Around Gwysaney and More 16th October 2019

Looking North west towards Rhosesmor and Moel y Gaer.

Looking North towards Tyddyn-bach and the Dee Estuary.

Strolling in the mid-morning sunshine.

Negotiating the boggy section in Big Wood.

Looking west across the valley towards Gwysaney Hall.

A local resident trying to escape.

Not something we expected to see on the way to Gwysaney Hall.

Looking eastward towards Gwysaney Hall.

Moel Famau from the path on the west side of Gwysaney Hall.

Blue skies and a buzzard.

Liverpool from Moel y Gaer, Rhosesmor.

Looking towards the Dee Estuary from the ramparts if Moel y Gaer.

The Clwydian Hills from the ramparts if Moel y Gaer.

St. Paul's Church at Rhosesmor.

Walk stats: Distance: 8.8 miles. Climb: 838'.

Time: 4 hours 37 minutes. On the move walking average: 2.2 m.p.h. Overall walk average: 1.9 m.p.h.

Group: Martyn, David S and Nigel.

This was almost a perfect day for walking weather wise, plenty of warm sunshine, very little wind of any significance and only a few spots of rain towards the end of the walk as we climbed up Moel y Gaer.

 Once more the views today were quite extensive, but perhaps didn't quite match up to those seen last week. Nevertheless we did see as far as Liverpool and Fiddlers Ferry in one direction, the Cheshire plain and Beeston Hill in another direction and the Clwydian Hill in another.

 Lunch was taken on the west side of Ram Wood, where we took advantage of a low section in the wall on which to perch.

 After lunch it wasn't long before we were faced with the challenge of the marshy area as we headed towards Sarn Galed from Quarry Farm. This done, all still with dry feet, every was plain sailing. Just beyond Sarn Galed farm, we had some superb close up views of a Common buzzard circling above us.

 Perhaps the best views of the day were obtained once we had climb to the top of Moel y Gaer hill fort at Rhosesmor. The views from this vantage point extended to a full 360 degrees, well worth the effort to climb to the top at the end of the walk.

 In addition, we decided to look inside St. Paul's Church at Rhosesmor, the first time that we had so. In the past we had ignored the welcoming notices on the gate outside, perhaps next time we will spend a little more time in the church, preferably at the start of the walk when our boots are still clean.

Birds seen or heard today included: House sparrow, Common blackbird, Woodpigeon, Carrion crow, Rook, Jackdaw, European robin, Common pheasant, Black billed magpie and Common buzzard.

 After walk drinks were enjoyed at the Britannia Inn at Halkyn, once more under new management but the Lees Bitter was just as good. The coffee was good too.