Walks and Dates December 2017

Happy Christmas Everyone

Advanced Notice
Change of Walk Day.
I have decide that starting in January 2018,
I will be switching the mid-week walk day 
from 
Thursday to Wednesday.
The reason for changing the day is to give my knees an extra day to recover before the Saturday walk.
It also means that our Annual Meal will also be switched to the Wednesday.
Advanced notice.
Harris Hikers Annual Meal 2018.
Probable Venue: The Red Fox, Thornton Hough. 
This is another Brunning and Price hostelry.
Date: Wednesday 7th February 2018.
I haven't approached the Red Fox yet, and won't do so until early in January 2018, so if you prefer another venue, I am open to suggestions.

I will contact everyone by e-mail in December to check how many are interested in joining us for the meal.
Saturday 2nd December 2017.
Postponed.

Pincyn Llys from Bontuchel.
This walk will now replace the Gwydir Forest walk originally planned for the 9th December.

Walk stats: Distance: 8.9 miles. Climb: 2187'.
Start Forest Car Park near Bontuchel Grid ref: SJ08165708.
To get to the car park at Ruthin follow the through route and at the rugby club roundabout take the B5105 road towards Llanfwrog. Just after passing the church and the narrow bend in the road, take the right turn signposted to Bontuchel and Cyffylliog. At Bontuchel turn left immediately after crossing the bridge over the river. Follow the road uphill. The Forest car park in about half a mile up the road on the left.
This walk is taken from Dave Berry's book "Walks Around Hiraethog Moors and Lakes." However his walk starts at Cyffylliog, but parking there isn't easy. Starting from Bontuchel allows to get round that problem, but does involve walking along a about a mile to link in with the described walk. The walk explores the undulating upland pastures and forest between Cyffylliog and Clocaenog as well as following open side valleys and forest around Pincyn Llys.
 This has always been a favourite walk for the group, but I do like to include it now and again. It is four years since we last did this walk.

Thursday 7th December 2017.

St. Cwyfan's Trail and More.

Distance: 9-10 miles. The main part of the walk is taken from Dave Berry's book "Walks in the Clwydian Hills
Start: Roadside parking in Llandyrnog on the Llangynhafal road (Gladstone Terrace) . Park on the wider part of the road after Nant Glyd. Grid ref: SJ109650.
Leave Chester at 09-00 a.m.
The main part of the walk is taken from Dave Berry's book "Walks in the Clwydian Hills" and the extension is around the lower slopes of  Penycoddiau along the Clwydian Way.
It is described as a delightful walk in the countryside North of Llandyrnog and visits the smallest church in the Vale of Clwyd.

Saturday 9th December 2017.
Pincyn Llys from Bontuchel. 
Postponed - Billy no mates again!
See 2nd December 2017 for details.
Gwydir Forest From Llanwrst. Cancelled.

Distance: 9 miles. Climb: 1200'.
Start: Llanrwst car park, behind library and PC. Grid ref: SH796616.
Leave Chester at 08-30 a.m.
This walk is taken from Carl Roger's book "Walking in the Conwy Valley. It is described as a moderately strenuous walk with some sustained ascents, mainly on good forest tracks. it explores the Eastern section of Gwydir Forest with its numerous lakes.

Thursday 14th December 2017.

Burton and Parkgate.

Distance: 8-10 miles. Climb: 500'.

Start: Roadside parking on Denhall Lane next to benches overlooking the marshes. Grid ref: SJ301747.

Leave Chester 9-00 a.m.

