Walks and Dates January 2018

Happy New Year
Hopefully we will be able to experience many great walks together.
Harris Hikers Annual Meal 2018.
Date: Wednesday 7th February 2018.
I have been to the Red Fox and booked our Annual Meal.
I have booked the meal for 13-00.
Venue: The Red Fox, Thornton Hough. 
The Red Fox is on the B5136, Liverpool Road, heading East from the A540 towards Thoughton Hough. Approximate post code CH64 7TL
This is another Brunning and Price hostelry.
The Red Fox is about 18 miles from Chester and will take about 25 minutes to get there.
The Red Fox publish a 5 mile walk (see their web site for details), which those wishing to walk will complete before the meal. 
If the walkers leave Chester at 09-00, and meet at the Red Fox by about 09-40, we should be able to complete the walk by 12-30.
Those coming just for the meal should aim to arrive at the Red Fox between 12-30 and 12-45.
Hopefully we can then all be in our place by 13-00.
The largest group that the The Red Fox can cater for around one table is 16, so it probably means that we will have have to be split into two smaller table arrangement as 20 people have already signed up and there may be more to come. 
Monday 1st January 2018

A West Kirby Round.

Distance: 5 (Missing out Grange Hill) or 5.6 miles (Including Grange Hill). 
Climb: 100 (Missing out Grange Hill) or 250' (Including Grange Hill).
Start. South Parade, West Kirby. Grid ref: SJ214860. Park near the Life Boat Station and old Baths, towards the Southern end of the Marine Lake.
Leave Chester 09-30 a.m.
I know that we usually have a short walk on New Years Day, but this year this is a Sunday and some of the group have more important commitments on that day! After discussion with many of the group it was decided that the better day for the walk would be the Monday.
 High tide (30.9'/9.4m) at Hilbre is at 11-54, so trip to Hilbre isn't really an option, so I thought walking along the beach to Red Rocks as the tide came in would be the best choice.
 We will start the walk by going around the Marine Lake before heading across the sands to Red Rocks. The route will take us through the Royal Liverpool Golf Course and along the edge of Hoylake Municipal Golf Course before heading uphill to the War Memorial on Grange Hill. The planned route then heads down hill to the main road (A540). After crossing the road we turn right towards West Kirby centre and eventually picking up the Wirral Way through Ashton Park. After going round the lakes in Ashton Park we exit the park on the West side and follow the roads through the houses down to South Parade and back to the car.
 Fortified fruit cake will be provided, so please let me know if you intend to walk so that I know how many pieces to bring.

Wednesday 3rd January 2018

A Frodsham Round

Distance: 8.5 miles. Climb: 1100'.
Start: Frodsham car park (turn left by the Helter Skelter on B5152. Grid ref: SJ518778. Park at the far end.
Leave Chester 09-00 a.m.
This is the first of our Wednesday walks. Hopefully a few of the group will be able to make it as Phil is hoping to join us.
 Fruit cake will be provided, so it would be helpful, if you let me would let me know that intend to go on the walk.
 This walk is part of the Sandstone Trail walk that we last did in 2012, but that walk was nearly 12 miles, so I have adapted it to include part of a walk that appeared in the Liverpool Daily Post around 1955.
The the walk starts with a climb out of Frodsham to the memorial on Overton Hill which on a clear day gives superb views over Frodsham Marshes towards Liverpool.
 The next section follows a delightful section of the Sandstone Trail towards Woodhouse Hill with some of its ramparts intact. We may wish to explore the hillfort, but that can be decided that on the day when we arrive at the access point to the monument.
 The walk then heads South along the west side of Snidley Moor before turning East along the Ridgeway.
 After a short section of road walking, we will pick up the Eddisbury Way which is followed Northwards past Peel Hall and Hatley Farm to Bradley on the outskirts of Frodsham. Just North of Bradley we will leave the Eddisbury Way on a path that takes us into Frodsham.  The last part of the walk will involve weaving our way through the streets back to the car park.
 The return section from just outside Kingsley goes through a lot of farm land, so I anticipate that at this time of the year it could be muddy - gaiters might be a good option!

Saturday 6th January 2018.

A Llandulas Adventure Revisited.

Distance: 7-8 miles. Climb: 1200'.

Start Llanddulas Beach Car Park at the end of Station Road/Beach Road. Grid ref: SH906786

Leave Chester at 08-30 a.m.

 The route from Llanddulas is essentially South along the Afon Dulas Valley, heading for Cefn Fran Farm.
The last time we did this walk in July 2015 we encountered difficulties locating the route through the farm and fields heading North. Hopefully by now the farmer will have put up the  posts and footpath signs as he said he would when I saw him at a Farmers Market a couple of weeks later. Remembering that Mike took nearly half an hour with secateurs to cut the vegetation away around the stile so that we could cross the stile onto the road, I will make sure that I take my secateurs with me just in case they are needed again. Hopefully they won't and we can also use footpaths and stiles without hindrance as far as Llysfaen where we can pick up the North Wales Path back to the cars.

Wednesday 10th January 2018.

Rhosesmor, Sychdyn and Northop.

