Around The Little Orme and Bryn Euryn 31st March 2018

The Little Orme as we set off from Craig-y-Don.

The tramway that we were happy to miss out today.

Porth Dyniewaid Quarry.

At Porth Dyniewaid.

Porth Dyniewaid - where have all the seals gone, out to sea every one!

Looking towards Penrhyn Bay - rain spot on the lens!

That's why we didn't walk along the beach!

Early lunch at Llys Euryn.

Daffodils on the roadside leading to the village of Glanwydden.

The Great Orme as we headed  for Craig-y-Don at the end of the walk.

Walk stats: Distance: 7.9 miles. Climb: 790'.

Time: 3 hours 55 minutes. On the move walking average: 2.4 m.p.h. (2.6 m.p.h. on the newest GPS) Overall walk average: 2.0 m.p.h.

Group: Martyn, Roger and Ed.

This wasn't a classic walk, but a walk in defiance of the weather forecast, a forecast that led to us abandoning our planned Bala walk in the hope that this area would give us a better chance of a walk in which we wouldn't get soaked. Thankfully it did, although the strong Northerly wind did make us choose a route avoiding any tops, so no trig points today!
 Usualy we climb to the top of Little Orme Head, but today we walked around the  South side to approach Porth Dyniewaid through the quarry on the South east.
 No seals today as they have long returned out to sea, but the waves crashing on the rocks/beach at Porth Dyniewaid, this wasn't a place for any living thing to be sheltering by choice.
 The tide was well in and any idea of walking long the beach across Penrhyn Bay was out of the question.
 In fact we had to walk on the South side of the Penrhyn Road to avoid getting wet by the waves crashing over the top of the walled sea defences.
 After a climb from the coast, we arrived at Llys Euryn, and decided this was the best place for lunch, even though it was a little early.
 After following the path around the North side of Bryn Euryn past Colwyn Bay Rugby Club, the rest of our walk was along mainly country lanes, but we didn't mind at least our boots wouldn't get muddy!
 The climb up Derwen Lane through Penrhyn Side was longer and steeper than we would have liked towards the end of a walk, but otherwise it is a route that may be repeated in the future, especially if we are trying to avoid paths with known problems.
 We arrived back at the cars, having had a good walk with very little rain, except for the few spots during the first hour or so.
 Birds seen or heard today included: Carrion crow, Jackdaw, Rook, Oystercatcher, Herring gull, Blue tit, Great tit, Common blackbird, Winter wren, Dunnock, House sparrow, Moorhen and Goldfinch.
 After walk drinks were enjoyed by some at the Britannia Inn at Halkyn, where the Lees Bitter was in excellent condition. It was good to see the Brit busy with diners as well as though that enjoy Lees brews.

Walks and Dates March 2018

Updated 7th March 2018.

Saturday 3rd March 2018

Wem  Walks - By the Bridges to Soulton Hall.
Postponed - heavy snow forecast for Shropshire on Thursday and Friday, so I anticipate road conditions getting to Wem would be difficult.

Distance: 8 miles. Climb: 130'.
Start: Wem Centre Car park. SJ524289.
Leave Chester 8-30 a.m.
This is another of a series of walks from Wem and is the first time that we have walked in this area of Shropshire.
The walk starts by heading North and includes par of the Shropshire Way, eventually arriving at Edstaston. The walk description suggests that it is worthwhile visiting the Norman church of St Mary the Virgin. After visiting the church heads east and then South through farmland and involves crossing many stiles. Soulton Hall is reached, a majestic 17th century manor house.
 The last part of the walk, heading West back to Wem is largely on quiet country lanes.

Wednesday 7th March 2018.

Barber Hill, Vivod Estate and the Horseshoe Falls.

Distance:10 miles.

Climb: 2000'
Start: Llantysilio Green car park. Grid ref: SJ198433

Leave Chester 9-00 a.m.
This walk combines two walks taken from Dave Berry's book "Walks Around Llangollen and the Dee Valley".  This can be a glorious walk, if the weather is good.
 We usually start this walk in the centre of Llangollen, but I thought this would be a good place to start. It's probably a little late, but with a bit of look the Snowdrops in Llantysilio Green churchyard will still be in flower.