The Burton circuit is taken from Jen Darling's book "Walks in West Cheshire and the Wirral". This walk is just 5 miles, but we will extend it. Last time we did this walk trying to find the exact path through Burton Wood to Mill Lane proved to be a challenge, it may be this time too!  
 The extension will involve some road walking through Neston to link up with the Wirral Way and onto Parkgate. The return route will use coastal paths as much as possible and pass Neston Old Quay and Denhall Quay on the way back to Denhall Lane.
There is an option to miss out Parkgate and shorten the walk by about 2 miles and the climb by about 100'.
The 27' / 8.2 m high tide is around  08-15, so we shouldn't have any problem using the coastal path as long as it isn't flooded for other reasons.
 It is possible that we may see Marsh harriers and Hen harriers hunting over the marsh, soit may be worthwhile bringing binoculars with you.

Saturday 16th December 2017.

Deganwy Castle and the Great Orme. 
Postponed.

Distance:10 miles; Climb:1900'.

Start:Roadside parking near the Public Conveniences on the West shore of Llandudno. Grid ref:SH773819.

Leave Chester 9-00 a.m.

The main walk today is the Deganwy Castle walk taken from Dave Berry's book "Walks on the North Wales Coast". Sections of this walk have been known to be muddy in the past.

The extension to the walk , after returning to the car, will involve most of the circuit of the limestone plateau on the Great Orme, including a visit to the trig point and descent via the Monks' path to the toll road. There are plenty of options to shorten the walk if required.

Thursday 21st December 2017. 
The original walk has been changed. 
The New Walk is described below

Ysceifiog-Caerwys and More.
This will be our last walk on a Thursday before our switch to a Wednesday.
Last we sampled the fruit cake that I made a couple of months ago, but there is still enough left, so I will be bringing some again this week. 
Make sure you let me know that you are coming so that I know how many pieces of cake to bring.

Distance: 8 miles. Climb: 1500'.

Start: Ysceifiog, park adjacent to the children's play area. Grid ref: SJ152715.

Leave Chester 9-00 a.m.

  in view of the considerable amount of rain/snow we have had recently, I have decided to change the walk as in the past we have found the original walk to be very muddy where cattle have been grazing.
 This new walk is based on a walk taken from the Liverpool daily Post around 1955 and is described as a ramble exploring woodland scenery, sylvan paths and pretty lanes. Our walk start at the tranquil village of Ysceifiog and heads for the interesting small town of Caerwys.
 The described walk is linear a it assumes that people are using buses, so we will complete the walk by exploring paths and lanes on the South side of A541.
 Much of this walk attempts to avoid the mud, by using quite lanes, but if we feel we the urge to slip and slide across muddy fields there are plenty of opportunities if we so wish!

Saturday 23rd December 2017.

No walk.

A Ysceifiog Round 21st December 2017

Our first encounter with Ysceifiog mud!

Local residents checking that we leaving their field.

Where is the footbridge? It's there somewhere!

The view from my lunch spot!

The village of Ysceifiog seems a long way off.

Moel y Parc from a bridleway South west of Ysceifiog.

Walk stats: Distance: 6.4 miles.Climb: 1083'.

Time: 4 hours 27 minutes. On the move walking average: 2.0 m.p.h. Overall walk average: 1.4 m.p.h.

Group: Martyn, Sue and Michel, Roger, Jim and Mal.

The weather today was unseasonably warm, with temperatures in the low teens Celsius. Overcast and with little wind to cool us, my glasses frequently steamed up.

 Although the walk had been changed to try to avoid known muddy sections, it wasn't long before we encountered the worst of the mud as we entered a field after crossing a footbridge at the East end of Ysceifiog Lake.

  The next part of the walk was along a pleasant path on the West side of Ysceifiog Lake to a road that went past Ddol Nature Reserve.

 We decided to take a short cut along a wooded path to the Caerwys road, unfortunately this path didn't quite go to the road and ended at farm building. This was pointed out to us by the landowner, who still kindly allowed us to continue rather than forcing us to retrace our steps.

 On arriving at the B5122 Caerwys road, we soon realised that this was a much busier road than the 1955 walk description suggested.  We decided to miss out the climb to Caerwys and instead headed South towards Afonwen. It was our intention to extend the walk on the South side of the A541 to compensate.

