Moel Arthur and Penycloddiau 9th January 2019

Snowdonia from the slopes of Moel Arthur..

Snowdonia from the slopes of Moel Arthur..

Arrenig Fawr from Moel Arthur.

At the top of Moel Arthur.

Liverpool Anglican Cathedral  in the distance as we descendd Moel Arthur.

Dave Evans's dream home, but was it finished to his original plans?

The view from the RCGAF lunch spot.

Moel Famau from the RCGAF lunch spot.

At the summit cairn on Penyclddiau.

Walk stats: Distance: 7.5 miles. (7.8 miles on my newest GPS). Climb: 1295'.

Time: 4 hours 32 minutes. On the move walking average: 2.2 m.p.h. (2.5 m.p.h.on my newest GPS)..

Group: Martyn, Roger, Sue and Michel and Ed.

This was a glorious day for walking, a touch warmer an it would have been the first shorts day in 2019! Largely blue skies, hardly any wind and at times warm sunshine. However at times gloves were needed, particularly as we approached the top of Moel Arthur and Penycloddiau.

 As we set off, the distant views of Snowdonia were good, and we were optimistic that they would get better as we reached Penycloddiau. Alas this didn't happen and the best views were seen from the top of Moel Arthur.

  A testament to the fine weather was the fact that we saw lots of other walkers, most of them with more than one dog.

 Lunch was taken just round the corner from the impressive water tank on the West side of Penycloddiau, taking advantage of the suitably angled grass bank at a spot that will be forever known by the group as the RCGNF (Roger Can  Go No Further) lunch spot.

 After lunch we set off along a pleasant track contouring around the West side of Pencloddiau to Offa's Dyke that headed South west to the summit. It always seems like a hard climb, but in reality is only a steady gentle climb of just over a mile.

 The views towards the Dee Estuary and Moel Famau were good, but by now the high tops of Snowdonia were in cloud.

 We arrived back at the car, having had a really good walk in almost perfect weather conditions and boots requiring just a little cleaning when we got home.

 Birds seen or heard today included: Common buzzard, European robin, Carrion crow, Raven, Wood nuthatch, Common chaffinch, Black billed magpie, Blue tit, Great tit and Meadow pipit.

 After walk drinks were enjoyed at the Britannia Inn at Halkyn, where the Lees bitter was excellent. A short pint was reluctantly toppd up, not the best way to encourage customers make to return for another pint!. No doubt I will, the Lees Bitter is so good!