Saturday 10th March 2018.

The Sandstone Trail - Beeston and Peckforton.
Postponed, bad weather forecast and no takers!

Distance: 10 miles. Climb: 1000'.
Start: Pay and display car park at Beeston Castle. Grid ref: SJ540591. The Pay and Display machine only starts at 10-00.
Leave Chester at 09-00 a.m.
The first time that we did this walk, it was the fourth in our walks along the Sandstone trail. It involves Walk 6 and Walk 7 from Carl Rogers' book "Circular Walks on the Sandstone Trail".
This is another good section of the trail and has a good variety of terrains to enjoy. I thought it was time to give another airing! Usually a mid-week walk, I thought it would be worthwhile to do it on a Saturday for a change

Wednesday14th March 2018.

Penycloddiau and Moel Arthur. 
Postponed - this walk will be replaced by the walk originally planned for the 28th February.
See below for details on the Limestone, Lead and More walk. 

Distance: 9-10 miles. Climb: 1500'.
Start: Llangwyfan Forestry car park: SJ138668
Leave Chester 09-00 a.m.
This walk combines two walks taken from Dave Berry's book "Walks in the Clwydian Hills".  This area of the Clwydians has so much to offer, and Moel Arthur and Penycloddiau are particularly good.  On a good day the views from both hill forts is superb.

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 and 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 Ffagnallt 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 some areas of the Brit, so clean footwear requested!

Saturday 17th March 2018.

Moel y Garneddd.

Postponed due to a forecast giving high winds and a feel like temperature of - 7 Celsius. This coupled with me not feeling 100% made the decision not to walk easy.
This walk will now replace the walk originally planned for the 31st March 2018

Distance: 7-8 miles.

Climb: 1200'.

Start: Fronfeuno Snowdonia National Park Lakeside Car park Grid ref: SH917351.

Leave Chester 08-30 a.m.

This walk is taken from Dave Berry's booklet "Walks Around Y Bala and Penllyn". The walk explores the undulating countryside West of Bala. The route follows a a bridleway up to moorland, eventually crossing Moel y Garneddd at a height f 1170'. We can expect to see superb views as we cross the open moorland. The return route goes through attractive woodland. This is a walk for experienced walkers only and should not be attempted in poor visibility. Careful navigation is required.

Wednesday 21st March 2018.

Hawarden and its Environs.

8-9 miles. Climb: 680'.
Start: Tinkersdale Public Car Park, Hawarden. Grid ref: SJ316657.
Leave Chester 09-00 a.m.
This is a figure of eight walk starting in the centre of Hawarden. The last time we started a walk from this car park, was on the maiden flight of the A380 when it buzzed us as it flew low over Hawarden Airport. The first part of the walk expliores the area South of the village, and includes part of Hawarden Park. This walk is taken from the booklet "Rural Walks in Flintshire". At some stage on the walk we may wish to explore the castle grounds, possibly before we set off extension part of the walk. The extension part of the walk explores the countryside North west of the village along country lanes and field paths. Although I know this area quite well, having gone to school in Hawarden and played football for two teams based in the village, we will be exploring places that I haven't been to before.

Saturday 24th March 2018.

Wem to Clive and Grinshill.

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 only the second time that the group has walked in this area of Shropshire. It is always good to explore new area.

Wednesday 28th March 2018.

Moel Famau, Moel Dywyll and Moel Llys-y-coed.

Distance: 7-8 miles. Climb: 1800'.
Start: Car park area West of Cilcain. Grid ref: SJ170652.
To get to the parking area, at the crossroads in Cilcain turn right (Westward), past the White Horse, Church and Village hall, at the end of a few houses on the right turn, left and the parking area is a few hundred yards further on on the right. 
This walk includes three hills along Offa's Dyke Footpath - Moel Famau, Moel Dywyll and Moel Llys-y-coed. The latter hill is not one of my favourite hills in the Clwydian range and I can't remember when it last appeared on one of our walks. It is the ascent from North to South that I dislike so much, the fact that we will be descending from South to North shouldn't be quite so bad!
 On a good clear day we should get excellent views in all directions.

