Little did we know it, but we were to explore this hill after visiting Moel Arthur.
At the highest point on Moel Arthur.
An unusual design now completed.
Lambs seen from our lunch spot.
Denbigh from our lunch spot with Moefre Isaf on the skyline.
On the move after lunch.
Not a Cuckoo, just a Raven.
At the Northern end of Penycloddiau.
Resting at the cairn at the North west end of Penycloddiau hill fort.
The descent of Penycloddiau to the Llangwyfan Forest Car park with Moel Arthur above.
Walk stats: Distance: 7.5 miles. Climb: 1318'.
Time: 4 hours 39 minutes. On the move walking average: 2.1 m.p.h. Overall walk average: 1.6 m.p.h.
Group: Martyn, Celia, Fran, Jim, Mal, Phil, Ed and David S.
This was a good day for walking, almost perfect weather conditions, pleasant temperatures and hardly any wind and no rain.
The start of this walk is a pretty steep climb from the car park u the North western side of Moel Arthur. Unfortunately Celia decided that she wasn't quite ready for this and headed back to the car park and embarked on a more gentle exploration from the car park while the rest of us continued on the described route after having made contact by phone and Celia assuring us that she was perfectly OK. Nevertheless we did take a short cut back to the cars to see if Celia was still OK.
After Moel Arthur Fran and Phil were on the road ahead of us and were lucky enough to hear a Cuckoo, the first one heard on our walks in 2017.
After leaving the car park for the second time we took the middle route to head for the Clwydian Way that contoured below Penycloddiau along its Western flanks.
Lunch was taken as soon as we could find somewhere to sit. This turned out to be West of Penycloddiau where we were able to sit at the side of the track with misty views towards Denbigh and beyond. As this would be the last time Phil would be able to walk with us for about six weeks, I decided that it was an appropriate time to bring the last few pieces of my 2016 fruit cake.After today there are 3 pieces left, just enough for the walk on Saturday.
At lunch time we were lucky enough to have a couple of Yellowhammers fly in front of us and start calling a few metres from us.
After lunch the Sun came out and we had a very pleasant stroll over Penycloddiau back to the Llangwyfan Forest Car Park. The view from Penycloddia was still very hazy, but we could just about make out Tryffan on the horizon. Throughout the walk we heard lots of Willow warblers and Skylarks, always a good sign that Spring is in the air and an odd Barn swallow reminding us that Summer is just around the corner.
Birds heard or seen today included: Willow warbler, Carrion crow, Raven, Common buzzard, Skylark, Yellowhammer, Common chaffinch, Great spotted woodpecker, Green woodpecker, Meadow pipit, Common pheasant, Woodpigeon and not forgetting the Cukoo and Northern wheatear.
After walk drinks were enjoyed at the Bluebell Inn at Halkyn, where three of the brews were sampled and met with approval.
The cider from Herefordshire went down well with my evening meal.
1 comment:
It's an age since I have been out with the Harris Hikers and fully appreciated the day . Cuckoo and beer included. Martyn is a super star putting on 2 walks a week. And this week acting as taxi for a full coat load. He deserves a MBC ( memebernof the British countryside) award for services to all of those that walk with him.
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