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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, 12 January 2019

Prestayn to Point of Ayr and Back 12th January 2019

Mute swans on Prestatyn Gutter .
On the beach heading towards Talacre.
Point of Ayr lighthouse.
Prestatyn Beach Hotel in the distance.
Breaking waves near Barkby Beach just before high tide.
Oystercatcher roosting on the pepples on Barkby Beach at high tide.
The Coastal Path between Prestatyn Golf Course and the dunes near Barkby Beach.
Looking East over the dunes towards Talacre.
Walk stats: Distance: 10.0 miles. Climb: 1367' (GPS reading - testament to the strength of the wind), In reality about 150'.
Time: 4 hours 30 minute. On the move walking average: 2.6 m.p.h. (2.9 m.p.h. on my newest GPS). Overall walk average: 2.3 m.p.h.
Group: Marty and Jim.
 An overcast day, with a strong wind assisting us on the outward journey, but at least we didn't get wet. A short spell of light rain accompanied us along the dunes a we approached the the end of the walk.
 Heading for Talacre, the tide was well out and we walked along the beach to the Point of Ayr lighthouse.
 Looking for lunch spot that was sheltered from he wind wouldn't be easy, the best on offer was the Point of Ayr Bird Hide, but we did at least have a bench to sit on. A few birders were already there, looking out across the estuary as the tide came in (High tide was two hours after we arrived, and an hour and a half after bwe left)
 On the return journey, we first headed through The Warren Nature Reserve, where at one point we saw sixteen Black-billed magpies, the most that I have ever seen in one place at the same time.
  Our return route was planned to be along he beach from the Little tern viewpoint, but we were eventually forced to take the Coastal Path through the sand dunes as we approached the Barkby Beach.
 With high tide covering the sandy beach, lots of Oystercatchers were roosting on the pebbles and rocks near the dunes.Birds seen and heard today included: Mallard, Teal, Little grebe, Common coot, Moorhen, Jackdaw, Rook, Carrion crow, Fieldfare,  Eurasian curlew, Shelduck, Black headed gull, Herring gull, Linnet, Winter wren, Common redshank and Woodpigeon.
 We arrived back at the car, having had an enjoyable , bracing 10 mile walk.
 After walk drinks were enjoyed at the Blue Bell Inn at Halkyn, where two brews from Lees  (Including Tan y Draig / Dragon's Fire)were sampled as well as the Gwynt y Draig's Black Dragon Cider.

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