 Saturday 31st March 2018.

Caer, Gai, Cwm Dyfrydwy with an extension over Garth Fawr.
Postponed.
This walk has now been replaced by a Little Orme.

Distance: 9.1 miles. Climb: 1100'.
Start: Roadside parking in Llanuwchllyn on B4403. Park opposite the PC and chapel. Grid ref: SH875302.
This walk combines two walks from Dave Berry's booklet "Walks Around Y Bala and Penllyn". One walk is described as a fascinating walk featuring a Roman fort and historic houses and the other explores both sides of the Dyfrdwy Valley. The optional extension explores the countryside South of Llanuwchllyn, climbing to open moorland around Garth Fawr at a height of 1079'. It returns along the Western side of the Afon Twrch (Cwm Cynllwyd).

Cilcain, Moel Ffrith, Moel Famau, Moel Dywyll and Moel Llys-coed 28th March 2018

All times on photos are GMT - forgot to change the time on my camera!

Lambs in the opposite our start point.

Looking over Fron towards Moel Famau from our start point.

View of Moel amau from the edge of Cilcain.

Primrose flowering by the track we shouldn't have been on.

Decision time Moel Famau or a muddy path?

Moel Famau won - this is our lunch spot.

Attempting the bag technique - and it worked!

On Offa's Dyke Footpath heading for Moel Llys-y-coed.

The normal descent of Moel Llys-y-coed till filled by a snow drift.

Is this the final view of Moel Famau just before getting back to the cars?

The last View of Moel Famau from our start taken at 18-25 BST.

Walk stats: Distance: 8.4 miles, (9.5 miles for me), Climb: 1884'.
Time: 5 house 4 minutes. On the move walking average: 2.1 m.p.h. Overall walk average: 1.7 m.p.h.
On the move walking average on my newest GPS : 2.5 m.p.h. (after lunch only).
Group: Martyn, Sue Pelissier, Mike, Jim, LeRoi and Mal.
 If you believed the weather forecast given on Tuesday, you would have stayed at home. Thankfully six of us didn't and enjoyed a really good walk in what you could say was variable weather conditions including warm sunshine, hail, snow, drizzle, but very little wind. Most of the walk was completed without any precipitation falling.
 Our only problem was a farmer and son who were a little stroppy when we went up the track to the farm when we missed the sign for the footpath.
 Arriving at Moel Famau, we sheltered on the South side while we had our lunch as it had just started to snow.
 As we headed along the Offa's Dyke Footpath towards Moel Arthur, the Vale of Clwyd was bathed in sunshine - this was probably our best views of the day, although w did get good views of Moel Arthur as we descended Moel Llys-y-coed.
 We arrived back at the cars, having had a good walk and feeling better for it.
 Birds seen or heard today included: Common chaffinch, Great tit, Raven, Jackdaw, Rook, Common pheasant, Carrion crow, Black-billed magpie and Common buzzard.
 After walk drinks were enjoyed at the Britannia Inn at Halkyn, where the Lees Bitter tasted particularly good, one dissenter had a Guinness and the Latte coffee looked good.
 Arriving home, I found that I had lost one of my gloves, not one three really and decided to return to the start to see if I could find it. It wasn't there, so I decided to walk up the road as far as the riding farm, as I remembered stopping a couple of times. It wasn't at the spot where I took the last view of Moel Famau, but it was where I had stopped just before. A time to rejoice over not one lost glove being found, but three!  The moral of the story is to always check your pockets after investigating a happy bush!

Wem, Grinshill, Clive and tilley 24th March 2018

The first of the Yellowhammers seen today.

On one of the better field paths.