 This we did by following a path that took around the South side of Bryn yr Eithin to link up with our planned route near a footbridge over the Afon Disgynfa.

 By now it was lunch time, but as yet we hadn't come across a suitable place to stop, so we plodded on up hill again and decided that  the grass verge near Plas Gwyn was the best we would get. Thankfully as we ate our lunch no vehicles went past us on this narrow road.

 After lunch we decided not to explore the Waen-dymarch path and instead to stick to the road to the Sarn fisheries. 

 We did manage to explore two bridleways that we hadn't used before that led to the Ddol-Yscefiog road.

 We arrived back at the car a little earlier than expected but still with legs letting us know that a reasonable amount of climb had been involved.

 Birds seen or heard today included: Carrion crow, Mallard, Tufted duck, Coot, European robin, Treecreeper, Great tit, Long-tailed tit, Black-billed magpie, Common starling and Sparrowhawk.

 As this was the last walk planned for a Thursday, it was thought appropriate to go to the Britannia Inn at Pentre Halkyn for after walk drinks as this was the hostelry that we visited after our first Thursday walk in Autumn 2005.

 As ever, the Lees bitter was excellent.

 We can look forward to visiting the Britannia Inn again in mid February after scheduled refurbishment starting in early 2018.

Burton and More 14th December 2017

St. Nicholas' Church, Burton.

On the path through Burton Wood.

Are we still on the right path through Burton Wood.

Moel Famau from the Burton to Neston Road.

Looking across the Dee estuary towards the Clwydian Hills from the Burton to Neston Road.

Lost sheep?

The Sandstone track leading to the Wirral Way.

A delightful new lunch area on the Wirral Way East of the Neston Cutting.

On the Dee estuary path from the Old Quay heading towards the Harp Inn.

The Harp Inn - chosen location for after walk refreshments.

Walk stats: Distance: 8.0 miles. Climb: 414'.

Time: 3 hours 58 minutes. On the move walking average: 2.5 m.p.h. Overall walk average: 2.0 m.p.h.

Group: Martyn, Roger, Sue and Michel, Mal, Jim and David S.

Today looked like being a good day for walking, although we were expecting it to feel pretty cold with strong cold winds gusting in. Once again, we were lucky with plenty of warm sunshine and only the occasional cool breeze to keep us cool.

 In the past we have always been unsure about which path to take through Burton Wood, but today we had success and kept to the described route throughout.

 As on previous walks, Mill Lane from Ness proved to be busy with traffic, but all vehicles slowed as the passed us.

 The second bonus today was finding a new area of seats made out parts of tree trunks arranged in a circle around a large piece with a carved bear on one side. This was a perfect lunch spot and being in the warm sunshine was another bonus.

  This was the last walk before Christmas for some of the group, so the traditional fortified fruit cake was provided.

 The muddiest part of the walk was dropping down from the Wirral Way to the Old Quay where the access to one of the gates was surrounded by water that looked too deep for our boots, we had to climb over the nearby fence with two horses looking on.

 Sections along the estuary were a little waterlogged, but nothing that we couldn't cope with. As we passed the Harp Inn, we noticed that its new opening hours were Noon to 11-00 p.m. each day, so we decided to return later for our after walk refreshments.

 We arrived back at the car, having had a really enjoyable walk, missing out on all the bad bits that had been in most forecasts for the area.

 Birds seen or heard today included: Woodpigeon, Common buzzard, Little egret, Black-billed magpie, House sparrow, Eurasian curlew, Common blackbird, Goldfinch, Carrion crow, Common chaffinch, Fieldfare, European robin, common kestrel, Lapwing, Grey heron, Teal and Black-headed gull.

 On returning to the Harp Inn at Ness, one side (the one with a roaring fire) was too full, but thankfully there was room for us in the other room. Holts' Bitter was the beer of choice, but Mulled wine with a mince pie went down particularly well. Two types of coffee were sampled too.

