Walks and Dates May 2017

Thursday 4th May 2017.

Pen-y- Ball Hill, Two Woods and the Coast.

Distance: 8-9 miles. Climb: 1000'.
Start: Holywell Halkyn Street Car Park. Grid ref: SJ18957548.
Leave Chester at 09-00 a.m.
This is a figure of eight walk around Holywell. It combines two walks from Ron Williams and Elfed Jones's booklet "10 Walks Around Holywell". We know the area around the Pen-y-Ball Monument quite well, but on this occasion, we explore again some of the paths around the Pets Cemetry. The other walk takes us down to the coast through Coed Pen-y-Maes, going quite near to the new Holywell High School. When we did the walk in May 2015 they had only just started to build.

Saturday 6th May 2017.

Pendle Hill – the annual search for Dotterel.

Distance: 8.0 miles. Climb:1900’.

Start: Downham Village Car park. Grid ref: SD785442.

Leave Chester:8-30 a.m.

This is a little shorter than our usual Saturday walks.  The route today is the one in Terry Marsh’s book “Fifty Classic Walks in Lancashire”. He describes it as “undoubtedly the finest ascent of Pendle Hill”. Let’s hope for a good day weather-wise, topped up with good views of  Dotterel as we did a few years ago.  Don’t forget to bring binoculars.
The last few times we have done this walk, the weather hasn't been kind.lets hope the weather is better this year.

Thursday 11th May 2017.

Bluebell Woods Around Parbold. 

Distance: 10 miles. Climb: 800'.

Start: Hunter's Hill Quarry Nature Reserve on Bannister Lane WN6 9QD. Grid ref: SD503123
It is 48 miles from Saltney, so should be a little less from Chester and should take just over an hour to get there.

Leave Chester at 08-45 a.m.

This may be a little further than usual, but it is mainly on the motorway, so it is pretty quick.

This walk is a walk that we have done for the last two years, but on a Saturday. each time the Bluebell have been superb, so I thought that it was time that the Thursday walkers could enjoy them too. This walk is on the East of Parbold, and visits up to ten different woods, so hopefully some will still have Bluebells on show.  The walk also includes part of the Leeds - Liverpool Canal as far as Appley Bridge. This is a walk that we have done a couple of times now. There is no description, just the OS map.  The walk includes a section around Anderton Mill and High Moor. Last time the Bluebells and wild garlic in Fairy Glen were quite stunning. Bring binoculars with you just in case.

Saturday 13th May 2017.

Cwm Eigiau from Dolgarrog.

Distance: 7-8 miles. Climb: 2000'.

Start: Road side parking on the B5106 next to Dolgarrog Nature Reserve/Memorial Trail. Grid ref: SH769676.
Leave Chester at 08-30 a.m.

This is another walk from Carl Rogers' book "Walks in the Conwy Valley. This is described as  strenuous route, particularly in the accent from the valley. It is an interesting walk over quiet lower hills with good views of the nearby Carneddau. Good navigating skills needed on the upper sections of Moel Eilio where paths are feint. We have also had good views of Cuckoos on this walk in this area in past years.
 There is plenty of opportunity to extend the walk, if we feel the need!

Thursday 18th May 2017.

Maen Achwfan, Llyn Helyg, Crown Bach and Coed Pen-y-Gelli.

Distance:9-10 miles. Climb:1000’.

Start:Roadside parking opposite the church in Whitford. Grid ref:SJ147782.

Leave Chester 9-00 a.m.

This is a Bluebell Woods walk we first did in 2011.

The walk starts off by using one of the walks in Dave Berry’s book “ Walks Around Holywell and Halkyn Mountain. We have completed this one several times, including visiting the beautifully carved Maen Achwfan.  However this time we include exploring two new woods, Glol and Llyn Helyg woods.  Hopefully we will return through Crown Bach woods to Lloc and then return to Whitford via Twll Bach.

Saturday 20th May 2017.

Mow Cop, Congleton Edge and More. 

Distance: 9-10 miles. Climb: 1500'.

Start: New start Point. Cheshire's Close lay-by on Congleton Road, Mow Cop. Grid ref: SJ8673058565

Leave Chester at 08-30 a.m.

This walk combines a walk from Carl Rogers's book "Circular Walks Along The Gritstone Trail" and part of a walk taken from the "Pathfinder Guide to Cheshire". This walk is a little shorter than the one that we did in 2008. Good views from the ridges.

Thursday 25th May 2017.

Coed Pen-y-Gelli and More.

Distance:9-10 miles. Climb:700’.

Start: Roadside parking at Lloc. If approaching from Holywell on the A5026, turn left by the public house (now a private house) into St Asaph Road. Park in left. If approaching on the A5026 from its nearest junction with the A55 (Prestatyn junction), Turn right in front of the public house (now a private house) into St Asaph Road. This is just after the the Pant Y Wacco sign and the road starts to bear left. St Asaph Road is one way and can only be approached from then A5026.
Grid ref:SJ145765.
Leave Chester at 09-00 a.m.

This is a annual Bluebell Wood Walk, and is effectively a figure of eight walk based on Lloc. This walk combines two walks from Dave Berry’s book “ Walks Around Holywell and Halkyn Mountain”.  The walk will probably will be near to 10 miles as we will only complete a small section of the usual Gorsedd Round. In fact we may investigate the path on the West side of Coed Mertyn that we couldn't locate from the golf course last year by trying to follow it from the road by the fisheries.

Saturday 27th May 2017.

South Stacks Cliffs Nature Reserve and More.

Distance:10 miles. Climb:1326'.

Start: Holyhead Breakwater Country Park (Pay and Display). SH225833

Leave Chester 8-30 a.m.

This is another walk that has become an annual favourite. Along the coastal section there should be  good chances of seeing Choughs, Guillemots, Razorbills and even Puffins. Bring binoculars if you can. 

 We will start at the Holyhead Breakwater Country Park. In the past we have completed the walk in a clockwise direction,  finishing the  walk along the Coastal Path, but as a change we will complete the walk in an anti-clockwise direction. This will probably mean we will arrive at South Stack in time for an early lunch.