Climb: 1500'.
Start: Llangernyw, Near PC, down the lane by the church. Grid ref: SH876674.
Leave Chester 8-30 a.m.
This is a figure of eight walk around Llangernyw. part of the walk is based on a walk from Lorna Jenner's book "Walks in the Vale of Clwyd and in the Denbigh Moors". It is described as being a delightful walk centred on the pretty village of Llangernyw. It includes terraced woodland paths besides a cascading stream through former pleasure gardens of Hafodunos Hall. The extension to the walk, explores the countryside North of the village and follows a section of the Afon Elwy, passes the remains of  a motte and then  explores the area North west of the village on the way back to Llanefydd.

Wednesday 26th October 2016.

Erddig, Wat's Dyke and Sontley.

Distance: 10 miles. Climb: 500'.

Start: Felin Puleston Car park, Wrexham. Grid ref: SJ325492. To get to the car park, take the A483 towards Wrexham, turn left onto the A5152 to Rhostyllen and Wrexham. Turn right onto a side road sign-posted Erddig, and almost immediately turn left down a side track sign-posted Felin Puleston Countryside Centre to a parking area by farm buildings.

Leave Chester at 09-00 a.m.

This walk combines two walks from Dave Berry's book "Walks Around Rhuabon Mountain, the Clywedog Valley and Hope Mountain". They are described as a walk through the Erddig Estate and the attractive farmland of Felin Puleston. It also includes an impressive section of Wat's Dyke.
Hopefully this time it won't be as muddy and the dead calf seen last time has been removed!

Thursday 27th October 2016
Walk cancelled.
Saturday 29th October 2016.

Jumbles, Wayoh, Turton and Entwistle Reservoirs. 
Postponed until 12th November 2016.
See below for new walk.

Distance:10-11 miles. Climb:1200'.
Start:Waterfold Car Park, off Bradshaw Road (A676), Jumbles Country Park.
Leave Chester 8-30 a.m.
This walk is based on a walk taken from Terry Marsh's book "Fifty Classic Walks in Lancashire". He describes the walk as a pleasant walk on good paths. The extension to Turton and Entwistle Reservoirs includes another section of the Witton Weaver Way and crosses Turton Heights and a hill called Cheetham Cross. A good and varied walk. Has been known to be on the boggy side on the descent from Cheetham Cross!

Ramshaw Rocks and the Roaches.

Distance: 8 miles. Climb: 1400’.

Start: Lay-by on West side of Hen Cloud, opposite the track to Windygates. Grid ref: SK006618.

Leave Chester at 08-00.

This walk allows us to explore Ramshaw Rocks seen so many times as we have walked over the Roaches. Ramshaw Rocks from a distance have always looked to be an interesting place in which to walk. This time Ramshaw Rocks will be our main objective with a North to South traverse of the Roaches a bonus towards the end of the walk. If time and legs permit, Hen Cloud may be included as an extension.

The route heads North and then North west leading to Well Farm. From Well Farm field paths are used to reach the Churnet Way near Naychurch. The Churnet Way is followed North over Ramshaw Rocks and then leaves the Churnet Way and heads North to visit Black Brook Nature Reserve, After a complete circuit of the Reserve the route drops down to the road South of Newstone Farm. The road is then followed North for about a mile before heading west across Goldstich Moss in to the Black Brook Valley. After crossing the brook on a footbridge the path then rises to Roach End. At Roaches End the main path over the Roaches is followed past the trig point and Doxy Pool back to the start.