Walks and Dates July 2017

Saturday 1st July 2017.

Revidge and Ecton Hill.

Distance: 10-12 miles; Climb:1600'.
Start: Hulme End Car park (Pay and Display) . Grid Ref: SK103592.
Leave Chester 8-00 a.m.
This walk combines two walks from Mark Richard's book "White Peak Walks -Southern Dales". We have done these walks many times under many different weather conditions and conditions underfoot. In fact the Ecton Hill walk relives in our memory as one of the muddiest walks ever, but we now know how to avoid it! These two varied walks allow us to enjoy good views from the tops of Revidge and Ecton Hills finish with a pleasant stroll along the Manifold Valley.
We will probably shorten the walk at some stage to bring it down to about 10 miles.

Thursday 6th July 2017.

World's End from the Ponderosa.

Distance: 9 miles. Climb: 1600'.
Start: Car parking area opposite the Ponderosa Cafe. Grid ref: SJ192480.
Leave Chester at 09-00 a.m.
This walk is taken from Dave Berry's book " Walks Around Ruabon Mountain, the Clywedog Valley  and Hope Mountain."  This is described as an exhilarating walk of great variety, on good upland paths and tracks with panoramic viewscapes.

Saturday 8th July 2017.

Gloddaeth Hall and Bryn Pydew.

Distance: 10 miles. Climb: 1500'.
Start: Marl Hall Wood Car Park on the outskirts of Llandudno. Grid ref: SH 799787.
Directions to get to the car park. Leave the A55 at Junction 19 and follow the A470 towards Llandudno. At a roundabout turn right signposted to Esgryn / Pydew. Go past Esgryn Road to find a small car park on the right.
Leave Chester at 09-00 a.m.
This walk combines two walks from Dave Berry's book "Walks Around Llandudno".  These walks explore the area around St. David's College that we normally visit on our Little Orme walks.  In addition, we will take a short there and back extension to visit the obelisk that we see clearly as we travel along the A55.

Thursday 13th July 2017.

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!
 We tried to do this walk again on the 8th of June last month, but we again had to postpone the walk because of the weather.

Saturday 15th July 2017.

The Llugwy and Lledre Valley. 
Postponed to enable MD to enjoy Friday evening celebrating his forthcoming escape date without worrying about having to get up early to go on a walk.

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

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

Leave Chester at 8-00 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!
 Ed and I last did the walk in February, but I'd like to do the walk again with the chance of doing it in good weather. Hopefully we will get get good weather this time.

Thursday 20th July 2017.

A Walk Around Waen Aberwheeler and Llandyrnog.

Distance : 10 miles. Climb: 1500'.
Start: Layby in Aberwheeler on B5429, just after play area and opposite Bro Llaweni. Grid ref: SJ096694. The last time we went, the layby could not be used, so we went past and parked in the next road on the left, turning round and parking alongside the houses.
Leave Chester at 09-00 a.m.
This is a walk taken from R.J.A. Dutton's book "Hidden Highways of North Wales". It explores the  Roman and Medieval Roads between Waen Aberwheeler and Llandyrnog. As far as I know. the only section that we have done before is along the Afon Clwyd from Llaweni Hall.
It may give us a chance to visit the new Brunning and Price pub at Bodfari and assess its potential.

Saturday 22nd July 2017.
A Walk From Llyn Brenig.

Distance: 8 miles. Climb: 1000'

Start: Llyn Brenig Visitor Centre car park (Pay and Display). Grid ref: SH968547' . (Remember to pay just for parking, there are dearer options if you intend to go fishing)

Leave Chester 08-30 a.m.
This walk is taken from Lorna Jenner's book "Walks in the Vale of Clwyd and the Denbigh Moors" or in the revised book "Walks in the Vale of Clwyd and the Hiraethog Moors".
 This walk explores the the Afon Alwen valley South of the dam. It passes through the village of Pentre-llyn-cymmer and heads along the river to visit Caer Dunod. 
Some of the paths are waymarked Mynydd Hiraethog.
 A varied walk. Bring your binoculars if you have them, the last time I did this walk we had good views of Redstarts.
 The only downside to this walk is that the last half a mile from Pente-llyn-cymmer is uphill, especially as the track heads up to the top of the dam.

Thursday 27th July 2017.
Fron Hen and Bryn Alyn.

Distance: 10-11 miles. Climb: 1800'.
Start: Layby on the A494 Mold to Ruthin Road, about 1/2 mile South of Llanferres. Grid ref: SJ187597.
Leave Chester 09-00 a.m.

This walk uses two walks from Dave Berry's book More Walks in the Clwydian Hill".  We have combined these walks on several occasions before and the section over Bryn Alyn is always good. In the past it has often been a challenge to our route finding skills through Nercwys Forest,  th last two times we seem to have got it right without too much trouble!

Saturday 29th July 2017.

Traeth Lafan and Its Foothills

Distance:7-8 miles. Climb:1000'.

Start: Aber Ogwen Coastal Car Park. Grid ref:SH616724. 
Alternative start: Abergwyngeryn Free Car Park Grid ref: SH 6527282. PC (opens about 09-30) nearby and a cafe at the outdor centre that allows walkers to use the toilets (opens earlier than PC.)

This walk uses taken from Dave Berry's book "Walks On the North Wales Coast". The Traeth Lafan and it Foothills walk is an annual favourite and has in the past given us some wonderful experiences, especially in Winter trampling through soft fluffy knee deep snow that didn't stick or wet our legs. Unfortunately at this time of the year we shouldn't get any snow, but with a bit of luck the fields as we approach the farm near the Spinnies shouldn't be waterlogged either. It should be worthwhile bringing binoculars with you as we may visit the Spinnies Nature Reserve on the way back to our car.

This walk is described as walk of contrasting coastal and upland scenery with good views from the higher points on the North Wales path.

 This will be the first time that the walk will be completed without adding any extension to the walk.

 High tide is at about 15-45 and is about 8.3 m (27.3'), so the coastal birds may be better seen as we arrive back at the car.