The second sighting of Yellowhammers.

Standing on the corner waiting for ....

The entrance to Clive.

View from our lunch spot in Corbet Wood on Grinshill Hill

Our lunch spot.

At the toposcope on The Cliff, Grinshill Hill.

At the trig point on The Cliff, Grinshill Hill.

On The Cliff, Grinshill Hill.

The parish church at Clive.

Never miss an opportunity!

The Manor at Tilley.

Walk stats: Distance: 9.3 miles. Climb: 489'.

Time: 5 hours 8 minutes. On the move walking average: 2.3 m.p.h. (2.7 m.p.h. on the newest GPS). Overall walk average: 1.9 m.p.h.

Group: Martyn, Roger, Mike sand Celia.

Weather wise this was a good day for walking, pleasantly warm at times, no rain and a little sunshine.

 Crossing farm fields is never that exciting, but at least today we had the delight of seeing and hearing Yellowhammers and Skylarks. This is the first time that I have seen Yellowhammers for quite some time.

 We arrived at Clive just about at mid-day, and headed for Corbet Wood where we noticed a picnic site was located on the OS map.

 This turned pout to be a good choice where four large stones made perfect perches as we had lunch, at the same time enjoying views through the trees to the village of Grinshill below.

 After lunch we set off downhill on a path that took us through the old quarry, an interesting place to explore had we the time to do so.

 At Clive we visited the local parish church, where one of the local parishioners gave us a brief history of the church and its links with the Bibby family as well as telling us about recent restorations that had been made.

 Our afternoon trek started well, but soon turned to a trudge across a very muddy-clay field, that did very well at sticking to our boots.

 This dampened our enthusiasm a little and we completed the walk by opting for a longer stretch on the B5476, but including walking through the delightful village of Tilley with its many old black and white timbered buildings. Tilley was a bonus that had we kept to the planned walk we would have missed completely.

 Birds seen or heard today included: House sparrow, Jackdaw, Woodpigeon, Collared dove, Blue tit, Great tit, European robin, Common blackbird, Great spotted woodpecker, Wood nuthatch, Goldfinch, Common buzzard, Common pheasant, Skylark, Mallard, Bullfinch, Winter wren and Yellowhammer.

 This had been a low level walk that had challenged our leg muscles more than we expected - possible a dry Summer day after a period of no rain would have made our experience of certain places a little better.

 After wealk drinks were enjoyed at the Horse and Jockey at Grindley Brook, where Weetwood's Cheshire cat and Ruddles Best were two of the beers sampled from the six that were on offer.

 Believe or not we were even home in time to watch the Boat Race if we so wished!

Hawarden and its Environs 21st March 2018

On the path near Hawarden Golf Course.

Looking towards the Cheshire Plain from the Stoney Hill Footbridge over the A55.

Daffodils on the North side of the Old Warren Road.

Looking over Airbus from Cherry Orchard Road.

At least they knew we were coming!

Beluga approaching over Bacon.

Beluga landed at Hawarden Airport.

First glimpses of the old Hawarden  Castle.

Lunch in the woods in Hawarden Park.

Lunch over, time for the extension!

The gate into Hawarden Park.

The tower of the Old Hawarden Castle.

Celandine in flower.

Is one of these trees St. Deiniol's Ash? 

Apparently not - it was a house!

Walk stats: Distance: 9.3 miles. Climb: 820'.

Time: 4 hours 45 minutes. On the move walking average: 2.4 m.p.h. (2.7 m.p.h. on my newest GPS). Overall walk average: 1.9 m.p.h.

Group: Martyn, Jim, Mal, Ed, Mike, Celia, Wendy and David S.

This turned out to be a good day for walking, pleasantly warm when we were in the sunshine, but rather cool when the Sun disappeared behind the clouds. Thankfully that didn't happen often.This was a day when flowering Daffodils  seemed to be the dominant flower on show, but there were good banks of Celandine too.

 Our route didn't take us to any great height, but we did get some good views from Cherry Orchard Road, especially towards the Cheshire Plain and the Airbus Factory.

