Walks and Dates December 2016

Thursday 1st December 2016.

The Trent and Mersey Canal, Great Budworth and More.

Start: Marbury Country Park car Park (Pay and Display £2-50 last time). Grid ref: SJ652763.

Distance: 7-10 miles. Climb: 1000'.

Leave Chester at 09-00 a.m.

The main 7 mile walk is taken from the "Pathfinders Guide to Cheshire". This is described as a varied walk with plenty of historic interest, including the Anderton Boat Lift.. The extra mileage will be made by exploring the Anderton Nature Park, Marshall's Wood, Carey Park, Ashton's Flash and Neumann's Flash.  Bring binoculars with you if you can.

Saturday 3rd December 2016.

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.

Thursday 8th December 2016.

Cwm Conwy, Moel Y Gaer and Moel y Crio.

Distance:10 miles. Climb: 1200'.

Start: Rhosesmor. Parking area next to the children's play area. Grid ref:SJ214684.

Leave Chester at 9-00 a.m.This walk combines two walks from Dave Berry's book "Walks Around Holywell and Halkyn Mountain".  The Cwm Conwy walk is one of my favourite walks in the Halkyn area at any time of the year. The Moel-y-Crio will use only part of second walk, so we will have to take care that we are vigilant after going through Moel-y-Crio, otherwise we will be extending the walk more than we want to!

Saturday 10th December 2016.

Clip-y-Orsedd, The Druid Circle. 
Postponed - troops falling by the wayside, but not believed to be chicken flu!
This walk will appear again on 14th January 2017.

Distance: 9 miles. Climb:2400'.

Leave Chester 8-00 a.m.

Start: Car park behind the bank in Llanfairfechan. Turn right of Village Road. Grid ref:SH682747.

his walk uses two walks Dave Berry's book "Walks on the North Wales Coast." These two walks combine to make one of my favourite walks in this area as they explore the hills behind  Llanfairfechan and Penmaenmawr. We will visit the impressive Druids' Stone Circle, but on this occasion we will miss out Foel Lus.  On a good day we should get good views, especially towards the coast and Tal y Fan. As we need to be back in Chester early, we will only extend the walk as far as the Druids Circle.

Thursday 15th December 2016.

Marion Frith, Moel Hiraddug, Cwm and Coed Yr Esgob.

Distance:10.4 miles; Climb:1600'.

Start:Car Park at the Western edge of Dyserth on the A5151. Grid ref: SJ062793.

Leave Chester 9-00 a.m.

It's over a year since we last did these two walks together. Both walks are taken from Dave Berry's book "Walks on the Clwydian Hills - New revised edition". He describes the first walk as delightful and the second one as providing a fascinating exploration of the low hills North of Dyserth.

Saturday 17th December 2016,

A Plumley Rail Trail.

Distance: 6-8 miles. Climb: 225' (excluding stiles!)
Start: Plumley Railway Station Moor Road Car Park. Grid ref: SJ721753.
Leave Chester: 09-00.
This is a walk produced by East Cheshire and is one suggested as a suitable Winter walk by David S for our Thursday group. Not knowing the area at all, I thought that I would explore the  area on a Saturday when I know we will only need to consider parking for one car.
The walk is described as exploring the beautiful countryside around Plumley, taking you through magnificent scenery from streams to farmland through woodland and leafy lanes. We will probably explore Plumley Lime Beds Nature Reserve. At this time of the year some sections across farmland are likely to be muddy.

Thursday 22nd December 2016.

Halkyn, Limestone, Lead and Moel Ffagnallt.

Distance:10 miles; Climb:1000'.

Start: Common Land opposite the Blue Bell Inn, Halkyn. Grid ref: SJ209702. 

Leave Chester at 09-00.

We haven't started a walk from this location for quite some time. I thought that as this is the last walk before Christmas that it was a good time to do so. It combines two walks from Dave Berry's book "Walks Around Holywell and Halkyn Mountain". This walk combines two of my favourite walks in this fascinating area on our local patch and is our annual treat just before Christmas.

Saturday 24th December 2016.

No walk as I anticipate that most of the group will be busy getting things ready for Christmas.
However, if you are already organised and fancy a walk to relieve the boredom give me a call.

Thursday 29th December 2016.

Mynydd Marian.

Distance: 7-8 miles. Climb: 1000'.

Start: Llandulas Beach Car Park. Grid ref: SH907786.

Leave Chester at 09-00.

This walk is one that we often usually do on a Thursday. I am assuming that I will have recovered sufficiently from my cough and there are any takers for a walk.

This walk is taken from Dave Berry's book, "Walks on the North Wales Coast". It combines an interesting section of the coat line with the attractive limestone countryside between, Old Colwyn, Llysfaen and Llandulas.