A Willaston and Raby Round 29th January 2020

Approaching Hadlow Station along the platform from the car park.

Looking along Hadlow Station towards the signal box.

Redwing in a field near Willaston.

Redwing in a field near Willaston.

Our first sighting of the Mill nea\r Willaston.

A close up fo the Mill nweaer Willaston.

One of the better bridleways on our route to Raby today.

Fieldfare and Jackdaws in fields North west of The Mill, Willaston.

Roger putting his best foot forward having hit the tired leg barrier!

Walk stats: Distance: 8.5 miles. Climb: 316'.

Time: 4 hours 17 minutes: On the move walking average: 2.6 m.p.h. Overall walk average: 2.0 m.p.h.

Group: Martyn and Roger.

This isn't a walk that has mustered up even a glimmer of enthusiasm amongst our normal group members with a remarkable number of excuses being offered :- having a tooth out yesterday, a second cataract done just a few days ago, walking two dogs, baby sitting and D,I.Y. and even more, although being in the over seventy bracket I have the excuse I can't remember the rest!

 We set off from the start at Hadlow Station in glorious sunshine and blue skies. It was a little blustery at the start, as Roger soon realised has he nearly lost his Tilley as we walked through Willaston.

 Our was nominally 7.5 miles, but thanks to our inability to look at strategic points we ended up doing a little more.

 The bird count started well as we headed towards The Mill at Willaston, where we saw at least two Redwing foraging with Balckbirds.

 The first problem we encountered was near Cherry Farm, South of Raby, where a kissing gate engaged us for some time. Thankfully with Roger pulling it as hard as he could , I was able to squeeze through without the inconvenience of taking my rucksack off.

 Lunch was taking along the bridleway towards Willaston, where too advantage of a Ivy covered tree stump on which to perch, little rwalisinfg that just 50 metres beyond was a bench!

 Our second mistake was to take the path heading for Benty heath Lane, but at least it enabled us to see two Common buzzards and two Browm hares as we approached the road leading to Raby House Farm.

Birds seen or heard today included: Blue tit, Great tit, Common blackbird, Greenfinch, Common chaffinch, House sparrow, Common buzzard, Redwing, Fieldfare, Mallard, Collared dove, Woodpigeon, Herring gull, Common gull, Jackdaw, Rook, Black billed magpie, Common crow, Song thrush, European robin and Eurasian jay.

 We arrived back at the car with our boots needing cleaning, but this didn't stop us saying that we had experienced a good walk and our legs knowing this was true.

 It suited us to go straight home, Roger was hopeful of going to his optician to pick up his latest new spectacles, and me to call at Morrison's in Saltney to pick up some of my latest tipple (Weston's Heritage Still Cider.

Dates and Walk January 2020

Happy New Year
.In order to encourage a few more people to join us, I have decided to include at least one walk on a Saturday that is less than 6 miles and involves less than 1000' of climb or a little more if the extra effort would make it worthwhile.
The first of these walks will be on 18th January.
Harris Hikers Annual Meal.
Wednesday 11th March 2020.
I have e-mailed everyone that I have e-mail addresses for.
In case you didn't get the e-mail, the content of the e-mail was as follows.

Dear All,

I am in the process of trying to organise Harris Hikers Meal for 2020 to take place on Wednesday 11^th March 2020.

We have four possible venues to consider:

The Red Fox at Thornton Hough,

The Pant-yr-Ochain at Gresford,

The Cross Foxes at Erbistock (suggested by Wendy)

And

The Morris Dancer at Kelsall.

Our choice of venue will depend on numbers as some venues have a maximum group size that they are able to accept, as we found out on Saturday 18^th January when we called in at the Red Fox.

Hence I would be grateful if you could let me know by the end of this month (31^st January 2020) if you plan to come for the meal. Please send me an e-mail or text me once you have decided.

During the first week in February it is my intention to see which of the above venues can cater for us and make an appropriate booking.

Hoping that you can join us,

Martyn

Wednesday 1st January 2020.

