Walks and Dates June 2017

Thursday 1st June 2017.

Llanarmon-yn-Ial, Eryrys and Moel y Gyw.

Distance:8-10 miles; Climb:1500'.

Start:Pistyll Gwyn Quarry car park. 1 mile north of Llanarmon-yn-Ial. Grid ref: SJ189574.

Leave Chester at 9-00 a.m.

This walk uses two walks taken from Carl Roger's book "Walking in the Clwydian Hills". We have completed both walks before, but have never tried to link them together before. The Eryrys walk is described as exploring the lesser-known limestone hills separated from the main Clwydian ridge by the Alyn Valley. Views throughout the walk are superb! The second walk involves the ascent of Moel Gyw which also has superb views of the Clwydian Hills to both the north and the south.
The last time we did this walk in November 2015, we had to negotiate a path that was partially flooded in order to get to a footbridge over a river in spate. Hopefully at this time of the year it shouldn't be to bad underfoot. Last time out we reduced the walk to about 8 miles, so there is a good chance we will do the same today.

Saturday 3rd June 2017.

Tegg's Nose and Macclesfield Forest.


Distance: 9 miles. Climb: 1000'.


Start: Tegg's Nose Country Park Car park. Pay and Display. Grid ref: SJ950732.

Leave Chester at 08-30 a.m.

This walk is taken from the "Pathfinders Guide to Cheshire". It is described as a varied walk with good views from Tegg's Nose. We will visit Tegg's Nose first, rather than at the end of the walk. The walk is also described as an undulating walk exploring the countryside on the edge of the Peak District. This is a walk that we have come to like and regularly appears on the list. Birds are often seen on the reservoirs we walk around, so it is useful to bring binoculars just in case.

Thursday 8th June 2017. 
Postponed - heavy rain forecast for most of the day.

A Ceiriog Trail - Pontricket-Tregeiriog-Pont-y-Melbion

Distance: 8.5 miles. Climb: 1700'.
Start: Pontricket, Layby, Grid ref: SJ186343.
Leave Chester at 09-00 a.m.
This walk combines Pontricket Walks A and F.  It starts on a path on one side of the Ceiriog between Pontricket and Treceiriog and returns along the other side of the river. The walk then heads for open moorland and on to a drovers road, Sarn Sws (The Kissing Way).
The descent from the drovers road is on the South side of the River Teirw and eventually joins the riverside path at Pont Meibion. The return section is described as being via two tumbling valleys. This is a walk that Mike and I did in March 2017 and thought that it would be better done in Summer conditions, when open moorland is less hostile!

Saturday 10th June 2017.
Postponed - heavy rain forecast for most of the day.

 Mynydd Garthmyn and the Fairy Glen.

Distance: 10 miles. Climb: 1600'.

Start: Main car park at Betws-y-coed. Grid ref: SH795565.

Leave Chester at 08-30 a.m.
This walk was originally planned for February 2017, but had to be postponed due to bad weather. Hopefully this won't happen at this time of the year.

This version is taken from Carl Rogers' book "Walking in the Conwy Valley" and only varies a little from the walk that we usually do. Both walks are described as being varied walks with stunning views, especially to the West.

Thursday 15th June 2017.

Prestatyn, Talacre and The Point of Ayr.

Distance: 10 miles. Climb: 200'.

Start at Prestatyn Barkby Beach.. I suggest that you park at Beach Hotel car park, (£2-50 less than the pay and display car park!) on the large parking area by the PC,  Grid ref: SJ068839

Leave Chester at 09-00 a.m. You will need to go into the hotel to purchase a car park ticket.

This is a walk that is always on the list at this time of the year, as it is always a good time to see Little terns, so bring binoculars with you. Hopefully we will see orchids too.

High tide is at about 15-30, and is about 26', so we go through the Golg Course, Caravan Park and The Warren Nature Reserve on the way to Talacre and the Point of Air.We will take lunch using one of the picnic tables along the path leading to the Point Of Air. We will decide on the day whether to extend the walk as far as the RSPB observation point. Our return route will be along the beach. 

Saturday 17th June 2017.

Marbury Country Park and More.

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

Distance: 8 miles. Climb: 500'.

Leave Chester at 09-300 a.m.
This is a later start than usual because we will be calling in at Focal Point Optics at Higher Whitley before we start the walk, and they open at 10-00 a.m. on Saturday mornings.

The walk is taken from an old Country Walking Magazine. It is described as a varied walk with exploring contrasting aspects of Cheshire's varied landscape.  Including the Meres and the Anderton Boat Lift.. The terrain is easy going, along field paths, back lanes and along the towpath, although it can be marshy around Pickmere.  There is a short section along the main road before picking up the towpath at Wincham. Bring binoculars with you if you can.

Thursday 22nd June 2017.

Eglwyseg Escarpment and Trevor Rocks.

Distance: 9-10 miles. Climb:1200'. Can be made shorter if need be.

Start: Off road parking on the Panorama road just East of the monument. Grid ref: SJ247426.

Leave Chester at 09-00 a.m.

This must be one of the best walks in the Llangollen area, especially on a sunny day. a walk that makes you feel like you're  on top of the world with superb views in all directions, including the Dee Valley, Dinas Bran, the Llantysilio Mountains and the Berwyns. This is one of our  favourite walks and is always on the list at least once every year

Saturday 24th June 2017.

Aled Isaf and More.

Distance: 10-11 miles. Climb: 1500'.

Start: Off road parking just before the dam on Llyn Aled. Grid ref: SH916579.

Leave Chester at 08-30 a.m.

This walk was originally planned for the end of last month.

This walk is taken from Dave Berry's book "Walks on the Denbigh Moors" or his slightly newer book "Hidden Heart of North Wales". The walk explores the expansive  tract of moorland and upland pastures around  Llyn Aled and  Aled Isaf. The route in part follows tracks not easily seen and is for experienced walkers only.  At one point the walk follows a delightful upland path via Llys Dymper, before returning South over the moorland top of Foel Lwyd. The extension allows us to explore moorland paths over Moel Bengam and Cefn Du along paths that I have wanted to explore for some time. Has been known to be boggy, but hopefully not too boggy at this time of the year. As an extra challenge we may complete this walk in an anticlockwise direction, the opposite way to the way we normally complete the walk!

The last time we did this walk in October 2015 we shortened the walk to 9 miles and a climb of just under 800'.

Thursday 29th June 2017.

Moel Arthur and Around Moel Plas-yw.

Distance: 8.0 miles; Climb:1250'.

Start: Car park area West of Cilcain. Grid ref: SJ170652.
To get to the parking area, at the crossroads in Cilcain turn right (Eastward), past the White Horse, Church and Village hall, at the end of a few houses on the right turn, left and the parking area is a few hundred yards further on on the right. 
This walk is one we did last year and includes most of  one of the walks from Dave Berry's book ""More Walks on the Clwydian Hills". The Moel Plas-yw walk impressed us last time with its excellent views and delightful woodland valley paths. I suggest a visit to the summit of Moel Arthur could be an extension at the end of the walk for most of us or maybe not!
Leave Chester at 9-00 a.m.