Mynydd Marian Wednesday 29th July 2020

Mynydd Marian.

The quarry jetty - still favoured by Great cormorants.

Heading along the enclosed path towards the home of Bradgy Conwy.

Looking over the golf course towards the Little Orme andAnglesy beyond.

Looking towards Abergele from Mynydd Marian.

The peaks seen from Mynydd Marian.

The Common kestrel seen from our lunch spot.

Socially distance lunch.

Another delightful section of the North Wales Path.

The North Wales Path, with Craig y Forwyn on the left, Llanddulas in the middle and Cefn yr Ogof on the right.

Distance: 8.3 miles. Climb: 938'.

Time: 4 hours 33 minutes. On the move walking average: 2.4 m.p.h. Overall walk average: 1.8 m.p.h.

Group: Martyn, David S, Nigel, Sue and Michel.

A good day for walking, pleasantly cool as we set of, but warming up as the Sun came out. The walk started with a gentle two mile stroll along the Wales Coast Path from Llanddulas to Old Colwyn, but thankfully today this was not the race track for the lycra loony brigade.

Lots of Butterfly bushes still in flower alongside of the path, but only bees were taking advantage of the food they offered.

Views all day were pretty good, with much of northern Snowdonia clearly seen from Mynydd Marian, stretching from Moel Siabod in the south, northwards towards the Carneddau. The Little Orme and Anglesey could also be seen.

Lunch was taken on the eastern side of Mynydd Marian, where we took advantage of the many blocks of limestone socially distance apart. It was a special day for the Pelissiers as it was their wedding anniversary and Sue provided everyone with a chocolate cookie. Wedding anniversaries are always special, for the Pelissiers next years aniversary is even more special.

At lunch I was treated to a chorus from some nearby grasshoppers as I watched a Common kestrel and the many butterflies flitting around the wild flowers.

Butterflies seen today includd, Peacock, Speckled wood, Small white, Large white and Meadow brown.

Birds seen or heard today included: Black headed gull, Herring gull, Oystercatcher, House sparrow, Barn swallow, Common swift, Common blackbird, Bullfinch and Common kestrel and a Common buzzard near the Brit.

The best spot of the day was seeing a Common lizard on the scree below Craig y Forwyn.

We arrived back at the start to find that there were a lot more cars in the car park, but we were all smiling as we had all enjoyed a really good walk.

Two cars headed straight home, but two of us were looking forward to a pint of Lees bitter at the Britannia Inn at Halkyn. Alas we arrived at the Brit to find that was staying closed all day today, so we too, headed straight home!

Walks and Dates July 2020 (Proposed Social Distance Walks)

Harris Hikers Walk Again.

It looks as though we may be able to resume our group walks together, but the Welsh Government require the walk to be organised, and in order to satisfy that, it is essential that you let me know the day before the walk so that your name can be added to the list of those intending to walk.

However we will still have to keep to the recommended social distancing advice given by the Welsh Government if we walk in Wales and the UK Government if we walk in England. Our numbers may have to be limited as well. 

It will probably mean that we all have to travel in our own cars and meet at the start.

Wednesday 8th July 2020.

Mynydd Marian.

Distance: 7-8 miles. Climb: 1000'.

Start: Llandulas Beach Car Park. Grid ref: SH907786.

Leave Chester at 09-00.

This walk is taken from Dave Berry's book, "Walks on the North Wales Coast". It combines an interesting section of the coast line with the attractive limestone countryside between, Old Colwyn, Llysfaen and Llandulas. This is one of my favourite walks, so I thought it would make a good one for starters.

Saturday 11th July 2020.

Prestatyn, Talacre and The Point of Ayr.

Distance: 10 miles.(Less if we don't do the Point of Ayr loop). Climb: 200'.

Start at Prestatyn Barkby Beach.. I suggest that you park at Beach Hotel car park, (£2-00) On our visit in January 2019 , this is the same as the pay and display car park!) on the large parking area by the PC,  Grid ref: SJ068839. The hotel may still be closed due to Covid-19, so it is probably best to park at the public car par park by the PC block.

Leave Chester at 09-00 a.m.

We will all need to drive independently and keep to the 2m social distancing on the walk. 

