Dates and Walks May 2019

Updated on 20th May 2019.
Change of start. The car park at Trelawnyd is very small, and often full, so I have decided to move the start.
New start location for 22nd May 2019 is Llanasa.
Car Park opposite the pub. Grid ref: SJ106815

Wednesday 1st May 2019.

A Walk Around Waen, Aberwheeler and Llandyrnog.






Distance : 9 miles. Climb: 600'.

Start: Aberwheeler  is on B5429. Approaching from the Mold road, turn left and after passing the play area and Bro Lleweni. This lane is opposite the chapel and the bus stop turning area. Park carefully in the lane next to the houses. Grid ref: SJ096693.
 On Tuesday I will be in Burnley for most of the day, so if you want to contact me 
during the day please do so on my mobile number. I will be at home in the evening.

Leave Chester at 09-00 a.m.

This is a walk taken from R.J.A. Dutton's book "Hidden Highways of North Wales". It explores the  Roman and Medieval Roads between Waen Aberwheeler and Llandyrnog. 

Some of the stiles on this route have in the past proved to be rather awkward to negotiate. If we use the riverside route there is a chance to see Kingfisher(if we are lucky) and Sand martins nesting in vertical river bank.

This walk will be adapted to use quiet lanes if the riverside route looks boggy.







Saturday 4th May 2019.

Gwydir Forest from Llanwrst.
Distance: 8-9 miles. Climb: 1800'.
Leave Chester at 08-30 a.m.
Start: Llanrwst Riverside car Park. GRid ref: SH795617.
The walk is taken from Carl Roger's book "Walking in the Conwy Valley. It is described as a
moderately strenuous route exploring the Eastern sectrions of the forest with its many lakes.
It follows mainly good forest tracks and paths.




Wednesday 8th May 2019.

The Clywedog Valley including Bersham, Felin Pullston, Nant Mill and the Minera Lead Mines.



Cancelled - no mates willing to brave the elements!

Distance: 8.8 miles. Climb: 840'.

Start: Layby (West of Bersham Iron Works. Grid ref: SJ308491.

To  get to the layby take the A483 from Chester to Wrexham. 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. The lay-by is on the left after passing under the A483 road bridge.

This walk combines three walks from Dave Berry's booklet " walks Around Ruabon Mountain, The Clywedog Valley and Hope Mountain".

The three walks combine to explore both side of the Clywedog valley between, Minera Lead Mine Centre, Nant Mill and Felin Puleston.


The walk follows the Clywedog trail, and follows some attractive wooded valley paths and passes through several woods, including a delightful track through the ancient woodland of Plas Power.

Hopefully the section of path closed during the lambing season will have reopened, if not we will have to improvise a diversion.


Saturday 11th May 2019.


Pendle Hill – the annual search for Dotterel.


Distance: 8.0 miles. Climb:1900’.

Start: Downham Village Car park. Grid ref: SD785442.

Leave Chester:8-30 a.m.

This is a little shorter than our usual Saturday walks.  The route today is the one in Terry Marsh’s book “Fifty Classic Walks in Lancashire”. He describes it as “undoubtedly the finest ascent of Pendle Hill”. Let’s hope for a good day weather-wise, topped up with good views of  Dotterel as we did a few years ago.  Don’t forget to bring binoculars.

The last few times we have done this walk, the weather hasn't been kind.lets hope the weather is better this year.



Wednesday 15th May 2019.

Denbigh Castle, Goblin Fields and St Dyfnog's Well.

Distance: 9-10 miles. Climb: 670'

Start: Roadside parking by the weir, West of Brookhouse Mill and Pottery. Take the A525 from Denbigh. Just before the Brookhouse Mill Tavern on the A525, at a signpost for "Pottery", turn right (West), go past the marked parking bays for the pottery   and park on the left side of the road by the weir. Grid ref: SJ069656.

Leave Chester at 9-00 a.m.