St. Cwyfan's Trail and More 7th December 2017

"Is this really the way?"

Not the easiest stile to get to or get over!

Moel yParc and Pencloddiau.

On the way to Aberwheeler.

Moel y Parc and Pencloddiau.

Looking towards the Vale of Clwyd.

The sky as the Sun starts to go down.

St. Cwyfan's Church.

Last ,look at the Clwydian Hills before descending to Llandyrnog.

The Sun going down above the creamery at Llandyrnog.

Walk stats: Distance: 9.2 miles. Climb: 1038'.

Time 5 hours 21 minutes. Overall walk average: 2.2 m.p.h. Overall walk average: 1.7 m.p.h.

Group: Martyn, Sue and Michel, Jim and Mal.

This was a day that we weren't sure what to expect weather-wise. High winds were likely and temperatures were expected to drop significantly, but at lest we knew it would be dry! In reality the 40 m.p.h gusts of wind didn't materialise and the temperature didn't drop much either. At times it was very warm in the mid-afternoon sunshine, almost too warm!

 One or two stiles were a problem and in need of some TLC.

 Finding a suitable lunch spot wasn't easy, particular after a perfectly good bus shelter was turned down, and on this occasion it wasn't Celia.

 We ended up having lunch on  grassy slope with good views over the Vale of Clwyd towards Aberwheeler and beyond.

 Overall this was quite a varied walk, with more ups than some of were expecting and we certainly got the best of the day, as driving homeward we went through hail and then sleet.

 Birds seen or heard today included: Common blackbird, House sparrow, European robin, Common buzzard, Wood nuthatch, Collared dove, Common pheasant, Collared dove, Woodpigeon, Rook, Carrion crow and Jackdaw.

 We arrived back at the cars with tired legs, having had a very enjoyable walk and looking forward to refreshments at the Dinorben Arms at Bodfari. Each of us sampled different beers today, but all went down well. They included: Brews from Facers (Northern Star) Caledonian (Deuchers IPA) and one from the Conwy Brewery.

Gadlys and Nant-y-Fflint 30th November 2017

A Common buzzard resting ahead of us on our route to Gadlys.

Common buzzard disturbed by  a Savage.

On the woodland path in Nanty-Fflint.

A cottage in Nant-y-Fflint.

Another stream entering Nant-y-FFlint.

Flint Castle and the twin towers.

At least you can get though the fence now.

In the past there was just a stile, blocked by the fence.

The Dee estuary seen from the path North west of Flint.

Looking East towards Flint.

Walk stats: Distance: 8.7 miles. Climb: 1266'.

Time: 5 hours 17 minutes. On the move walking average: 2.1 m.p.h. Overall walk average: 1.6 m.p.h.

Group: Marttyh, Roger, Jim and David S.

This turned out to be a good day or walking, although on the cool side, especially when we were exposed to the cold Northerly wind, but the warm afternoon sunshine made up for it.

 There had been one or two changes since the last time we had done the walk. One path South of Bagillt, had been re-routed slightly, making it much easier and avoiding having to cross old footbridge. All went smoothly as we went through the delightful woodland path in Nant-y-Ffrith, although we didn't find a suitable lunch spot as we had hope we would.

 Lunch was taken at the entrance to Maes-gwyn-mawr farm, where took advantage of a stone wall to sit on as we had lunch. Thankfully we were in sunshine.

 After lunch we set off across the field East of Maes-gwyn-mawr farm, but unfortunately a young bull decided to be a little too friendly and we had to make a retreat.

 This meant that we had to change our route to get round the said problem. We ended up goung along the road to the outskirts of Flint and taking Cornist Lane to reach a path that linked up with our original route.

 The last part of our route back to Bagillt was on field paths and involved crossing a good number of stiles, some of which weren't easy to cross.

 At this point the views across the Dee estuary to the Wirral and beyond were superb.