Distance: 9.0 miles. Climb: 1000'.

Start: Parking area next to playground, Rhosesmor. Grid ref: SJ214681.

Leave Chester at 09-00 a.m.

This walk includes the "Northop - Sychdyn" walk from the booklet "Rural Walks in Flintshire". The "Northop - Sychdyn" walk starts from Northop and is only five miles. The car park in Northop is very small, and when I went on a reccy it was full. Starting at Rhosesmor overcomes that problem and extends the walk by four miles.

The "Northop - Sychdyn" walk is described as including a traveller's resting place, grand houses, parkland and woodland. It is also described as a moderate walk with many stiles and some boggy places.

The "Northop - Sychdyn" walk was new us when we did it for the first time last year.

 The link-up paths from Rhosesmor include many of the paths that we have used on Gwystaney walks from the same parking area.

Saturday 13th January 2018.

Pincyn Llys from Bontuchel.

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 hasn't always been a favourite walk for the group, but I do like to include it now and again. It is five years since we last did this walk.

Wednesday 17th January 2018.

A Flint, Little London and Pentre Halkyn Round.

Distance: 9 miles. Climb: 1000'.
Flint Castle Car park adjacent to the Lifeboat Station. Grid ref: SJ247732.
Leave Chester at 09-00 a.m.
 This walk is one that has been adapted from a walk published in the Liverpool Daily Post in 1955. Much of the walk is along country roads and quiet lanes, especially around Flint. Much of the walk will be familiar to most of us, but some sections will be new too. At times we will get extensive views across the Dee estuary, especially from the highest part of the walk near Pentre Halkyn.

Saturday 20th January 2018.

Prestatyn, Talacre and The Point of Ayr. 
Postponed due to bad weather.

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. (Leaving at 08-30 a.m. for Saturday Walk) You will need to go into the hotel to purchase a car park ticket.

This is a walk that is usually done in June, but this time is alos a good time. Hopefully we will be able to walk along the beach as the tide comes in.

High tide is at about 12-45, and is about 9.1 m/29.1',  doing the beach route first may not be possible, although we should be able to walk along the top of the dunes. If not, we an always  go through the Golf Course, Caravan Park and The Warren Nature Reserve on the way to Talacre and the Point of Air, and return along the beach. 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. 

Wednesday 24th January 2018.

Leasowe Lighthouse to New Brighton.


Distance: 9-10 miles. Climb: 200'.



Start: North Wirral Coastal Park car park. Grid ref: SJ257915.



To get to this car park, instead of turning left towards the lighthouse, as the A551 turns right onto Leasowe Road, go straight on (past PC block on right and cafe/snack hut on left). This car park has a good tarmac surface.

Leave Chester at 09-00 a.m.



This is a walk along the beach to Perch Rock Fort, assuming that the water on the incoming tide is low enough. It should be, High tide is at about 11-59, 8.4 m, 27'. This is quite a low tide, so it should be no problem walking along the beach to Perch Fort Rock. From Perch Fort Rock, we will continue onto Vale Royal Park (where we in the past we have had lunch) and onto Wallasey Gardens. Hopefully the weather will be a little less windy than last recent years, but if it is there is always the Wind Shelters by the Marine lake to sit in as we have lunch.



Hopefully there will be plenty of birds to see, so bring binoculars with if you have any.

Saturday 27th January 2018.

Traeth Lafan and Its Foothills
Postponed.
The walk today is the walk posted on the 20th January.See above for details.

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

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

This walk taken from Dave Berry's book "Walks On the North Wales Coast". The Traeth Lafan and it Foothills. This 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.  You never know we may get some  snow, this time too. 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 time we may investigate a new path that avoids a path that goes through a farm yard near The Spinnies, a very unpleasant smelly muddy experience even in July when Ed and I last did the walk!

 High tide is at about 19-15 and is about 8.1 m (26.7'), so the coastal birds may be a little far off.

Wednesday 31st January 2018.

Rhuddlan L.N.R ., the Rhuddlan to Rhyl Riverside Walk with possible extensions to the Brickworks Pool N.R. and the Forydd.

Distance: 8 -11 miles. Climb: 200'.

Start: Park at the Rhuddlan L.N.R. car park. Grid ref: SJ020776. 

The car park is on the Western side of Rhuddlan. To get to the car park, from the A55, turn right on to the A525 (St. Asaph Road towards Rhyl and Rhuddlan), at the next roundabout take the 3rd exit onto Station Road (to Rhuddlan centre / Castle). The car park is on the right, opposite a new hotel. If you get to the bridge over the river you've gone too far!

This walk is an annual favourite, at least for those that like to do as little birdwatching as well. It is a good time of the year as there are lots of Winter visitors that frequent coastal areas and river estuaries. Bring binoculars with you.  Last time we had lunch by the Marine Lake, near the Foryd.  We have also had lunch on the beach at the Foryd. Although we didn't see Snow buntings on the Foryd last year, with a bit of luck we may see them this year. 

High tide at the Foryd is at 10-30, 9.6 m / 31.5'.

Last year we didn't do any of the extensions!  Extension, if any will  be taken at each appropriate point in the walk on the day.