This is a walk that is always on the list at this time of the year, as it is always a good time to see the Little tern colony. so bring binoculars with you. 

High tide is at about 15-50, and is about 25.8', so we go along the beach / sand dunes first  on the way to Talacre and the Point of Air. We will take lunch using one of the picnic tables along the path leading to the Point Of Air. We will decide on the day whether to extend the walk as far as the RSPB observation point. 

Our return route will be through The Warren Nature Reserve, the Caravan Park and finally through Prestatyn Golf Course. If the footpath through the caravan park is closed, we may have to take the path through the sand dunes bacck to the beach.

Wednesday 15th July 2020.
Thurstaston Common, Stapledon Wood, Caldy and More

Currently we six different people can meet outdoors, so please let me no as soon as you can if you intend to walk.
I will add the name of those planning to walk to this post, so everyone will know and we can keep to the six people limit.

To date those planning to walk are: Martyn, Wendy, David S., Sue and Michel.

Distance: 8-9 miles. Climb: 700'
Start: Thursaston Visitor Centre Car Park. Grid ref:SJ239835.
Leave Chester at 9-00 a.m.

We will all need to drive independently and keep to the 2m social distancing on the walk.

This combines two walks from Raymond Roberts' booklet "Wirral Walks - the West Wirral Six". This is a relatively easy walk with good views along the way, especially from Thurstaston Hill. We hope to walk back Thursaston along the beach, so bring binoculars with you. High tide is at 07-15, and is a 24.3' tide (7.4 m).  We should have no problems walking along the beach whatever time we get there.

Saturday 18th July 2020.

A Walk Around the Great Orme.

Postponed due to bad weather.

Distance: 8-10 miles, but will be decided on the day.

Climb: 500'-1000', depending on the route we take.

Start at Llandudno West shore. Roadside parking near the boating lake. Grid ref: SH771820.

Leave Chester at 08-30 a.m.

Please let me no as soon as you can if you intend to walk.
I will add the name of those planning to walk to this post.

We will all need to drive independently and keep to the 2m social distancing on the walk.

The walk will involve taking the path above Marine Drive (if open  or the Marine Drive if it isn't), take the Monk's Path across the limerstone escarpment to the plateau on the Great Orme. After visiting the summit trig point, we will explore the area above the ski slope, the site of an old hillfort Pen y Dinas. 

The return route will either be the zig zag path and / or the invalids path back o the West Shore.

Replacement walk.

The Yeld, Primrose Hill, Pale Heights and Delamere Forest.

Abandoned due to bad weather.

Distance: 8 miles. Climb: 750’.

Start: The Yeld Car Park, Yeld Lane, Kelsall.

To get to the car park, turn right at the traffic lights at the top of Kelsall Hill and again turn right (opposite the Farmers Arms) into Yeld Lane. The car park is on the left about 0.3 miles (0.5 km) up Yeld Lane.

Leave Chester at 09-00.

Please let me know as soon as you can if you intend to walk.
I will then add your name of those planning to walk to this post.

To date those planning to walk are: Martyn and Roger.

We will all need to drive independently and keep to the 2m social distancing on the walk.

This walk starts by heading south down Yeld Lane, past the Farmers Arms and up the road as far as King's Gate. There we head into the wood and return to Gresty'd Wate Car Park via Primrose Hill.  The next stage goes into Delamere Forest and includes a visit to Pale Heights, where hopefully we should get good 360 degree views.

The last part of the walk explores Delamere Forest, north west part of the visitor centre, before returning to The Yeld.

Wednesday 22nd July 2020.

Halkyn, Limestone, Lead and More.  

Please let me know as soon as you can if you intend to walk.
I will then add your name of those planning to walk to this post.
To date those planning to walk are: Martyn, David S.

To date those planning to walk are: Martyn.

Distance: 9  miles; Climb:1000'.

Start: Common Land opposite the Blue Bell Inn, Halkyn. Grid ref: SJ209702. 

Leave Chester at 09-00 a.m.

We will all need to drive independently and keep to the 2m social distancing on the walk.

