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When? Started: 1993 Who? Started with staff and friends from U H S, Chester. Organiser: Martyn Harris We walk every Wednesday and Saturdays, New Years day and May Day. How many walk? Walks take place as long as there are at least 2 wanting to walk on that day. More walk on a Wednesday than on a Saturday. Most ever: 29. Current group size walking: 2-7 in mid-week and 2-4 on Saturday. Where do we walk? Saturday: Anywhere in North and Mid-Wales, Peak District, Shropshire and the Long Mynd and as far North as the Trough of Bowland. Thursday: Anywhere within about 40 miles of Chester. Type of walk: Distance: 6 – 14 miles (but usually under 10 miles). Climb: up to 4000’ (but usually very much less!). People involved on walks in 2024:- Martyn Harris, Fran Murphy, Sue and Michel Pelissier, Mike Dodd, David Savage,, Ed Meads, Nigel and Elaine Taylor, Winston Feather.

Sunday, 27 November 2016

A Ceiriog Trail From Pontricket 26th November 2016

Photo times are still on BST.
An old mill next to the Afon Ceiriog, West of Pont -y-Meibion.
Blue skies starting to appear out of the mist.
Doing what it says on the seat - "Lift up thine eyes to the hills".
Snoe on the hills on the North side of the Ceiriog Valley.
The view from our lunch spot on the Ceiriog TrailNorth east of Pen-y-gwely Reservoir.
Looking South east towards the Pen-y-gwely Reservoir.
Looking into the valley as the starts to set.
The same view without trees.
The Sun's rays showing some of the cobwebs in the fiels.
The path heading down the valley to Siambr-gerrig and onto Pontricket.
Emerging from the ford.
Autumnal colours East of Pontricket.
Walk stats: Distance: 8.5 miles. Climb: 1029'.
Time; 5 hours 39 minutes. On the move walking average: 2.1 m.p.h. Overall walk average: 1.5 m.p.h.
Group: Martyn and Mike.
We set off from the car with a cloak of mist in the valley and stretching up to the tops of the hills on each side of the valley, but we were optimistic that it would clear by the time we to the moorland around Pen y Gwely.
 It did indeed do just that and within 15 minutes of feeling the warm sunshine we were shedding fleeces and the views were superb. Views of hill tops decked in snow below blue skies what more could you want when out on an Autumn walk.
 The only problem we encountered was off road motor bikes with their high pitched engines speeding around a course set up South of Llechrydau. At least our quite solitude was restored once we had gone past them.
 Lunch was taken using convenient stones next to the trail that gave us superb views over the valley to the snow covered tops beyond. However we were not alone at our lunch spot, as Mike soon found out when he noticed lots of spiders crawling over him, at one point starting to make a web across his boots.
 Much later on we in fact we went across a field that seemed to be covered in cobwebs, only seen when the sun's light shone on them at a particular angle.
 As we approached Siambr-gerrig, we saw our bird of the day, a Woodcock flew towards us coming within a few feet before disappearing.
 Overall this was a really good walk and the Siambr-gerrig path is one we will use again to avoid the alternative track that we have used in the past.
 Towards the end of the walk as the Sun was starting to go down, we had superb views with unusual lighting. 
 Birds seen or heard today included: Common blackbird, Moorhen, Raven, Carrion crow, Common buzzard, Common pheasant, Fieldfare, Goldfinch, Meadow pipit, Stonechat and Woodcock.
 After walk drinks were enjoyed at Pant-yr-Ochain at Gresford where Castle Rock's stout went down well.

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