About Me

My photo
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, 3 August 2019

Conwy Harbour, Conwy Mountain and Maen Esgob 3rd August 2019

Conwy Castle - the start of the walk.
Conwy Harbour.
A Little egret on the shore of the Conwy Estuary.
A Grey heron on the shore of the Conwy Estuary.
A male Stonechat with a meal.
Conwy Castle from the eastern end of Conwy Mountain.
A Painted Lady butterfly, one of many on Conwy Mountain.
Is that a Painted lady there?
"What is it?"
"Nothing really, just taking my rucksack off."
Happy to be out on Conwy Mountain.
 Puffin Island and Anglesey from our lunch spot.
A change of plan - that is the way we will go after lunch.
A small pool on the west side of Maen Esgob.
We wondered where the ponies were hiding, but at last we have found a few.
Conwy Mountain ahead.
What am I? A Raven or a Carrion crow?
Walk stats: Distance: 8.4 miles. Climb: 1444'.
Time: 5 hours 22 minutes. On the move walking average: 1.6 m.p.h.
Group: Martyn and Celia.
The weather was set fair, with the chances of rain increasing after 15-00. We did get a few spots from about 11-30 onwards, but nothing to make you even think about putting on waterproofs. However it was very humid and brief encounters with the slightest breeze were very welcome.
 As we crossed Conwy Mountain the views towards Tal-y-Fan in one direction and out towards the coast in the other direction were superb. Crossing Conwy Mountain Painted lady butterflies were everywhere.
Conwy Mountain was decked with the vibrant purple of the Bell heather, always a joy to see.
 Lunch was taken on the north western side of Maen Esgob, near the boundary gate to the Pennant Estate.
 After lunch, instead of taking the path South of Maen Esgob, we took the path on the north side, a path that I had never used before.
 Another surprise on the walk today was the head high Bracken that bounded both sides of the paths we used and made us suffer the associated increased humidly that resulted from our proximity to the Bracken.
 Birds seen or heard today included: Jackdaw, Woodpigeon, Herring gull, Black headed gull, Little egret, Grey heron, Great cormorant, Common redshank, Oystercatcher, Mallard, Goldfinch, Stonechat, Carrion crow, Meadow pipit, Common buzzard, European robin, Winter wren, Common blackbird and probably a Raven as well.
 Approaching Conwy Castle on the way to the long stay carpet, I decided to avoid the shorter route down the steps and took the longer but gentle easier sloping path. I am glad we did as we had two really good views of a Stoat crossing the path in front of  not once but twice.
 We arrived back at the car, having had a very enjoyable walk, about as much as we wanted to do on a day that was so humid, but we were still dry and our boots were dusty, but wouldn't need much cleaning.
 After walk drinks were enjoyed at the Britannia Inn at Pentre Halkyn, where he Lees bitter was excellent.  Apparently this was the first time that Celia had been to the Brit after its extensive refurbishment - it almost got a thumbs up from Celia!


1 comment:

Celia said...

It would have had a thumbs up proper had I not been the driver. To be fair, the tea was very good.