Walks and Dates May 2018

Update 23rd May 2018

Wednesday 2nd May 2018.

Christleton and the Roman Bridges.

Distance: 8 miles. Climb: 300'.
Start : Car Park near Little Heath Pond. Grid ref: SJ443659
Leave Chester 09-00 a.m.
This walk was in the Country Walking magazine in 2006, and which we did in January 2010 with snow on the ground. This is a low level walk close to home, but is an area that we haven't explored much. we will probably extend the walk a little to include the Roman Bridges named after the way that it was constructed, rather than having anything to do with the Romans. The walk includes field paths, particularly in the area of Hockenhull Platts, but we may choose o avoid the and use country lanes instead.
 The final section of the walk is along the canal from Salmon's Bridge through Waverton to Christleton.

Saturday 5th May 2018.

Pendle Hill – the annual search for Dotterel.

Distance: 8.0 miles. Climb:1900’.

Start: Downham Village Car park. Grid ref: SD785442.

Leave Chester:8-30 a.m.

This is a little shorter than our usual Saturday walks.  The route today is the one in Terry Marsh’s book “Fifty Classic Walks in Lancashire”. He describes it as “undoubtedly the finest ascent of Pendle Hill”. Let’s hope for a good day weather-wise, topped up with good views of  Dotterel as we did a few years ago.  Don’t forget to bring binoculars.

The last few times we have done this walk, the weather hasn't been kind.lets hope the weather is better this year.

Wednesday 9th May 2018.

Coed Pen-y-Gelli and More.

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 one of our annual Bluebell Wood walks. It is a figure of eight walk based on Lloc. he walk includes parts of two walks taken from Dave Berry's booklet " Walks Around Holywell and Halkyn Mountain."

Saturday 12th may 2018.

Pont Rhyd-yr-Hydd.

Distance: 9-10 miles. Climb: 1600'.

Start: Llandrillo riverside car park. Grid ref: SH035371.

Leave Chester 08-30 a.m.

This walk is taken from Dave Berry's booklet " Walks Around the Berwyn Mountains and Ceiriog Valley". It is described as an exhilarating walk exploring the upper Dee Valley between Llandrillo and Cynwyd. The route follows ancient upland trackways, rising to a height of 1600'. Providing the weather is good, we should get some panoramic views from the higher parts of the route. The return route passes through attractive undulating countryside past the 18th century Hendwr.

Wednesday 16th May 2018.

Maen Achwfan, Llyn Helyg, Crown Bach and Coed Pen-y-Gelli.

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.

Saturday 19th May 2018.

Bluebell Woods Around Parbold. 

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, After the"beast from the East" the Bluebells are blooming a little later than expected but hopefully they will be still in flower.  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 23rd May 2018.

Wat's Dyke, Brynford, St., Bueno's Well and St., Winifride's Well and More.

Distance: 8-10 miles. Climb: 1000'.

Start: Halkyn Street Car Park, Holywell. Grid ref: SJ18957548.

Leave Chester at 09-30 a.m.

This is another figure of eight walk made by combining two walks and maybe three walks from Ron Williams and Elfed Jones's booklet "10 walks Around Holywell".

One walk explores the countryside between Holywell and Brynford. The other walks around the Greenfield Valley, will lead us to find the location of St., Bueno's Well, but last time we gave it a miss.

Saturday 26th May 2018.

Cadair Bronwen from Llandrillo. Postponed.

Distance: 10 miles. Climb: 2400'.

Start: Llandrillo riverside car park. Grid ref: SH035371.

Leave Chester 08-30 a.m.

This walk is taken from Dave Berry's booklet " Walks Around the Berwyn Mountains and Ceiriog Valley". The walk is described as a walk for experien ced walkers featuring two ancient passes and Cadair Berwyn, the most Northern peak in the Berwyns. The walk follows an ancient track that leads from the Dee Valley to the Ceiriog Valley. When we  followed this track earlier in the month, we heard a Cuckoo Near Pont-yr-hydd. Last time about a mile after crossing Pont-yr-hydd, we headed North towards Cynwyd, but this time we will continue up hill to Pen Bwlch Llandrillo. At this point the route climbs in stages across open moorland to the summit of Cadair Bronwen. The rout the descends to Bwich Maen Gwynedd where the path into the Chlochnant valley is followed back to Llandrillo.
 On a clear day we should get good views acros the Berwyns and towards the Arrenigs.
Alternative Walk

Deganwy Castle and the Great Orme. 
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.

Wednesday 30th May 2018.

Penycloddiau and Moel Arthur.

Distance: 8-9 miles. Climb: 1200'.

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 are superb.