Walks and Dates December 2017

Happy Christmas Everyone

Advanced Notice
Change of Walk Day.
I have decide that starting in January 2018,
I will be switching the mid-week walk day 
from 
Thursday to Wednesday.
The reason for changing the day is to give my knees an extra day to recover before the Saturday walk.
It also means that our Annual Meal will also be switched to the Wednesday.
Advanced notice.
Harris Hikers Annual Meal 2018.
Probable Venue: The Red Fox, Thornton Hough. 
This is another Brunning and Price hostelry.
Date: Wednesday 7th February 2018.
I haven't approached the Red Fox yet, and won't do so until early in January 2018, so if you prefer another venue, I am open to suggestions.

I will contact everyone by e-mail in December to check how many are interested in joining us for the meal.
Saturday 2nd December 2017.
Postponed.

Pincyn Llys from Bontuchel.
This walk will now replace the Gwydir Forest walk originally planned for the 9th December.

Walk stats: Distance: 8.9 miles. Climb: 2187'.
Start Forest Car Park near Bontuchel Grid ref: SJ08165708.
To get to the car park at Ruthin follow the through route and at the rugby club roundabout take the B5105 road towards Llanfwrog. Just after passing the church and the narrow bend in the road, take the right turn signposted to Bontuchel and Cyffylliog. At Bontuchel turn left immediately after crossing the bridge over the river. Follow the road uphill. The Forest car park in about half a mile up the road on the left.
This walk is taken from Dave Berry's book "Walks Around Hiraethog Moors and Lakes." However his walk starts at Cyffylliog, but parking there isn't easy. Starting from Bontuchel allows to get round that problem, but does involve walking along a about a mile to link in with the described walk. The walk explores the undulating upland pastures and forest between Cyffylliog and Clocaenog as well as following open side valleys and forest around Pincyn Llys.
 This has always been a favourite walk for the group, but I do like to include it now and again. It is four years since we last did this walk.

Thursday 7th December 2017.

St. Cwyfan's Trail and More.

Distance: 9-10 miles. The main part of the walk is taken from Dave Berry's book "Walks in the Clwydian Hills
Start: Roadside parking in Llandyrnog on the Llangynhafal road (Gladstone Terrace) . Park on the wider part of the road after Nant Glyd. Grid ref: SJ109650.
Leave Chester at 09-00 a.m.
The main part of the walk is taken from Dave Berry's book "Walks in the Clwydian Hills" and the extension is around the lower slopes of  Penycoddiau along the Clwydian Way.
It is described as a delightful walk in the countryside North of Llandyrnog and visits the smallest church in the Vale of Clwyd.

Saturday 9th December 2017.
Pincyn Llys from Bontuchel. 
Postponed - Billy no mates again!
See 2nd December 2017 for details.
Gwydir Forest From Llanwrst. Cancelled.

Distance: 9 miles. Climb: 1200'.
Start: Llanrwst car park, behind library and PC. Grid ref: SH796616.
Leave Chester at 08-30 a.m.
This walk is taken from Carl Roger's book "Walking in the Conwy Valley. It is described as a moderately strenuous walk with some sustained ascents, mainly on good forest tracks. it explores the Eastern section of Gwydir Forest with its numerous lakes.

Thursday 14th December 2017.

Burton and Parkgate.

Distance: 8-10 miles. Climb: 500'.

Start: Roadside parking on Denhall Lane next to benches overlooking the marshes. Grid ref: SJ301747.

Leave Chester 9-00 a.m.

The Burton circuit is taken from Jen Darling's book "Walks in West Cheshire and the Wirral". This walk is just 5 miles, but we will extend it. Last time we did this walk trying to find the exact path through Burton Wood to Mill Lane proved to be a challenge, it may be this time too!  
 The extension will involve some road walking through Neston to link up with the Wirral Way and onto Parkgate. The return route will use coastal paths as much as possible and pass Neston Old Quay and Denhall Quay on the way back to Denhall Lane.
There is an option to miss out Parkgate and shorten the walk by about 2 miles and the climb by about 100'.
The 27' / 8.2 m high tide is around  08-15, so we shouldn't have any problem using the coastal path as long as it isn't flooded for other reasons.
 It is possible that we may see Marsh harriers and Hen harriers hunting over the marsh, soit may be worthwhile bringing binoculars with you.

Saturday 16th December 2017.

Deganwy Castle and the Great Orme. 
Postponed.

Distance:10 miles; Climb:1900'.

Start:Roadside parking near the Public Conveniences on the West shore of Llandudno. Grid ref:SH773819.

Leave Chester 9-00 a.m.

The main walk today is the Deganwy Castle walk taken from Dave Berry's book "Walks on the North Wales Coast". Sections of this walk have been known to be muddy in the past.

The extension to the walk , after returning to the car, will involve most of the circuit of the limestone plateau on the Great Orme, including a visit to the trig point and descent via the Monks' path to the toll road. There are plenty of options to shorten the walk if required.

Thursday 21st December 2017. 
The original walk has been changed. 
The New Walk is described below

Ysceifiog-Caerwys and More.
This will be our last walk on a Thursday before our switch to a Wednesday.
Last we sampled the fruit cake that I made a couple of months ago, but there is still enough left, so I will be bringing some again this week. 
Make sure you let me know that you are coming so that I know how many pieces of cake to bring.

Distance: 8 miles. Climb: 1500'.

Start: Ysceifiog, park adjacent to the children's play area. Grid ref: SJ152715.

Leave Chester 9-00 a.m.

  in view of the considerable amount of rain/snow we have had recently, I have decided to change the walk as in the past we have found the original walk to be very muddy where cattle have been grazing.
 This new walk is based on a walk taken from the Liverpool daily Post around 1955 and is described as a ramble exploring woodland scenery, sylvan paths and pretty lanes. Our walk start at the tranquil village of Ysceifiog and heads for the interesting small town of Caerwys.
 The described walk is linear a it assumes that people are using buses, so we will complete the walk by exploring paths and lanes on the South side of A541.
 Much of this walk attempts to avoid the mud, by using quite lanes, but if we feel we the urge to slip and slide across muddy fields there are plenty of opportunities if we so wish!

Saturday 23rd December 2017.

No walk.