 We were lucky to see the Beluga 4 as it came into land at Hawarden Airport.

 Lunch was taken in the woods in Harwarden Park, just before the old corn mill, where fallen trees made suitable perches.

 After lunch we set off on the extension part of the walk and did a short loop in the grounds of Hawarden Park, taking us a little nearer to the site of the old Castle.

 It was in these grounds that we lucky enough to see a Green woodpecker, the first that I have seen for some time.

 The rest of the extension was somewhat contrived, bu at least it did exercise our legs for a little longer, and surprisingly it wasn't as muddy as I expected it to be.

 The last part of our walk went close to St. Deinliol's Ash, but I don't think we saw it or even knew what we were looking for!

 The last climb of the day was up the steep path through the church yard at Hawarden and on past the Old Gladstone Library and back to the start.

 Birds seen or heard today included: House sparrow, Black-billed magpie, Jackdaw, Carrion crow, Wood nuthatch, Common pheasant, Common buzzard, Common blackbird, Great tit, Mallard, Canada goose and Woodpigeon.

 After walk drinks were enjoyed at the Fox and Grapes in Hawarden, where Weetwoods Cheshire Cat was sampled by most of us, although Ringwood's Razor Back had some takers.

A Different Limestone, Lead and More 14th March 2018

The Othr-y-foel lime kiln, South of Moel y Gaer Hill fort.

Moel Fammau, just in cloud.

Lunch time, West of Pant-y-pwll quarry.

Moel-y-gaer Hill Fort South of Pant-y-pwll quarry.

On a path that we didn't expect to be on, trying to get back on track!

Lime klns on the West side of Bryn Mawr Quarry - nearly back on track.

A new name for the Bryn Mawr Quarry.

At the trig point on Halkyn Mountain.

Heading for the twin masts at Catch.

Nearly there - well not really!

Walk stats: Distance: 10.7 miles. Climb: 2048' wind assisted on the GPS but in reality nearer to 1000'.

Time: 5 hours 29 minutes. On the move walking average: 2.3 m.p.h. (New GPS gave on the move walking average  + 2.7 m.p.h.) Overall walk average: 1.9 m.p.h.

Group: Martyn, Roger, Ed, Celia, Fran and Mike.

Arriving at the start it didn't take us long to realise that the feel like temperature was going to be just above zero and we set off with hats, gloves worn by everyone. Thankfully it did didn't rain, and on much of the walk we were shielded from the cold wind.

 Views today weren't that clear, with low cloud lying over Moel Famau and the Clwydian Hills.

 In the morning route finding was OK and we arrived at our lunch spot just after mid-day, finding a suitable bank on which to sit on the West side of Pant-y-pwll quarry.

 Our route finding/map reading skills went down hill after lunch and we strayed of course and ended up on the North west side of the Bryn Mawr Quarry that resulted in the walk being extended by nearly 2 miles.

 As we approached the lime kilns near the Bryn-mawr quarry, we met a guy looking for his drone that the strong wind had blown it off course and out of his control. unfortunately we couldn't help him - our eyes hadn't been lifted to the skies for some time as we quickened our pace to get back on track.

 As we climbed to the trig point on Halkyn Mountain, better views came into view, particularly across the Dee estuary.

  We arrived back at the car, feeling pretty tired, but in a way pleased that we had completed a walk of nearly eleven miles for the first time in 2018. An enjoyable walk for some, dull by others, but tolerated as being good exercise out in the fresh air and at least it didn't rain!

 Birds seen or heard today included: House sparrow, Common blackbird, Carrion crow, Rook, Jackdaw, Common buzzard, Blue tit, Dunnock, Great tit, Meadow pipit, Sparrowhawk, Black-billed magpie, Redwing and Fieldfare. 

After walk drinks were enjoyed at the recently well refurbished Britannia Inn at Halkyn, where the Lees bitter was back to its usual best and went some way to reviving most of the weary ramblers present.