 We arrived back at the car, having had a good walk and looking forward to after walk refreshment in a local hostelry with a real fire. On this occasion we visited the Britannia Inn at Halkyn, where once more the Lees bitter was in excellent condition. We had were warmly welcomed by the landlady and shortly after arriving, the chef brought out a bowl of prawn crackers for everyone in the pub. A nice gesture, making us all have a positive feel for the venue. We also found out that the Brit would be closed from 4th January for a five week refurbishment. Worth remembering when we may be looking for a suitable local for after walk refreshment on Wednesdays in the New Year.

 Birds seen or heard today included: House sparrow, Common chaffinch, Common buzzard, Common blackbird, Song thrush, Fieldfare, Herring gull, Carrion crow, Woodpigeon, Common pheasant and Grey wagtail.

Walks and Dates November 2017

Advanced Notice
Change of Walk Day.
I have decide that starting in January 2018,
I will be switching the mid-week walk day 
from 
Thursday to Wednesday.
The reason for changing the day is to give my knees an extra day to recover before the Saturday walk.
It also means that our Annual Meal will also be switched to the Wednesday.
Advanced notice.
Harris Hikers Annual Meal 2018.
Probable Venue: The Red Fox, Thornton Hough. 
This is another Brunning and Price hostelry.
Date: Wednesday 7th February 2018.
I haven't approached the Red Fox yet, and won't do so until early in January 2018, so if you prefer another venue, I am open to suggestions.
I will contact everyone by e-mail in December to check how many are interested in joining us for the meal.
Thursday 2nd November 2017

Deborah's Well, Moel Findeg and Big Covert

Distance:7-8 miles. Climb: 1300'.

Start: Lay-by on the  Cadole to the Pantymwyn road. Grid ref: SJ205627. after passing the former Rainbow Inn (now a building site), take the next road on the right just before the newsagent. The lay-by is almost immediately on the right by the telephone kiosk.

Leave Chester 9-00 a.m.

This walk combines two walks from Dave Berry's book "More Walks in the Clwydian Hills".  This is another chance to visit the summit of Moel Findeg with its fine views of the Northern Clwydians  and across the Cheshire plain to Peckforton and Beeston.  Hopefully we will make it as far as the ancient Deborah's well this time. We may even do it first this time, if we park in the Cadole lay-by.

Saturday 4th November 2017.

A Walk Around Disley. Postponed

Distance: 9-10 mile. Climb: 1200'.
Start: Disley Station Car Park. Grid ref: SJ972845. (If the car park is full, we will go to Lyme Park and park there, so if you are a National Trust member, bring your membership card with you.)
Leave Chester at 08-45 a.m.
This walk combine a walk from Jen Darling's book "More Pub Walks in Cheshire and the Wirral", with a walk from the "Pathfinders Guide to Cheshire".
The latter route takes us along the Gritstone Trail through Lyme Park and up to the Bowstones, where on a good day you get good views of Shutlingsloe and the Cheshire Plain.  The other walk on the East side of Disley, climbs Black Hill and gives good views towards Kinder.

Thursday 9th November 2017.

Grindley Brook to Marbury.

Distance: 8-9 miles. Climb: 200' at a guess.
Start: Layby on the A41, East of Grindley Brook Locks Cafe and about 400 m before the roundabout / junction with the A49. Grid ref: SJ 524428.
Leave Chester at 09-00.
This walk is one that Phil saw in the Times, planned by Christopher Somerville, so ignoring the preduces of many of the group I decided to give a go! The walk starts at the Horse and Jockey, but we will start in the layby a little East of that particular hostelry.
The walk is described as one which goes through a countryside that is a maze of drumlin hills and kettlehole lakelets. I womder if we will be able to identify these two features of the landscape. He describes the walk as being boggy in places, but he did it in February, hopefully it won't be as bad for us! The walk included parts of Bishop Bennett's Way, the Sandstone Trail, South Cheshire Way and parts of the Shropshire Union Canal.

