Not the easiest style to negotiate, but in the end we had to negotiate it in both directions.
Trying to catch up!
Looking towards the North Wales Coast across the Vale of Clwyd.
An unexpected notice, only seen after crossing the footbridge.
"How do you get over this "style"?"
This is how you do it. Commentary by Wendy.
A friendly Alpaca.
"Wait for me"
An Alpaca that still wants to be friendly!
An Alpaca that still wants to be friendly!
Moel y Parc and Penycodiau.
The Clwydian Hills.
How great it would be if all landowners marked out footpaths through their gardens in this way.
Inside St.Cwfan's Church.
The grave of a man that lived in three centuries, just outside the door to St. Cwyfan's Church, Llangwyfan.
An as yet unidentified butterfly in a field south west of Llangwyfan.
Probably a painted lady.
Can you spot the difference between these three photos of the Painted lady?
The site of the earliest Methodist church in the area in a field south west of Llangwyfan.
Is this the rare Black poplar mentioned in the walk description?
Walk stats: Distance: 8.7 miles. Climb: 624'.
Time: 5 hours 2 minutes. On the move walking average: 2.3 m.p.h. Overall walk average: 1.7 m.p.h.
Group: Martyn, Wendy, Mike, Nigel and David S.
A good day weather wise, well at least it was dry and sunny and later in the day a pleasantly cooling wind released us from the humidity earlier on.
The walk today was to present us with several unexpected challenges, most of them involving styles. These awkward stiles often needed us to help each other to cross as steps were loose and wobbly or gates had to be braced as we crossed them. Good for team building - better than undergoing an SAS training event!
The first no style problem faced us as we entered a field of maize, we should have gone straight across, but this wasn't an option, going round the edge also proved diffiicult and we ended up crossing a partially blocked (due to a fallen tree - there for at least two years) twice.
We managed to get back on track by following a forest track that led us to the road. This isn't an official route but today we got away with it as the property we had to go past was really a building site.
We were soon back on route as we went down the lane passed Pentre Mawr, holding our noses on the way when we couldn't avoid passing a long dead juvenile Badger.
Further challenges involved Mike having to display his skills with a secateur on the path near Glan Clwyd Ganol.
However the worst challenge were as we were getting around Glan Clwyd, attempts were made to stop us using this way through, but didn't offer any alternative way through.
The next challenge, at least for some, was going through a field with three Alpacas. One of these was particularly friendly, getting quite up close at times, but didn't show any signs of wanting to spit at us.
After escaping from the Alpaca field, we ended heading owards for the Clwydian Hills on paths that were new to all of us.
The path through Dre-goch's garden was well directed, including the steps leading to the road, as was the path through the grounds of Finger Cottage.
Lunch was take along the track south east of Berth Farm where we sat by he track with good views over the Vale of Clwyd.
On this occasion we went inside St. Cwfyan's Church, a bonus as the was the last time we went passed, it was under restoration.
Birds heard or seen today included: Goldfinch, Woodpigeon, European robin, Rook, Carrion crow, Common pheasant and Common buzzard.
Despite the problems encountered it had been a walk enjoyed by all, capped by refreshments at the Dinorben Arms at Bodfari. Purrpe Moose's Snowdonia Ale was on offer - I think John as been talking to Emma! Other brews were enjoyed too.
1 comment:
Blimey Martyn, you keep billing these walks as longer than they turn out to be, I might have been able to do this one after all. Mind you, that style looked awful...! Celia
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