A West Kirby Round.

Distance: 5 (Missing out Grange Hill) or 6.2 miles (Including Grange Hill). 

Climb: 100 (Missing out Grange Hill) or 250' (Including Grange Hill).

Start. South Parade, West Kirby. Grid ref: SJ214860. Park near the Life Boat Station and old Baths, towards the Southern end of the Marine Lake.

Leave Chester 09-30 a.m.

 High tide (27.3'/8.3m) at Hilbre is at 14-45, so trip to Hilbre isn't really an option, so I thought walking along the beach to Red Rocks as the tide came in would be the best choice.

 We will start the walk by going around the Marine Lake before heading across the sands to Red Rocks. The route will take us through the Royal Liverpool Golf Course and along the edge of Hoylake Municipal Golf Course before heading uphill to the War Memorial on Grange Hill. The planned route then heads down hill to the main road (A540). After crossing the road we turn right towards West Kirby centre and eventually picking up the Wirral Way through Ashton Park. After going round the lakes in Ashton Park we exit the park on the West side and follow the roads through the houses down to South Parade and back to the car.

Fortified fruit cake will be provided, so please let me know if you intend to walk so that I know how many pieces to bring.

Saturday 4th January 2020.

Please contact me if you want me to arrange a walk for this day.

Wednesday 8th January 2020.

Leasowe Lighthouse to New Brighton.


Distance: 9-10 miles. Climb: 200'.



Start: North Wirral Coastal Park car park. Grid ref: SJ257915.



To get to this car park, instead of turning left towards the lighthouse, as the A551 turns right onto Leasowe Road, go straight on (past PC block on right and cafe/snack hut on left). This car park has a good tarmac surface.

Leave Chester at 08-45 a.m.



Usually this is a walk along the beach to Perch Rock Fort, However this time, High tide is at about 09-3, 8.2 m, 27.0'. Although his is quite a low tide, we may have to walk along the promenade to Perch Fort Rock. From Perch Fort Rock, we will continue onto Vale Royal Park (where we in the past we have had lunch) and onto Wallasey Gardens. Hopefully the weather will be a little less windy than last recent years, but if it is there is always the Wind Shelters by the Marine lake to sit in as we have lunch.

 After lunch, if possible we will walk along the beach back to Leasowe

Saturday11th January 2020.

Please contact me if you want me to arrange a walk for this day.

Wednesday 15th January 2020.

Rhuddlan L.N.R , the Rhuddlan to Rhyl Riverside Walk with possible extensions to the Brickworks Pool N.R. and the Forydd.


Distance: 8 -11 miles. Climb: 200'.



Start: Park at the Rhuddlan L.N.R. car park. Grid ref: SJ020776. 

The car park is on the Western side of Rhuddlan. To get to the car park, from the A55, turn right on to the A525 (St. Asaph Road towards Rhyl and Rhuddlan), at the next roundabout take the 3rd exit onto Station Road (to Rhuddlan centre / Castle). The car park is on the right, opposite a new hotel. If you get to the bridge over the river you've gone too far!

This walk is an annual favourite, at least for those that like to do as little birdwatching as well. It is a good time of the year as there are lots of Winter visitors that frequent coastal areas and river estuaries. Bring binoculars with you.  Last time we had lunch by the Marine Lake, near the Foryd.  We have also had lunch on the beach at the Foryd. Although we didn't see Snow buntings on the Foryd last year, with a bit of luck we may see them this year. 

High tide at the Foryd is at 14-04, 9.4 m / 30.7'.

Last year we didn't do any of the extensions!  Extension, if any will  be taken at each appropriate point in the walk and decided on the day depending on how everyone feels.

The West bank of the river can be quite muddy, so we may opt to keep our boots clean and retrace our steps on the tarmac path on the East side of the river.

Saturday 18th January 2020.

Hilbre Island.



Distance: 4-5 miles. Climb: 100' at a guess!



Start: South Parade, West Kirby Marine Lake. Park between the old baths and the Sailing Club at the Southern end of the lake Grid ref: SJ214860.

