Walks and Dates July 2018

Wednesday 4th July 2018.

 Farms and Halls - the Southern Circular.

Distance: 9.3 miles. Climb: 450!
Start: New starting place. Jubilee Park, Car park Sherrymill Hill, Whitchurch SY13 1BN. Grid ref: SJ537416. 
As we didn't like the narrow lanes leading t the Brown Moss car park, I have switched to a different car park, the Jubilee Park Car Park.
On approaching Whitchurch on the A41, at the roundabout turn right, continuing on the A41 (Whitchurch by-pass), take first road on left Chemistry/Smallbrook Road. Smallbrook Road leads into Sherrymill Hill with the Jubilee Park on the right. 
Leave Chester 09-00 a.m.
The walk description starts from the centre of Whitchurch, but we will start at the Brown Moss Nature Reserve as this is on the route.
This is described as a longish walk that takes in part of the revised Shropshire Way, passing plenty of interesting houses and farms, including Blackoe Cottages, Alkington Hall and Dearnford Hall.

Saturday 7th July 2018.

St. Celynnin's Church and Tal y Fan.

Distance:7-8 miles. Climb: 2600'.
Start: Roadside parking in Rowen, on the right by houses just after passing the Post Office. Grid ref:SH761719.
Leave Chester 8-30 a.m.
This walk is taken from Dave Berry's book "Walks Around Betws-y-coed and the Conwy Valley". This walk is described as exploring the scenic upland pastures, full of antiquity, featuring a remote ancient church, Maen Penddu (standing stone), a burial chamber and Cae Bach (hill fort). Visiting Cae Bach may involve a there and back extension! Although this walk is shorter than our usual walks, Dave Berry does suggest that we should allow at least 5 hours and is for experienced walkers only!

Wednesday 11th July 2018.

Corwen to Llidiart-y-Park.

Distance: 10 miles. Climb: 1500'.
Start: A long lay-by 1/4 mile West of Llidiart-y-Park: SJ118433.
Leave Chester at 09-00 (08-15 if we decide to use the bus to Corwen from Llidiart-y-Parc.
This is a linear walk, so we will need to have sufficient cars to leave at least one at the start, and take everyone to Corwen, the start of the walk.
 It is possible to use public transport, but that would probably mean leaving Chester at about 08-15 to make sure that we didn't miss the 09-45 bus to Corwen.
 This walk is taken from Dve berry's booklet " Walks Around the Berwyn Mountains and the Ceiriog Valley".
 The walk is described as a wlk for experienced walkers only. It features the North Berwyn Way to Moel Fferna. After following the River Dee past Llangar Church to Cynwyd, the route climbs steadily up a wooded valley and through a forest before crossing moorland to the top of Moel Fferna.  Some of the routes up Moel Fferna have not been to our liking, so it will  be interesting to explore this new route. On a good day the views from Moel Fferna can be be superb.
The descent of Moel Ferna to Llidiat-y-Parc is the most direct route, and one that we are familiar with, having followed it many times.

Saturday 14th July 2018.

To be decided.

Wednesday 18th July 2018.

Tremeirchion, Y Graig, Sodom and Moel Yr Gaer.

Distance: 9 miles; Climb:1600'.
Start: Off road parking, minor road East of Tremeirchion. Grid ref:SJ095740.
Leave Chester 9-00 a.m.
The walk is based on two walks from Dave Berry's book "Walks on the Clwydian Hills". This is another walk that is one of my favourite walks and one that often appears on the list most years. At this time of the year it should give us the opportunity to look for Spring/Summer flowers, particularly around Y Craig Nature Reserve. We will probably visit St Beuno's chapel on the hill again. In the past it has been quite muddy in places, but hopefully not this year.

Saturday 21st July 2018.

To be decided.

Wednesday 25th July 2018.

A Pentre-celyn Round
(A part of the Clwydian Trio.)

Distance: 9 miles; Climb:1900' '.

Start: Pentre-celyn car park . Grid ref: SJ150534.

The car parking area is on the left adjacent to the sign for Pentre-celyn, just off the B5429.

Leave Chester 9-00 a.m.

This is a walk based on a  walk by Debbie Hamilton in the "Walking" magazine. This walk includes the section of Offa's Dyke Path goes near Moel y Plas, Moel Gyw, Moel Llanfair and Boncyn y Waen-grogen. Her walk starts from Llanfair Dyffryn Clwyd, but we will start at Pentre Celyn about half a mile beyond Graigfechan.
 In recent years we have shortened the walk by mising out the Norther section towards Moel Gyw. This reduces the walk by about 2 miles and the climb by about 800'. Although shorter it still makes a very good walk.

Saturday 28th July 2018.

Cnicht.
Postponed due to very strong winds and gust up to 40 m.p.h. the forecast.

Distance 6-7 miles. Climb: 2270'.
Start: Near quarry and Nanmor Mountain Centre. Grid ref: SH633485.
Cnicht is sometimes described as the Welsh Matterhord due to its similar shape. Cnicht lies in an area of quite rugged moorland, that in places can be quite boggy. Around Cnicht, there are no paths marked on the OS map, but thankfully they are more evident on the ground. It is a long time since I have climbed Cnicht, and even longer from the Nant Gwynnant side of the Mountain. a good walk, with some challenges as far as route finding in the offing.

Last minute change to a walk from Llanrwst suggested by Ed.

Llyn Geirionydd and Llyn Crafnant from Llanrwst.

Distance: 11 miles Climb 1900'.
Start: Llanrwst or Trefriw.
The walk involves sections of three different trails and takes in the Gray mares tail waterfall and Llanrhychwyn Church before reaching the woodland path from Trefriw to Llyn Geirionydd. This path contours high above the Crafnant Valley, giving good views of the Klondyke mill and mine below.
From  Llyn Geirionydd The route then follows unpleasant tree root challenge path on the West side of Llyn Geirionydd, but there is the much easier route is to walk along the road on the East side of the lake, one I will take if ever we do this walk again.
From Llyn Geirionydd the walk climbs through the woods, currently guided by blue footpath indicators and later red footpath and yellow footpath indicators are added to the post.
On reaching the road on the East side of Llyn Crafnant, the road is followed past the Northern end of the lake. This could be followed all the way back to Trefriw, but a pleasant Trefriw Trail footpath (7) leads directly to Trefriw. 
 An interesting diversion is to include a visit to the Clogwyn y Fuwch Slate mine and  Klondyke mill and mine and then retuning to the road. Visiting the Clogwyn y Fuwch Slate mine can if you wish involve going through a short tunnel (head torch recommended), but there is an alternative path around it.
 The route finishes by taking in the Fairy Glen falls to Trefriw and returns to Llanrwst via the 

Gowers bridge.