"Do we really have to go in doors? It's much nicer out here".
On the path through the wood in Cwm Conwy.
Sunshine on Flint and the Welsh coast.
Looking East into the stone quarry North of Moel-y-crio.
Capped mine shafts on Halkyn Mountain.
Heading for Rhes-y-cae from Halkyn Mountain.
The Beluga circling before coming into land at Hawarden Airport.
The Sun starting to set over the Clwydian Hills.
The lime kiln on the South east side of Moel y Gaer.
Walk stats: Distance: 9.6 miles. Climb: 1250'.
Time: 5 hours 47 minutes. On the move walking average: 2.1 m.p.h. Overall walk average: 1.7 m.p.h.
Group: Martyn, Sue and Michel, Roger and David S.
Most forecast suggested that it would be raining for most of the morning, but would be fine in the afternoon and with temperatures in double figures it was definitely shorts weather!
We arrived at the start and the rain had stopped, so we were optimistic that the rain had come through early.
Although it wasn't raining, many of the stiles were wet and quite slippy and we were all very careful crossing them. Unfortunately we didn't all take as much care on the stones next to the stile, and Roger decided that he wanted a closer encounter with the mud when he slipped over, hurting his shoulder. He soldiered on and completed the walk, despite a mishap with his sausage roll at lunch time!
The rain started again as we went through the Coed Llys next to the Afon Conwy, so we all stopped to put on waterproofs, only for it to have stopped by the time we had reached the road. We kept our waterproofs on until lunch as the wind was a little on the cool side to say the least.
Lunch was taken. just short of Berth-ddu, where we took advantage of a few stones along the fence.
After lunch was much better and only laziness kept me from returning my waterproof top to my rucksack, However at Rhes-y-cae, the wind had eased, the Sun was shining and blue skies were all around.
We had explored a few footpaths that none of us had used before, giving us different views into the stone quarry. This wasn't good enough for us and as we arrived at the quarry entrance we decided to follow signs say "Pedestrian Route". Unfortunately this was meant for quarry workers not us, and we had to be put right by one of the quarry men.
One more path that we had hoped to explore wasn't possible as it had been consumed by the quarry, so another diversion was needed, but it didn't extend the walk at all.
As the Sun was starting to set, and legs were flagging, we missed out the climb up Moel y Gaer and kept to the easy road route back to the car.
Birds seen or heard today included: European robin, Winter wren, Jackdaw, Carrion crow, Rook, Wood pigeon, Common pheasant, Fieldfare, Redwing, Goldfinch, Meadow pipit, Blue tit and Common blackbird.
After walk drinks were enjoyed at the Blue Bell Inn at Halkyn where Blue Bell Bitter and Green Valley Vintage cider went down well as we listened to Tom explaining a little about his Mudder adventure in the American desert.
No comments:
Post a Comment