Leave Chester at 09-00.



WE often do this walk on  New Year's Day, but after looking at the Tide Guide, it looks like being a better option today. High tide is about 17- 00, so we should be able to cross the sands and have plenty of time on the island before returning.




 Bring binoculars, their should be plenty of Wintering birds to see and hopefully seals too.

Wednesday 22nd January 2020.

A Walk on Halkyn Mountain from the Blue Bell Inn.

Distance: 9-10 miles. Climb: 1000'.

Start: Common ground opposite the Blue Bell in, Halkyn. Grid ref: SJ209702.

Leave Chester at 09-00 a.m. 

This is a walk devised by Steve (the former landlord at the Blue Bell Inn, Halkyn. It covers much of our regular walk that we do called "Halkyn Mountain, Limestone and Lead". However this route takes us in a clock-wise direction and around Moel-y-Gaer before heading to Rhes-y-cae. It also takes us  around the North of the Pen-y-Henblas quarry - we have only seen the quarry from its Southern side.


Saturday 25th January 2020.

Please contact me if you want me to arrange a walk for this day.


Wednesday 29th January 2020.








Raby and Willaston.


Distance: 9 miles. Climb: 500', probably an exaggeration!


Start: Hadlow Road Station. Grid ref: SJ332773.


Leave Chester at 09-00 a.m.


This walk combines two walks from Anthony Annakin-Smith's book "Wirral Walks". The two walks are  linked along minor minor roads and field paths. The walk passes a former racecourse pretty woodlands, the Wirral's largest windmill and even a Glow-worm site, not that we are likely to see one!


An easy walk, although at this time of the year, paths can be waterlogged!

A "Mistery" Walk Around Halkyn Mountain 22nd January 2020

The first stile of the day conquered!

That's another stile conquered.

That's it, the best stile of the day.

Even the sheep were reluctant to move.

Lunch time in a small quarry opposite the new entrance to Pant-y-pwll-dwr Quarry.

At the trig point on Halkyn Mountain.

I thought that I had taken a photo of the Catch radio masts!

Walk stats: Distance: 7.9 milers. Climb: 613'.

Time: 4 hours 7 minutes. On the move walking average: 2.4 m.p.h. Overall walk average: 1.9 m.p.h.

Group: Martyn, Sue and Michel, Roger, Nigel, Fran, Davis S and Wendy.

This wasn't a day when we were expecting to get any views in any direction, so getting to the top of anywhere wasn't a prime objective! Visibility was never good, but thanks to the fact one or two of the group are good talkers it was easy enough to make sure that everyone was never out of hearing distance!

Although we were walking in low cloud/mist all day, it was never particularly cloud and the only breeze we experienced was around Moel-y-Crio.

Seeing birds today wasn't going to be easy, but we did manage to clock up a few. They included: Common blackbird, European robin, Collared dove, House sparrow, Black-billed magpie, Jackdaw, Carrion crow, Meadow pipit, Fieldfare and possibly a Raven.

Weather conditions meant that we didn't stop very often, few birds to look at and little reason to stop and take any photographs.

 Unusually for us we did see a large group of ramblers, but ass far as I know, not one linked to North Wales Ramblers.

 Lunch was taken in a small quarry opposite the new entrance to Pant-y-pwll-dwr Quarry, a good place to remember as there were plenty of stones on which to perch.

 After a slightly longer lunch stop than usual, one or two of the group indicated that they were ready to set off again by standing up and putting their rucksacks on.

 Our route took us between Bryn Mawr Quarry and Pen yr Henblas to the Brynford-Halkyn road. In the past the path was clear as it went through a section of high gorse, but today it was somewhat unclear as the gorse had been cut back.

 Usually our route from the trig point on Halkyn mountain was easy to see as we would just head for the masts at windmill and then those at Catch, but today the masts could only be seen when we were about 50 metres away.

