Dates and Walks February 2019

Updated 18th February 2019. Change of walk on Wednesday  27th February 2019.

The Beluga XL visits Broughton 
14th February 2019

It wasn't just me that went to see the Beluga XL coming to Broughton.

Heading towards us from the direction of Blacon.

First time round.

Going round for a second flypast.

Disappearing over the Airbus runway.

Heading towards Blacon for the third time.

Heading towards us again.

The Beluga XL has landed, all is quiet and everyone heads for home.
I'm glad I walked from home, the traffic was grid locked in both directions from the Saltney Ferry Primary School over the railway bridge as far a the Higher Ferry Footbridge Corner on the B5129.
I suspect it wasn't easy on the Ferry Lane side of the river as cars were parked aong the road as far as the beye could see.
The Wonders of Nature.

A vertical icicle (Ice spike) formed in the bird bath over night.

A vertical icicle (Ice spike) formed in the bird bath over night.

How was it formed?

Advanced Notice: Walkers Meal 2019.

Date: Wednesday 13th March 2019.

Location: Pant-yr-Ochain, Gresford.

This is later than usual in order to avoid the February half-term holidays in Flintshire and Cheshire which together spread from 18th February to 3rd March 2019.

I went to the Pant-yr-Ochain on 14th February 2019 and have provisionally booked for 20-24.
I said we would be arriving between 12-30 to 13-00, ready to be seated at 13-00.
18 have said that they will be coming to the meal, but booking for upto 24 allows for any last minute additions.
I will givee the Pant yr Ochain final numbers on Monday 11th March 2019.
Replies already received:
Walk and Meal: 
Martyn, Sue and Michel, Celia, Wendy and Ian, Mike, Nigel, Annie H .
Meal only: David S and Anne, Jim and Pauline, Roger and Margaret, Naomi, Sue and Dave P, Mike, Paul (yet to confirm if he is walking as well).

Walk: The Clywedog between Bersham and The Nant.

Distance: 4.0 miles Climb: 142 m /462’.

Start: Layby on Plas Buckley Road, Grid ref: SJ308491, near Bersham Bridge, East of Bersham Ironworks. At Junction 4 on the A483, turn left onto the A525 and follow brown signs marked Bersham and Clywedog Trail. Take the first turn on the right, the B5098 (Berse Road). At the T-junction turn right onto the B5099 and take the next right into Plas Buckley Road. The layby is immediately on the left after passing under the Bersham Road Bridge. There is a rubbish bin in the layby.

The walk starts by following a minor road fo about a mile, and then takes a path through woodland and fields to Plas Power Wood and onto Nant Mill. There are picnic benches to use, if we decide to start for refreshments. Probably better on the way back from The Nant where there is a ford to cross the Afon Clywedog. We will probably use the nearby footbridge. We will then follow the Clywedog Trail back to the start. The section Nant Mill takes us through the delightful ancient woodland called Big Wood.

Saturday 2nd February 2019.

No Walk today as I will be attending the induction service at Waverton Evangelical Fellowship (WEF) of our new pastor Robin Gerrard.

Wednesday 6th February 2019.

Burton and Parkgate.

Distance:10 miles. Climb:338'.
Start: Roadside parking on Denhall Lane next to benches overlooking the marshes. Grid ref: SJ301747.

Leave Chester 9-00 a.m.

The Burton circuit is taken from Jen Darling's book "Walks in West Cheshire and the Wirral". The extension will involve some road walking through Neston to link up with the Wirral Way and onto Parkgate. The return route will use coastal paths as much as possible and passes Neston Old Quay and Denhall Quay on the way back to Denhall Lane.
High tide is at 12-08. 9.2 m / 30.1'. If the tide hasn't ebbed suffiiently, we may have to use the Wirral Way/Cycle path back to the start.

Saturday 9th February 2019.

Clip-y-Orsedd and theThe Druid Circle. 

Distance: 9 miles. Climb:1400'.

Leave Chester 8-30 a.m.

Start: Car park behind the bank in Llanfairfechan. Turn right of Village Road. Grid ref:SH682747.

This walk uses two walks from Dave Berry's book "Walks on the North Wales Coast." These two walks combine to make one of my favourite walks in this area as they explore the hills behind  Llanfairfechan and Penmaenmawr. We will visit the impressive Druids' Stone Circle, but on this occasion we will miss out Foel Lus.  On a good day we should get good views, especially towards the coast and Tal y Fan. We will only extend the walk as far as the Druids Circle.

