All Around Bryn Alyn 27th July 2017

Which way to Eryrys?

Young rams testing themselves against each other.

A bet you don't know what type of sheep I am?
Badger faced Welsh I presume.

The church at Eryrys.

Ling in flower in Nercwys Forest - in a part that used to be forest!

Crossing one of the new stiles as we cross Nercwys Mountain towards Fron-Deg.

Moel Famau still in rain. Glad not to be there today!

Enjoying lunch in the "sun".

The alternative lunch spot.

After lunch - time to enjoy the sunshine.

Walk stats: Distance: 6.4 miles. Climb: 747'.

Time: 3 hours 48 minutes. On the move walking average: 2.5 m.p.h. Overall walk average: 1.7 m.p.h.

Group: Martyn, David S and Phil.

Just as we were getting ready to set off, it started to rain, so we all decided perhaps it would be best if we put full waterproofs on. I think that this is the first time this year that I have actually started a walk in full waterproofs.

 At Phil's suggestion we decided to do the walk in the reverse direction to the way that we usually do it. In fact much of the walk was not exactly on the described route whichever way you did it, and truthfully it was all around Bryn Alyn as we never actually took paths that crossed it.

 We decided to take the road past Bryn-yr-orsedd and the track past Llanerch straight to Eryrys. This was a gentle climb and to a large extent pretty sheltered. As we approached Eryrys, the rain stopped and I decided to remove my waterproofs and have my first change of shirt as the first one was on the damp side following the "boil in the bag syndrome" caused by wearing waterproofs. Removing waterproofs was a mistake as withing ten minutes it was raining heavily again. Another stop, waterproofs back on as we headed towards Nercwys Forest at one point through waist high bracken.

 Much of the forest has been felled, so we didn't find an appropriate sheltered spot for lunch until we were on the track on the South side of Big Covert. 

 Although it had stopped raining by now, every time the wind shook the upper canopy a cascade of large drops showered us as we sat on one of the felled tree trunks, prompting Phil to seek out a better spot a little away.

 Birds seen or heard today were very few, but included: Carrion crow, European robin, Winter wren, Common blackbird and Goldfinch.

 As we arrived back at the car, we were in warm sunshine and hints of blue skies, wondering why we had curtailed the walk.

 Nevertheless we had had a good enjoyable walk of over six miles, largely in gentle warm rain, but never enough give us any regrets for having set off in the first place.

 It was good to note that several awkward stiles had been replaced by new easy stiles or even metal gates.

 After walk drinks were enjoyed at the Druid Inn at Llanferres, a Marston's hostelry and now open at a time that may make this a suitable alternative to the one we normally go to when we are on this side of Mold. Hopefully the people that have taken it on will make a go of it and deserve to be supported.