 We arrived back at the cars, having had a good walk, perhaps a little shorter than some of us would have preferred, but still knowing that we had had some worthwhile exercise, despite the lack of appreciation of the wonderful industrial heritage that can be enjoyed in this area.

 After walk drinks were enjoyed at the Britannia Inn at Pentre Halkyn, where the Lees Bitter was in tip top condition, but it usually is!

  Someone must have annoyed the driver as they set off without him. Thankfully the driver noticed the empty seat and stopped before leaving the car park and waited for the last member of the group before heading for home!

Around West Kirby Marine Lake and Hilbre Island 18th January 2020

 A drake Goldeneye on West Kirby Marine Lake.

A Eurasian curlew on the estuary mud flats West of the Marine Lake.

Headig out to Little Eye.

Middle Eye and Hilbre Island from Little Eye.

Looking across the estuary towards the lighthouse at Talacre.

Nearly at Middle Eye.

Grey seas on the sand banks in the middle of the estuary.

Brent geese feeding on seaweed on the rocks between Middle Eye and Hilbre Island..

The advance party heading up the track onto Hilbre Island.

The view from the old lifeboat launching ramp on Hilbre Island.

The old Telegraph Station on Hilbre Island.

Lunch time on Middle Eye - photo taken by Nigel.

The return route from Middle Eye to Little Eye.

On the way back to Little Eye.

A few more going around the Marine Lake - only Nigel decided to follow them.

Walk stats: Distance: 6.3 miles. Climb: 417' (wind assisted GPS reading). In reality about 100'.

Time: 3 hours 38 minutes. On the move walking average: 2.2 m.p.h. Overall walk average: 1.7 m.p.h.

Group: Martyn, Jim, Denise, Roger, Celia, Nigel and Elaine

This was a good day for walking weatherwise, largely sunny with a cool refreshing wind.

Lots of other people thought that a stroll across the sands to Hilbre Island was a good idea as well.

 I made the mistake of going to the West side of the rock outcrops, that meant we had a tricky section of seaweed covered rocks to cross to get back to the steps at the South end of Middle Eye.

 The others wisely went across the sand further to the East side of the seaweed covered rocks. We eventually joined up again near the Old Telegraph Station on Hilbre Island.

 After exploring Hilbre Island as far as the lifeboat launching ramp, we set off on the return route.

 Lunch was taken near the steps on the South end of Middle Eye, where we were able to sit on rocks, largely sheltered from the breeze.

 We arrived back at the car just before 13-30, having had an enjoyable walk and ready for refreshments a the Red Fox at Thornton Hough. As usual it was very busy, but eventually managed to get seats on a small table , just big enough to get seven bar stools around.

 Birds seen or heard today included: Herring gull, Great cormorant, Goosander, Goldeneye, Eurasian curlew, Oystercatcher, Common redshank, Brent goose and House sparrow.

Rhuddlan to Rhyl and Back 15th January 2020

St. Mary's Church Rhuddlan.

Greylag geese on he banks of the Afon Clwyd.

Wigeon on the Afon Clwyd.

Great cormorants on the Werst bank of the Afon Clwyd.

Greenfinch South of the Marine Lake, Rhyl.

Turnstone on the pontoon in Rhyl Harbour.

Rhyl from the Foryd.

Pont y Draig, Rhyl.

A male House sparrow in bushes near the footbridge over the railway at Rhyl.

Goosander on Brickfield Pond.

Great crested grebe on Brickfield Pond.

Great crested grebe on Brickfield Pond.

Lapwing in fieds, South of The Cut, Rhyl.

The Afon Clwyd just after high tide, looking towards Rhyl from the East bank.

Rhuddlan Castle from the bridge over the Afon Clwyd.

Walk stats: Distance: 8.8 miles. Climb: 100'.

Time: 4 hours 39 minutes. On the move walking average: 2.5 m.p.h. Overall walk average: 1.9 m.p.h.

Group: Martyn, Roger and Wendy.

This was a great day for walking, blue skies and plenty of sunshine. The South westerly wind was a little cool at times, but not enough to make it feel uncomfortable even when we stopped to look at the birds on the river.

