Walks and Dates April 2018

Update 24th April 2018

As the Bluebells look as though they will be flowering later this year the walks planned for Wednesday 18th April, Saturday 21st April and Wednesday 25th April will be moved to May.
Replacement Walks for these dates in April have been posted and are to be found below the originally planned walk.

Wednesday 4th April 2018
Helsby and Frodsham Hills.

Distance: 7-8 miles. Climb; 1500'.
Start: Helsby Quarry Woodland Car Park. Grid ref: SJ490750
Leave Chester at 09-00 a.m.
This walk is taken from the book "Pathfinder Guide to Cheshire". Much of it we have done before when following walks on the Sandstone Trail. However part of the walk around Helsby Hill is new to me and it is the first time that we have started from this car park. On a clear day, the views across the estuary is superb. The walk is described as being energetic. As the walk is a little shorter than usual, we may wish to explore the Woodhouse Hill fort a little more.

Saturday 7th April 2018.

Big Low, Berristall Vale and the Saddle of Kerridge.
Postponed - weather forecast only fit for ducks all day!

Distance: 8-9 miles; Climb: 2000'
Start: The Adlington Street car park Grid ref: SJ931782.
Leave Chester 8-00 a.m. and meet in the car park.
This is another walk that combines two walks from Graham Beech's book "East Cheshire Walks". He describes the walks as moderate to strenuous and includes some of the most scenic surroundings around Bollington. We have already strolled along Kerridge Hill and can vouch for that part of the walk.
After walk drinks will be in the Vale Inn, a hostelry that impressed us on earlier visits.

Wednesday 11th April 2018.

Melin-y-Wig and Derwen.

Distance: 8.2 miles. Climb: 950' .

Start: Boncyn Foel-bach Forest Car Park Grid ref: SJ055520. This is on the B5105 Ruthin to Clawdd Newydd road.
Leave Chester at 09-00.

This walk is taken from Lorna Jenner's book "Walks in the Vale of Clwyd".  We last did this walk in February 2016 and I enjoyed it then. I thought that it would be good to do it again, but in a different season. It is described as being a varied walk through forest, quiet lanes, including one that was used on a pilgrims' route and an attractive riverside path.

 Part of the route, particularly sections of the riverside path have in the past been rather boggy (Remembered from it being on walks starting from Melin-y-Wig). The section through the forest can be boggy too. The final section involves climbing out of the valley up to the car park - not the most ideal way to end a walk, but it isn't that steep.

Saturday 14th April 2018.

Wem  Walks - By the Bridges to Soulton Hall.
Postponed- Billy no mates again!

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 18th April 2018.

Coed Pen-y-Gelli and More.
This walk has been moved to Wednesday 9th May when hopefully there will be  a better chance of seeing Bluebells.

Distance:9-10 miles. Climb:700’.

Start: Roadside parking at Lloc. If approaching from Holywell on the A5026, turn left by the public house (now a private house) into St Asaph Road. Park in left. If approaching on the A5026 from its nearest junction with the A55 (Prestatyn junction), Turn right in front of the public house (now a private house) into St Asaph Road. This is just after the the Pant Y Wacco sign and the road starts to bear left. St Asaph Road is one way and can only be approached from then A5026.
Grid ref:SJ145765.
Leave Chester at 09-00 a.m.

This is a annual Bluebell Wood Walk, and is effectively a figure of eight walk based on Lloc. This walk combines two walks from Dave Berry’s book “ Walks Around Holywell and Halkyn Mountain”.  The walk will probably will be near to 10 miles as we will only complete a small section of the usual Gorsedd Round. 
 This is nearly a month earlier than last year, so hopefully we will catch more of the Bluebells in flower.

Replacement Walk.

Golden Grove Sea Views, Coed Bell and Voelnant.

Distance: 8.5 miles. Climb: 1700'.
Start: Llanasa. Car park opposite church. Grid ref: SJ106814.
Leasve Chester at 09-00 a.m.
This walk has been adapted from walks found in Dave berry's booklets "More Walks in the Clwydian Hills" and "Wals on the North Wales Coast".
 One walk is described as an exhilarating walk with contrasting views of coast, sea, estuary, hills and mountains. The other walk explores the Northern end of the Clwydian Hills and includes part of the Offa's Dyke Footpath through the Prestatyn Hillside Nature Reserve

Saturday 21st April 2018.

Bluebell Woods Around Parbold. 
This walk has been moved to Saturday 19th May when hopefully there will be  a better chance of seeing Bluebells.
At this time I anticipate that all of the usual Saturday walkers won't be able to walk, so a replacement walk will be provided on request.

Distance: 10 miles. Climb: 800'.

Start: Hunter's Hill Quarry Nature Reserve on Bannister Lane WN6 9QD. Grid ref: SD503123
It is 48 miles from Saltney, so should be a little less from Chester and should take just over an hour to get there.

Leave Chester at 08-30 a.m.

This walk is a walk that we have done for the last three years, and each time the Bluebell have been superb. This walk is on the East of Parbold, and visits up to ten different woods, This is nearly three weeks earlier than we have done on the past, so hopefully the Bluebells on show.  The walk also includes part of the Leeds - Liverpool Canal as far as Appley Bridge. This is a walk that we have done a few times now.    Last time the Bluebells and wild garlic in Fairy Glen were quite stunning.  In the past we have seen Brown hares, so hopefully we will today too. Bring binoculars with you just in case. There is no description, just the OS map.

Wednesday 25th April 2018.

Maen Achwfan, Llyn Helyg, Crown Bach and Coed Pen-y-Gelli.
This walk has been moved to Wednesday 16th May when hopefully there will be  a better chance of seeing Bluebells.

Distance:9-10 miles. Climb:1000’.

Start:Roadside parking opposite the church in Whitford. Grid ref:SJ147782.

Leave Chester 9-00 a.m.

This is a Bluebell Woods walk we first did in 2011.

The walk starts off by using one of the walks in Dave Berry’s book “ Walks Around Holywell and Halkyn Mountain. We have completed this one several times, including visiting the beautifully carved Maen Achwfan.  However this time we include exploring two new woods, Glol and Llyn Helyg woods.  Hopefully we will return through Crown Bach woods to Lloc and then return to Whitford via Twll Bach.

Replacement walk.
Ysceifio-Lixwm-Nannerch.

Distance: 9 -10 miles. Climb: 1400'.

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

Leave Chester 9-00a.m.

This walk combines two walks from Dave Berry's book "Walks Around Holywell and Halkyn Mountains".  This walk explores the area around Ysceifiog using field paths, woodland paths and bridleways.  The walk also explores the countryside between the Wheeler Valley and Lixwm.

Saturday 28th April 2018.

Llyn Caer Euni from Llanderfel.
Postponed - no one available to walk.

Distance: 9 -10 miles. Climb:1600’

Start: Roadside parking on B4402 North of the War memorial near an old chapel in the village of Llanderfel. Grid ref: SH982369

Leave Chester 8-15 a.m.

The described part of the walk is taken from Dave Berry’s book “Walks Around Y Bala and Penllyn”. This is only a 5 mile walk, but the extra miles is linking the start of the walk in Sarnau with Llanderfel, using different paths on the outward and return journeys.

The outward route will include using a path through the Nature Reserve Cors y Sarnau. There is a good chance of seeing Red kites in this area, so bring binoculars with you if you have them.