Saturday 11th November 2017.

Jumbles, Wayoh, Turton and Entwistle Reservoirs. 

Distance:10 miles. Climb:1100'.

Start:Waterfold Car Park, off Bradshaw Road (A676), Jumbles Country Park. Grid ref: SD736139

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! The last time we did this walk, we missed out Cheetham Cross, making the walk just over 9 miles.

Thursday 16th November 2017.

Owain Glyndwr's Mount, Nant Friddisel and the Pen y Grog Mines,

Distance: 6-7 miles. Climb: 1400'.

Start: Grid ref: SJ115437. Road side parking on B5437 on the South side of Pont Carrog.

This walk is a little shorter than usual, but takes in to account that route finding might be more difficult than usual. The main objective is to visit the Pen y Grog disused mines using a footpath that would be an extension to our normal walk which we last did in July, but having climbed Moel Fferna no-one has been very keen to extend the walk further. The call of the Grouse Inn might have had something to do with it!

 This route starts by heading alongside the river, before taking the paths that climb up to the mine. After retracing our steps the walk uses a path through the Carrog Plantation that we have used before and may take some finding. Having successfully negotiated our way through the forest and on to open moorland we then follow familiar paths towards Carrog-uchaf, but just before the farm we head back South in to the Carrog Plantation to contour on forest paths around Owain Glyndwr's Mount and finally descend to Llidiart y Park and along the B5437 back to Pont Carrog. 

Saturday 18th November 2017.

Ramshaw Rocks and the Roaches. 
Postponed until Summer 2018.
I'm having electrical work done at home.

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.
Ramshaw Rocks were visited for the first time last year and combined with The Roaches it makes a superb walk, worth repeating on a n annual basis.

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.

Boggy area guaranteed!

Thursday 23rd November 2017.

Sandbach and More.

Distance: 9 miles. Climb: 500'.
Start: Waitrose Car park on Brookhouse Road,  Sandbach. Grid ref: SJ758605. Park at the bottom of the car park near the A533/534 roundabout, well away from the supermarket itself.
Leave Chester at 09-00 a.m.
Although the described walk starts in the centre of Sandbach, this is a figure of eight walk around the village of Hassall Green.
The main part of the walk is taken from the Patherfinder Guide to Cheshire. Whilst part of the walk includes the centre of Sandbach, most of the walk visits more secluded areas just outside the town. It is described as including peaceful sections, including two secluded valleys and a section of the Trent and Mersey Canal.
The extension takes us East along th Trent and Mersey Canal as far as Thurlwood, before heading for Lawton Heath End and returning to the car park along the Salt Line.
 This is a new walk for the Thursday group. As it is only 45 minutes from Chester to Sandbach, I thought it would be within distance for a Thursday.

Saturday 25th November 2017.

Llugwy and Lledre. 

Distance: 8-9 miles; Climb: 1000'.

Start: Railway station car park in the centre of Betws-y Coed. Grid ref: SH795565. 

Leave Chester at 8-30 a.m. (It takes about 1 hour 10 minutes from Saltney)

This is another walk taken from Dave Berry's new book "Walks Around Betws-y-Coed and the Conwy Valley". This walk links the beautiful wooded Llugwy and Lledre Valleys. It takes in Sarn Helen, the former Roman Road, and reaches over 800' before descending in to the Lledre Valley. It involves a steep climb to Llyn Elsi or at least that is what Dave Berry says!
The last couple of times I have done this, the weather has not been kind, but hopefully at this time of the year it may not be quite so wet!
This is about the fifth time that I have attempted to put this walk on, hoping for good weather and have ended up postponing the walk. Hopefully this time it will go ahead.

Thursday 30th November 2017.

Gadlys, Nant-y-Flint and More.
This walk has been modified by request!

Distance: 7 - 9 miles; Climb:1100'.

Start: Public car park adjacent to the Stag Inn at Bagillt. Grid ref:SJ219753.