We haven't started a walk from this location for quite some time. I thought that it was about time we did so to do so again. This walk combines two of my favourite walks in this fascinating area on our local patch. We used to start this walk from the Britannia Inn and finish the walk by going through the "Water buffalo" fields, but as we start near the Blue Bell Inn, we will miss out that part of the walk.

Plenty of options to make this walk shorter, if required.

Saturday 25th July 2020.

Cwn Dulas, Cefn yr Ogof and Gop Wood.

Distance: 9.2 miles; Climb:1130'.

Start location. Abergele, Pensarn Beach car park by PC. Grid ref:SH942786.

Leave Chester 9-00 a.m.

Please let me no as soon as you can if you intend to walk.
I will then add your name of those planning to walk to this post.

To date those planning to walk are: Martyn

We will all need to drive independently and keep to the 2m social distancing on the walk.

The bulk of the walk is taken from Dave Berry's book "Walks on the North Wales Coast", with an extension to include the small hill Cefn yr Ogof. Always a good walk with several opportunities to have extensive views. We may decide to explore Gop Wood a little more. If we miss out Cefn yr Ogof, the walk will be a mile or so shorter and the climb reduced by about half.

Wednesday 29th July 2020.

Mynydd Marian.

Distance: 8 miles. Climb: 700'-1000'.

Start: Llandulas Beach Car Park. Grid ref: SH907786.

Leave Chester at 09-00.

Please let me no as soon as you can if you intend to walk.
I will then add your name of those planning to walk to this post.

To date those planning to walk are: Martyn, David S., Nigel, Sue and Michel.

We will all need to drive independently and keep to the 2m social distancing on the walk.

This is a repeat of the walk that I did with Ed on the 8th, but as it is one of my favourite walks,  I don't mind doing it again and it is a good one to start to get a little climb into our legs.

This walk is taken from Dave Berry's book, "Walks on the North Wales Coast". It combines an interesting section of the coast line with the attractive limestone countryside between, Old Colwyn, Llysfaen and Llandulas.

The Great Orme and Pen-y-Dinas Saturday 25th July 2020

The Great Orme and Pen-y-Dinas.

The tide was well out as we set off from the West Shore.

Possible cause of the footpath closure.

Feral goats resting on the road.

The Silver studded blue butterfly.

Ed's Silver studded blue.

Looking back towards the West Shore from the top of the Monks Path.

At the trig point on the Great Orme  - for some reason wrapped in red plastic.

At the trig point on the Great Orme.

The decent from the Great Ormes.

Pen--dinas - the next objective.

The "rocking stone" on Pen-y-dinas.

Inside the Elephants Cave.

Inside the Elephants Cave.

The entrance to the Elephants Cave.

Looking over the Grand Hotel towards the Little Orme.

It is Summer after all  - cricket underway.

A Stonechat looks towards us, but doesn't seem to care.

Ed's Stonchat.

Distance: 7.2 miles. Climb: 1212'.

Time: 4 hours 8 minutes. On the move waking avrage: 2.2 m.p.h. Overall walk average: 1.8 m.p.h.

Group: Martyn and Ed.

We made a last minute decision to walk on the Great Ormes as this area seemed to give us the best chance of missing out on getting wet. We even delayed the start until after 10-00. This proved to be a good decision, as we wre blessed with warm sunshine before mid-day and just overcast conditions after lunch.

We left West Shore with plenty of roadside parling still available, but by the end of the walk very few spaces were to be found.

Llandudno seemed to be pretty busy with cars and people. Having said that we had no problems keeping to Welsh covid rules, even on the top of the Great Orme, the onlt tight spot was along the Invalid Terrace.

As the path above Marine Drive was still close, we had to follow the road as far as the Monks Path, and unexpectedly we did see a few of the Great Orme star butterlies, the Silver studded blue, as we climbed passed the sunbathing Feral goats.

As ever the views from the Great Orme were good, although the high tops of the Carneddau were still in cloud, It always delightful to stroll across the limestone plateau on the Great Orme and today was no exception.

Lunch was taken in a section of workings on Mynydd Isaf which gave us a little shelter from the breeze as we sat on convenient limestone rocks.

Ed, relying on recent memory, managed to guide me to the summit of Pen-y-dinas, the site of a hillfort south of the ski centre, that I had only recently heard about after watching a tv proramme on a walk on the Great Orme.

