Walks and Dates February 2018

Updated 27th February 2018.

Saturday 3rd February 2018.

Wem to Clive and Grinshill.
Postponed.

Distance: 9-10 miles. Climb: 700'.
Start: Wem centre car park. Grid ref: SJ514289.
Leave Chester 08-30.
This walk is taken from a series of Wem Walks and explores the area to the South of Wem. It follows the Shropshire Way as far as Clive and Grinshill. The walk will include exploring the Corbett Wood and Quarry Trail before climbing to the summit of Grinshill Hill at 192'! The described route is linear and use the bus to return to Wem, but we will make a circular route by following field paths and minor roads. This will be the first time that the group has walked in this area of Shropshire. It is always good to explore new area.

Wednesday 7th February 2018.

Harris Hikers Annual Meal and Walk.

Thornton Hough and Brimstage from the Red Fox.

Distance: 5 miles. Climb: 150'.
Start: The Red Fox, Thornton Hough. Grid ref: SJ298800

   The Red Fox is on the B5136, Liverpool Road, heading East from the A540 towards Thoughton   Hough. Approximate post code CH64 7TL.
 The Red Fox is about 18 miles from Chester and takes about 25 minutes to get there.

Leave Chester 09-00.

As long as we set off before 10-00, we should be back by 12-30, ready to sit down for the meal at 13-00.

The walk is the one that the Red Fox has produced and is available to download if you have the ifootpath app.

 The walk explores the countryside between Thornton Hough and Brimstage and follows sections of pavement, woodland paths and field paths (can be muddy after rain!). There are nine stiles and several kissing gates to negotiate. The route is described as passing several historic halls, manor houses and pretty cottages. 

I suggest that those coming for the meal should aim to arrive at the Red Fox between 12-30 and 12-45.

Saturday 10th February 2018.

Port Penryn, Its Railways and Rivers. 

Postponed - too much rain and wind on the weather forecast.

Distance: 9-10 miles. Climb: 500'.

Start: Car park on the right just before the main road bends left to the centre. The car park is just after the entrance to the port. Grid ref: SH595728.

Leave Chester 8-30 a.m.

This walk is taken from a book by Dave Salter and Dave Worrall called "From Mountain Top to Valley Floor". The described walk explores the hinterland behind Penryn Castle. Last time we explored the grounds of  Penryn Castle. It do not intended to do so this time, but just in case we do, bring your National Trust Membership Card with you if you are a member.


Wednesday 14th February 2018.


The Moor, Greenfield Valley and East of Holywell.

Distance: 9 miles. Climb: 1500'.

Start: Halkyn Street Pay and display car park, Holywell. (opposite the hospital). Grid ref: SJ18957548.

This is a figure of eight walk, combining one walk from Ron Williams and Elfed Jones' booklet " 10 Walks Around Holywell" and one walk from Dave Berry's book " Walks Around Holywell and Halkyn Mountain". The first walk explores the moor and valley to the North of Holywell and the other walk explores the undulating countryside between Holywell and Bagillt.


Saturday 17th February 2018.


Around Bosley Cloud.


Distance: 9-10 miles. Climb:1100'.



Start: Lay-by on the A523, South of its junction with the A54. Grid ref: SJ917657.



Leave Chester at 08-30.



This walk is taken from Jen Darling's book "Best Pub Walks in Cheshire", although we won't take her advice on the local hostelries! The walk takes us to the top of Bosley Cloud with its panoramic views over the Cheshire plain.. After visiting the trig point on Bosley Cloud, the walk heads West to meet up with the Macclesfield Canal, which we follow for an easy four mile stretch.


Wednesday 21st February 2018.



The Sandstone Trail. Primrose Hill And Pale Heights.

Distance: 10-11 miles. Climb:1260' .

Start: Gresty's  Waste car park on the A54. Grid re: SJ540686.

Leave Chester 09-00 a.m.

This is another walk on the Sandstone Trail.The main walk is a  route described in Carl Rogers's book "Circular Walks Along the Sandstone Trail". This includes the section as far as Fishers Green and returns via Utkinton and Primrose Hill Wood.  We will start with the extension that includes a visit the viewpoint on Pale Heights before heading to The Yeld and King's Gate where we pick up the described route.

I will probably reduce this walk so that it is under 10 miles rather than over the 10 miles that we did in March 2016. 

 The shortened walk I have in mind will reduce the overall walk to 8.5 miles and the climb to around 1000'.


Saturday 24th February 2018.



Caer Drewyn, Pen-y-Pigyn and an on to Cynwyd


Distance: 8 miles; Climb:1120'.

Start: Corwen centre car park next to the Public Convenience. Grid Ref: SJ080435.



Leave Chester 08-30 a.m.





This walk combines two walks from Dave Berry's book "Walks Around Llangollen and the Dee Valley".

The first part of the walk climbs South out of Corwen to the viewpoint and mast on Pen-y-Pygyn, where we should get some good views  over the Dee Valley.

 We will probably have lunch near Llangar Church, when we will decide if we want to complete the section towards Cynwyd.

 The visit of Caer Drewyn is described as enchanting and the second walk as being a delightful walk through the wooded hillside above Corwen and concludes with lovely walk alongside the River Dee.

 Lat time we attempted this walk, torrential rain set in just after lunch and we went straght back to the Corwen after having lunch at Llangar Church. Hopefully the weather will be kinder to us this year.

Wednesday 28th February 2018.

Postponed due to extreme weather conditions.





Limestone, Lead and More.


Distance: 9  miles; Climb:1000'.

Start: Common Land opposite the Blue Bell Inn, Halkyn. Grid ref: SJ209702. 

Leave Chester at 09-00 a.m.

We haven't started a walk from this location for quite some time. I thought that it was about time we did so to do so again. This walk has been adapted from several walks that we have done in this area. It includes many paths that we will be familiar to most of us, but also allows us to explore some new ones. Initially the walk heads North an crosses Halkyn Mountain and on towards Pen yr Henblas Quarry. As the path along the West side of Pen-y-Pwll Quarry has now been closed, we will explore a minor road and some new paths past Pwll-melyn that should get us back on Halkyn Mountain South of the closed path. We will also explore some new paths around Moel Ffagnalt and minor roads to the South of Moel-y-crio. After going round Moel y Gaer we head North back to the start.

 It is not intended to visit the toposcope on Moel Ffagnallt or Moel y Gaer, we may do so if the group wish to add a little further climb to the walk.


 After walk drinks will be at the Britannia Inn. New carpets in the Brit, so clean footwear requested!

Sadly this first visit to the Brit after its refurbishment will have to wait.