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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.

Wednesday, 4 December 2019

Bwlch Penbarra, Coed Moel Famau, Around Moel ffrith, Mole Dywyll and Moel Famau 4th December 2019

A hovering bird, but not a Kestrel.
A Common buzzard, not known for its speed, but too quick for this cameraman!!
The Vale of Clwyd from Bwlch Penbarra at the start of our walk.
Nigel explaining that that was his best ever sighting of a Commion buzzard.
Looking over the fields towards Cilcain.
Lunchtime in the sun.
One of the reservoirs being drained for repairs.
Waiting on Moel Dywyll
Looking towards the Vale of Clwyd - the low Sun always a problem.
Moel Famau ahead.
Walk stats: Distance: 10.0 miles. Climb: 1723'.Time: 5 hours 18 minutes. On he move walking average: 2.3 m.p.h.Overall walk average: 1.9 m.p.h. (too much time over lunch!).
Group: Martyn, Sue and Michel, Wendy and Nigel.
This was almost a perfect day for walking, largely sunny with a gentle breeze and little prospect of rain. With feel like temperatures o about 5 Celsius, we all set of in Winter proof gear - a mistake! It wasn't long before most of the group were shedding outer garments an hats, whilst I suffered with overheating in my Paramo gear,
 As we walked around Coed Moel Famau and Moel Ffrith we were sheltered from any breeze an being in the sun it felt pleasantly warm.
 We stopped for lunch next to the track from Cilcain the the fishing reservoirs. We sat on the remains of the old stone wall and enjoyed basking in the warm sunshine as we devoured our lunch.
 As we passed the upper reservoir, we were surprised to see that the were draining it, presumably to do some sort of maintenance.
 The climb along Offa's Dyke Footpatjh over Moel Dywyll is always a challenge, more so today as the Sun being so low in the sky, always seemed to be in our eyes,
 Distant views were never good, but otherwise it was a good day.
 Birds seen or heard today included: Common buzzard, Eurasian jay, Black billed magpie, Winter wren, Common blackbird, Long tailed tit, Great cormorant, Common crow, Jackdaw, Redwing, Winter wren and Meadow pipit.
 We arrived back at the car, thankful that the last mile had been downhill and looking forward to a beer or two at the Glasfryn at Mold. We weren't disappointed!

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