Leave Chester 9-00 a.m.

This walks is taken from Dave Berry's book "Walks Around Holywell and Halkyn Mountain" and is nominally 7 miles. The walk explores the attractive undulating rural hinterland between Bagillt and Flint.

This walk was last done in 2010 and our desire for walks over 10 miles has waned a little since then, so I have of reduced by missing out most f the east of Holywell walk that we did last time. This means that walk will be between 7 and 9 miles, depending on whether we decide to extend the walk a little from the described walk. there are two possible short extension, one to the West and one to the East. We can decide on the day if we want to do both, one or none of them!
 Some of the field paths have been known to be somewhat muddy on past visits and we have had to wade through longish grass - gaiters recommended!

Bryn Euryn and Around the Little Orme 25th November 2017

The Little Orme as we set off.

The Little Orme from the North side of Creigiau Rhiwledyn.

One of the Grey seals in Porth Dyniewlad.

Another the Grey seal in Porth Dyniewlad.

Porth Dyniewlad.

On Penrhyn Bay beach heading towards Rhos on Sea.

Lunch at Llys Euryn.

Llandudno and the Great Orme from the Northern slopes of Bryn Euryn.

At the trig point on Bryn Euryn.

At the trig point on Bryn Euryn.

The final stages of our walk ahead. Taken from the Western path on Bryn Euryn.

"Go on, tell me how we are going to get through this gate."

Oystercatchers on flooded fields North east of Glanwydden.

Eurasian curlew in fields North east of Glanwydden.

The new lifeboat station the Great Orme as we finished the walk.

Walk stats: Distance: 8.3 miles. Climb: Wind assisted GPS reading 1590', but about 1000' really.

Time: 4 hours 26 minutes. On the move walking average: 2.3 m.p.h. Overall walk average: 1.9 m.p.h.

Group: Martyn, Mike and Ed.

We knew that it was going to be a shower day with strong cooling winds, but we didn't anticipate the 30 minute hail storm accompanied by a very strong wind. It happened just as were about to climb to the trig point on Little Ormes Head and was enough to head away and take the path around the North side of Creigiau Rhiwledyn.

 Distant views of Snowdonia did not look very inviting, covered in dark clouds, making us thankful that we had decided to switch the walk.

 Arriving at Porth Dyniewald we saw three Grey seal in the bay, a bonus as we thought that they would probably stay at sea in bad weather.

 Once w had left the beach at Penrhyn Bay, there was a good stretch of road walking through the houses until we reached Bryn Euryn Nature Reserve.

 Lunch was taken in the ruins of Llys Euryn, where Ed bagged the hot seat in the old fireplace.

  After lunch we headed to the summit of Bryn Euryn on the Summit trail path that I have in the past used for descent and used the Western Summit Trail Path to descend. This was a path that I had never used before, but Ed. This was a much better path and will be one that we use whenever we visit Bryn Eurhyn.

 After passing the rugby club, as we approached Glanwydden, we decided to take a footpath across fields, but isn't a path we will use again. The footbridge over the Afon Wydden was so overgrown with brambles that it had become unusable and the adjacent wooden beams of the farm bridge were precariously balanced. Having carefully crossed it once, none of us wanted to repeat the experience again.

 It was as we crossed these very boggy fields that we saw most of the birds seen today. They included: Eurasian curlew, Oystercatcher, Rook, Carrion crow, Moorhen, Black headed gull, Herring gull. Other birds seen included: Great cormorant, House sparrow and Common blackbird.

The rest of the walk was a pleasant stroll along tarmac paths, pavements and a short section on a stoned track. 

 After the hail storm of the morning, the rest of the day was largely dry and pleasantly warm whenever we were sheltered from the wind.

 Overall we had a really good walk, one that will be added to the list of our walks that include the Little Orme.

 After walk drinks were enjoyed at the Blue Bell in Halkyn, where Wicked Was Cider went down well.