These two walks are taken from Dave Berry's book "Walks in the Vale of Clwyd". One walk explores the attractive and varied countryside between Llanrhaeadr and Brookhouse and gives us the opportunity to see again the famous Tree of Jesse medieval stained glass window (1533) and Ann Parry's gravestone with its inscription"God kept His word".  The walk also includes two mile of riverside  alongside the Afon Ystrad and Afon Clwyd

The second walk is described as interesting and takes a "green"approach to a little known castle in Wales.

Saturday 18th May 2019.

Garth Wood, Felin Blwm Wood and Maen Achwyfan.

Postponed. 

New walk: Prestatyn to Talacre 

See below for details.

Distance: 9-10 miles; Climb: 1264'.


Start: Whitford village. Roadside parking opposite the church. Grid ref: SJ147782.


Leave Chester 8-30 a.m. 



This walk combines two walks taken from Dave Berry's book "Walks Around Holywell and Halkyn Mountain". It is quite some time since I have done the first walk. Unfortunately it is only 4.5 miles and the only other walk that links in well with it is Maen Achwyfan, a walk that we have done many times before.






Prestatyn, Talacre and The Point of Ayr.




Distance: 10 miles. Climb: 200'.



Start at Prestatyn Barkby Beach.. I suggest that you park at Beach Hotel car park, (£2-00, £2-50 less than the pay and display car park next to the PC,  Grid ref: SJ068839.



Leave Chester at 09-00 a.m. You will need to go into the hotel to purchase a car park ticket.



This is a walk that is always on the list at this time of the year, as it is always a good time to see Little terns, so bring binoculars with you. Hopefully we will see orchids too.



High tide is at about 11-15, and is about 30.9. The route to Presthaven Sands wll probably follow the path along sthe top of the dunes as far a the Little Tern colony. After visiting the RSPB Viewpoint and Visitor Hut, we will probably go through the Caravan Park and The Warren Nature Reserve on the way to Talacre and the Point of Air. We will take lunch using one of the picnic tables along the path leading to the Point Of Air. We will decide on the day whether to extend the walk as far as the RSPB observation point. 

Our return route will be along the beach, if it is accessible, if not we will retrace our steps and go through the golf course back to Prestatyn. 




Wednesday 22nd May 2019.




Gop Hill, Golden Grove and Sea Views.

Distance: 9 miles. Climb: 1300'.

Start:  New start location. 

Llanasa opposite the pub and church. Grid ref SJ106815




Leave Chester at 09-00 a.m.





This walk combines one walks from Dave Berry's book "More Walks in the Clwydian Hills" with a walk from Bob Harris's book "Walks in Ancient Wales". One walk is described as an exhilarating walk with breathtaking contrasting views and the other visits the ancient sites, including the cairn on Gop Hill. 

Saturday 25th May 2019.

Mow Cop, Congleton Edge and More. 

Postponed - Saturday walkers are getting harder to find!


Distance: 9-10 miles. Climb: 1100'.


Start: New start Point. Cheshire's Close lay-by on Congleton Road, Mow Cop. Grid ref: SJ8673058565

Leave Chester at 08-30 a.m.




This walk combines a walk from Carl Rogers's book "Circular Walks Along The Gritstone Trail" and part of a walk taken from the "Pathfinder Guide to Cheshire". This walk is a little shorter than the one that we did in 2008. Good views from the ridges.

We have often done this walk in the Winter, so I thought that it was about time that we repeated the walk in Spring/Summer conditions.

Now joining Ed on a walk from Cemlyn Bay, Anglesey.

Leaving Chester at 07-30 a.m.

Wednesday 29th May 2019.





Tegg's Nose and Macclesfield Forest. 
Distance: 8.9 miles. Climb: 1913'.

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

Leave Chester at 08-45 a.m.

This is the first time that this walk has been included on the mid-week list, but it only takes 
about an hour to get there.

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.