The River Dee looking eastward from the Castle Street Bridge in Llangollen.
The view from the top of the old highway Allt y Badi.
Allt y Badi, probably the best bit!
Some time soon we will be walking over there.
Y Foel protected by blooming heather.
The northern view from the remains of Biddulph Tower.
At the remains of Biddulph Tower.
At the Y Foel trig point.
Still heather hopping, but better than on the way to Y Foel.
The view from our lunch spot, looking eastward.
Our last look at Biddulph Tower remains taken from the North Berwyn Way on the north side of the Nant y Bache valley.
Both sides of the Nant y Bache valley - we have been everywhere.
Walk stats: Distance: 8.0 miles. Climb: 1644'. Marginally a little on the high side ass it became quite breezy around Y Foel.
Time: 5 hours 2 minutes. On the move walking average: 2.2 m.p.h. Overall walk average: 1.7 m.p.h.
Group: Martyn, Wendy, Nigel, Celia and David S.
This was a good day for walking, with no rain forecast and only gentle westerly winds to help us on our way. We did get a few spots of rain early on, but no more than that.
After crossing the River Dee at Llangollen, with its superb views down stream, our way forward was up.
The steady climb along the old highway "Allt y Badi", to me is a continuous slog with very view views to break the monotony.
However when the gradient eased and Penlan farm is reached, we were rewarded with good views across the Dee valley towards the Eglwyseg Escarpments in one direction and the Cheshire gap in the other.
Last time we were in this area, we missed out Y Foel, but today that wasn't an option as the walk title was "Y Foel".
We headed off along the feint track bounded by heather/bracken and occasionally gorse - not Celia's terrain of choice, and once again she suffered lacerations to her leg, that were suitably patched up at lunch time.
After reaching the remains of the Biddulph Tower, spotting a young couple (one with a young baby on his back) continuing on a feint track through the heather, we decided to follow and avoid the retracing of our route as described in the description.
This we did, shortening the walk slightly and ended up having lunch in the same spot on the Vivod expedition in July.
The return route was along North Berwyn Way, but we took the higher route on a good track through heather/bilberry decked moorland towards Ffynon-las Wood.
This higher track gave us some really good views, in all directions North and North east.
We arrived back at the car, having had a really good walk, but with ageing leg muscles, complaining feet and sore toes, very grateful that we didn't have to go any further. All that was left was to have a refreshing pint in the Ponsonby Arms next to the car park.
Barnsley bitter was enjoyed, but it was disappionting to request to have a full pint! How lucky Celia was to have her special lager served in a "jug", but I don't think she appreciated it!
Unusually the toilets had a coded numbered lock, that defeated all of the first time, even one of the engineers amongst us!
Birds see or heard today included: Common blackbird, Common buzzad, Carrion crow, Goldfinch, Wood nuthatch, Great spotted woodpecker, Sparrowhawk, Barn swallow, House sparrow and Meadow pipit.
1 comment:
I didn't mind the tankard, but I was surprised. Lager is usually served in a lager glass not a pint pot, but it tasted fine and went down a treat after a taxing but very satisfying walk. Wish I had thought to put my over trousers on to protect my shins from the heather though. Hey ho!
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