Wedesday 13th February 2019.

Leasowe Lighthouse to New Brighton and Back.


Distance: 9-10 miles. Climb: 200'.



Start: North Wirral Coastal Park car park. Grid ref: SJ257915.



To get to this car park, instead of turning left towards the lighthouse, as the A551 turns right onto Leasowe Road, go straight on (past PC block on right and cafe/snack hut on left). This car park has a good tarmac surface.

Leave Chester at 09-00 a.m.



Usually this is a walk along the beach to Perch Rock Fort, However this time, High tide is at about 16-33, 7.8m, 25.6'. Although his is quite a low tide. We should be able to walk along the beah to Perch Fort Rock. From Perch Fort Rock, we will continue onto Vale Royal Park (where we in the past we have had lunch) and onto Wallasey Gardens. Hopefully the weather will be a little less windy than in recent years, but if it is there is always the Wind Shelters by the Marine lake to sit in as we have lunch.

 After lunch, if possible we will walk along the beach back to Leasowe, if the state of the tide still allows us or if we wish we can use the firmer concrete promenades.



Hopefully there will be plenty of birds to see, so bring binoculars with if you have any.

Saturday 16th February 2019.

Tegg's Nose and Macclesfield Forest. 

Reaarranged from 19th January 2019

Start: Tegg's Nose Country Park Car park. Pay and Display. Grid ref: SJ950732.

Leave Chester at 08-30 a.m.


This walk is taken from the "Pathfinders Guide to Cheshire". It is described as a varied walk with good views from Tegg's Nose. We will visit Tegg's Nose first, rather than at the end of the walk. The walk is also described as an undulating walk exploring the countryside on the edge of the Peak District. This is a walk that we have come to like and regularly appears on the list at this time of the year. Wintering birds sometime visit the many reservoirs we walk around, so it is useful to bring binoculars just in case.




Wednesday 20th February 2019.

Rhuddlan L.N.R ., the Rhuddlan to Rhyl Riverside Walk with possible extensions to the Brickworks Pool N.R. and the Forydd.


Distance: 8 -11 miles. Climb: 200'.



Start: Park at the Rhuddlan L.N.R. car park. Grid ref: SJ020776. 

The car park is on the Western side of Rhuddlan. To get to the car park, from the A55, turn right on to the A525 (St. Asaph Road towards Rhyl and Rhuddlan), at the next roundabout take the 3rd exit onto Station Road (to Rhuddlan centre / Castle). The car park is on the right, opposite a new hotel. If you get to the bridge over the river you've gone too far!

This walk is an annual favourite, at least for those that like to do as little birdwatching as well. It is a good time of the year as there are lots of Winter visitors that frequent coastal areas and river estuaries. Bring binoculars with you.  Last time we had lunch by the Marine Lake, near the Foryd.  We have also had lunch on the beach at the Foryd. Although we didn't see Snow buntings on the Foryd last year, with a bit of luck we may see them this year. 

High tide at the Foryd is at 11-18, 10.0 m / 32.8'.

Last year we didn't do any of the extensions!  Extension, if any will  be taken at each appropriate point in the walk and decided on the day depending on how everyone feels.

The West bank of the river can be quite muddy, so we may opt to keep our boots clean and retrace our steps on the tarmac path on the East side of the river.



Saturday 23rd February 2019.

Coed-y-Felin, Moel Ffagnalt and Moel-y-Gaer.

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

Start: Coed-y-Felin, Hendre. Grid ref: SJ196678.

Leave Chester at 09-00.

This walk combines two walks taken from Dave Berry's booklet " Walks Around Holywell and Halkyn Mountain.

It is a few years since we last walked from this from Coed-y-Felin, and this will be the first time we have done so on a Saturday.. The main walk explores the varied countryside between the Wheeler Valley and and Halkyn Mountain, whilst the extensions explores Moel Ffagnalt and the area around Rhes-y-cae.Weather pemitting we can expect good views from both Moel Ffagnallt and Moel-y-Gaer.

Wednesday 27th February 2019.

Barber Hill, Vivod Estate and the Horseshoe Falls.


Distance:10 miles.

Climb: 2000'
Start: Llantysilio Green Natiional Trust (Bring Membeship Card if you have one) 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.

 I have brought this walk forward by a week,  so hopefully it won't be too late to catch the Snowdrops in Llantysilio Green churchyard still be in flower.