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When? Started: 1993 Who? Started with staff and friends from U H S, Chester. Organiser: Martyn Harris We walk every Wednesday and Saturdays, New Years day and May Day. How many walk? Walks take place as long as there are at least 2 wanting to walk on that day. More walk on a Wednesday than on a Saturday. Most ever: 29. Current group size walking: 2-7 in mid-week and 2-4 on Saturday. Where do we walk? Saturday: Anywhere in North and Mid-Wales, Peak District, Shropshire and the Long Mynd and as far North as the Trough of Bowland. Thursday: Anywhere within about 40 miles of Chester. Type of walk: Distance: 6 – 14 miles (but usually under 10 miles). Climb: up to 4000’ (but usually very much less!). People involved on walks in 2024:- Martyn Harris, Fran Murphy, Sue and Michel Pelissier, Mike Dodd, David Savage,, Ed Meads, Nigel and Elaine Taylor, Winston Feather.

Saturday, 26 May 2018

Deganwy Castle, The Watchtower and the Great Orme 26th May 2018

Date should be 26th May 2018.
The Great Orme from the Coastal Path to Deganwy.
The Watchtower from the North Wales Golf Course.
Deganwy Castle from the North Wales Golf Course.
At the Watchtower..
The unexpected side of the Watchtower.
St. Hiliary's Church at Llanrhos.
St.Mary's Well, Llanrhos.
Approaching Deganwy Castle.
Part of Deganwy Castle.
Looking towards Conwy beyond the replaced wind shelter.
On the Monk's path to the Greart Orme.
The Monk's Path descending to the West Shore, Llandudno,
Trams on the Great Orme.
The Great Orme Cromlech.
Not what you would expect to see in your garden!
The Watchtower and Deganwy Castle from the Invalid's Terrace.
Walk stats: Distance: 9.9 miles. Climb: 1183'.
Time: 5 hours 20 minutes. On the move walking average: 2.3 m.p.h. Overall walk average: 1.8 m.p.h.
Group: Martyn and Ed.
We started the walk along the Coastal Path towards Deganwy in order to explore a footpath that went through the North Wales Golf Course. A well signed footpath, but probably one that we won't use again.
 The second golf course on the route today was the Maesdu Golf Course on the way to the Watchtower situated just above a quarry, and having one half of the tower missing. Distant views from the Watchtower towards the Great Orme were still somewhat hazy.
 The second surprise of the day was St. Mary's Well, now opened up for everyone to see.
 Deganwy Castle was a little disappointing as so little of it remains.
 Once back on the Coastal Path at Deganwy, it was good to see that the wind shelter damaged in storms a few years ago had now been completely rebuilt.
 Lunch was taken near the boating lake at Llandudno West Shore, where we were able to take advantage of one of the many benches available.
 Towards the end of lunch, we experienced a few spots of rain which persisted for about 15 minutes as we traversed the path above Marine Drive.
 after dropping back down to Marine Drive, we decided to ascend the Great Orme using the Monk's Path, the first time that Ed had done so.
 After passing the summit of the Great Orme we descended past the Copper Mines, following the signs for "Town Centre", down many steps until we reached the Invalid's Terrace and back to the West Shore.
 Overall the weather had been good, despite being humid at times. a cooling North easterly wind was expected, we only experience it briefly as we reached the plateau on the Great Orme.
 The North Wales Coast towards Conwy Mountain remained in mist all day, and Puffin Island could only just be seen.
Birds seen or heard today included: Herring gull, Pied wagtail, House martin, Swift, Barn swallow, Common starling, House sparrow, Woodpigeon, Collared dove, Common whitethroat, Goldfinch, Rook, Jackdaw, Carrion crow, Willow warbler, Common chaffinch, Great cormorant, Greenfinch and Oystercatcher.
 Spring flowers were in abundance and included: Common rock rose, Tormentil, Red clover, Thyme, Bird's foot trefoil, Bluebell, Harebell and Buttercup.
 Overall an excellent walk, possibly to be repeated next time in a June or July when more butterflies would be on the wing.

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