 Birds seen or heard today included: Great cormorant, Teal, Wigeon, Greylag goose, Canada goose, Shelduck, Grey heron, Little egret, Mallard, Common starling, Lesser black back gull, Herring gull, Black headed gull, Jackdaw, Carrion crow, Raven, Eurasian curlew, Black tailed godwit, Common redshank, Dunlin, Lapwing, Collared dove, Tufted duck, Coot, Moorhen, Mute swan, Goosander, Great crested grebe, Greenfinch, Bullfinch, Common chaffinch, Turnstone, Linnet, Redwing and House sparrow.

 Heading towards Rhyl it was more of a gentle stroll as we stopped frequently to look at the birds on the banks of the river. We were fortunate to see a birder, who confirmed that the large number of waders on the West bank near the Foryd Bridge were mainly Common redshank, Eurasian curlew and Black tailed godwit. The only bird of prey today was seen by Roger and Wendy, its identity a little uncertain, but probably a Common buzzard.

 One of he best sights of the day was seeing huge numbers of Lapwing in the skies above, with the Sun shining on them making them appear to "twinkle".

 Lunch was taken in our usual spot, using the bench next to the Miniature Railway Station that was sheltered from the breeze.

 The return journey was a little quicker, especially after had completed the circuit of the Brickfield Pond, aways a good place to see birds at this time of the year.

 Another good spot for the day was to see our first Snowdrops of the year next to the car park at Rhuddlan Nature Reserve.

 Overall a really enjoyable walk as long as you didn't mind stopping to look at the birds.

 After walk drinks were enjoyed at the Britannia Inn at Halkyn, where the Lees Bitter as usual was in tip top condition.

Leasowe Lighthouse, New Brighton and More 8th January 2020

The way ahead - the tide well in, so the only ption is along the promenade.

Oystercatchers sheltering on one of groynes opposite Leasowe Castle.

One ferry leaving Liverppool.

Formby Beach and the Gormley Statues.

Birds roosting on the pontoon in New Brighton Marine Lake.

ommon redshank roosting on the pontoon in New Brighton Marine Lake.

Black Pearl.

Paddy's Wigwam.

A Great cormorant keeps guard over roosting birds on the pontoon in New Brighton Marine Lake.

At last walking on the beach.

A  Great white egret?

Leasowe Lighthouse - only open on the first Sunday of the month (14-00 to16-00).

Lapwing in the paddock.

Walk stats: Distance: 10.0 miles Climb: 171'.

Time: 4 hours 27 minutes. On the move walking average: 2.8 m.p.h. Overall walk average: 2.2 m.p.h.

Group: Martyn, Roger, Nigel and Fran.

Arriving at Leasowe, the keen Westerly wind encouraged us to put on our jackets and in some cases their over trousers just to keep warm. Thankfully the wind soon died down and it became warm enough for at least one member of the group to walk in a short sleeves shirt without a jacket for the rest of the walk.

 Heading for New Brighton, the water was too far in to enable us to walk along the beach, but had receded enough for to do so on the way back. We went onto the beach near the Lifeboat lookout post.

 The views were pretty good and we could see people walking on Formby Beach between the Gormley Statues.

 Lunch was taken by the New Brighton Marine Lake, where we were able to take advantage of the benches in one of the wind shelters.

 After finishing off the last of the fortified fruit cake we headed back towards Leasowe, and o this occasion we completed the extra mile by walking to Leasowe Lighthouse.

 Birds seen or heard today included: Pied wagtail, European robin, Common starling, Herring gull, Black headed gull, Great black backed gull, Oystercatcher, Great cormorant, Common redshank, Turnstone, Purple sandpiper, Feral pigeon, Carrion crow and Great white egret.

 Overall a very enjoyable walk, but only after the fortified fruit cake!

 After walk drinks were enjoyed at the Wheasheaf at Raby, where the Brimstage Brewery's Trapper's Hat went down particularly well.