The Alun Valley and More 20th October 2016

"That lot make me nervous!".

"Look what you've done, she's run off!"

Jacob's sheep in the fields South west of Pant-y-ffordd.

Gelli-Gynan Farm and the Llantysilio Mountains beyond.

Autumn colours on the track leading from Gelli-Gynan Farm.

"Can't you tell it's stopped raining now?"

Ponies on Rhen Wylfa.

Doing it in stile after that awkward climb out of the last Rhen Wylfa "valley".

"That's better!"

Panorama looking North east as we approached Llandegla.

Walk stats: Distance: 9.2 miles. Climb: 724'.

Time: 5 hours 7 minutes. On the move walking average: 2.2 m.p.h. Overall walk average: 1.8 m.p.h.

Group: Martyn, Roger, Sue and Michel.

Weather was pretty well what was forecast, and the few spots of rain just about counted as the 5% chance of rain. Temperatures just in double figures and very little wind made it almost perfect foe walking.

 After setting off a little earlier than usual, and taking our first short cut, we arrived at our usual lunch spot a little too soon, so we headed for Llanarm-yn-Ial where we took advantage of stone seats one of the side entrances. 

 The walk ended up only in part as originally planned, as we explored the paths past Ty'n-twll and Gelli-Gynan Farm. The access road to Ty'n-twll proved very pleasant,taking us through part of the valley that we hadn't seen before. The field that was overlooked by Ty'n-twll had been landscaped and now looked like typical park land.

 The track from Gelli-Gynan Farm back up to Offa's Dyke Path seemed like the hardest climb of the day, but in reality wasn't a lot.

 The last part of the walk went through Rhen Wylfa, a series of "valleys" between outcrops of limestone.

 We arrived back at the car just before 15-00 and before the primary school had tipped out its clients at the end of the day.

Birds seen or heard today included: Common pheasant, House sparrow, Jackdaw, Carrion crow, Raven, Common buzzard, Blue tit, Long-tailed tit, Woodpigeon, European robin, winter wren, Wood nuthatch and Common blackbird.

 After walk drinks were enjoyed at the Red Lion in Dodleston where Timothy Taylor's Landlord and a brew from Moorhouse were sampled.

 Overall a very enjoyable walk without too much effort!