Ed also introduced me to the "Elephants Cave" in the cliffs below Pen-y-dinas.

Birds seen or heard today included: Mute swan, Mallard, Jackdaw, Herring gull, Carrion crow, Stonechat, Dunnock, Barn swallow and Meadow pipit.

It was disappointing to find the PC still closed at the West Shore and in the Happy Valley but gratefl that the ones at the start Llandudno end of the Invalid Terrace were open.

A great day out, but we couldn't stretch it to anything more than just over seven milers.

Halkyn Limestone.Lead and More Wednesday 22nd July 2020

Halkyn Limestone.Lead and More

The folly behind the old Halkyn Stables.

View towards the Dee Estuary from Halkyn Mountain.

Another views towards the Dee Estuary from Halkyn Mountain.

At the trig point on Halkyn Mountain.

Rock rose and thyme.

Moel Famau as we headed towards Moel-y-Crio.

Looking across Halkyn Mountain from near the Halkyn radio masts.

Distance: 7.0 miles. Climb: 872'.

Time: 4 hours 5 minutes. On the move walking average: 2.4 m.p.h. Overall walk average: 1.7 m.p.h.

Group: Martyn and David S.

Overall this was a good day for walking, although we did ger a brief shower just as we set off and while we were having lunch at Rhes-y-Cae.

It was good to be out again in an area that we hadn't been able to walk in for 12 weeks or so, and one that we we had to drive to get to the start.

Crossing Halkyn Mountain, we did get good views across the Dee Estuary  in one direction and Moel Famau and the Clwydian Hills in a more southerly direction.

Lunch was taken at the playground next to Rhes-y-cae school, where we took advantage of the picnic table. Had any children arrived, we were prepared to vacate the area so that they could play on the adventure structures that were there. None arrived, so we spent plenty of time enjoyiny lunch, as we kept an eye on the rain clouds heading our way. Thankfully, we only seemed to catch the edge, hardly enough to justify putting on our waterproof tops.

We did, however cut the walk shorter than originally planned, but everyone was happy, especially as I was able to have a pint of Lees Bitter at the Brit, sitting outside in the warm sunshine.

Birds seen or heard today included: House sparrow, Meadow pipit, Common swift, Barn swallow, Common buzzard, Black billed magpie, Jackdaw and Woodpigeon.

Having enjoyed my first pint of real ale, and one of my favorites as well, i had to indulge myself and have a carry out, after all there was something else to celebrate tonight - LFC lifting the Premiership Trophy!

Nigel's Canal Walk With Celia Monday 13th (?) July 2020

Nigel's Canal Walk With Celia Monday 13th (?) July 2020.

A smiling Celia on the canal towpath.

Last week Celia and I walked along the canal to Croughton but then took a different route from Wendy , choosing to go along the North Cheshire Way to Backford Hospice  and then back to canal via A41. A lovely walk and great to be able to do it with a friend.

A Riverside Walk in Search of Egrets Saturday 18th July 2020

A Riverside Walk in Search of Egrets.

Common poppies in flower.

A Rowen with plenty of berries at The Riverside on River Lane, Saltney.

A defiant cow, but I had no intention of going any further anyway, as the egrets had flown off.

The immature Little egret on the grassy bank of the River Dee.

The immature Little egret on the grassy bank of the River Dee.

Heading towards the Saltney Ferry Bridge on my way home.

Distance: 4.1 miles. Climb: 41'.

Time: 1 hour 56 minutes.

On the move walking average: 2.7 m.p.h. Overall walk average: 2.1 m.p.h.

I had hoped to walk around the Great Orme today, but the forecast forced me to change the walk to one around Delamere Forest which on Friday had the better forecast.

After sitting in the cars at The Yeld with light rain falling (seemed more like heavy rain), both Roger and myself decided to abandon the walk at 10-00 and head for home.

As you might expect as I arrived at home, the rain stopped and with the clouds not looking threatening, I decided to embark on one of my riverside walks from home.

i set off with waterproofs in my small rucksack and an umbrella at the ready, just in case the rain came back.

It was pretty quiet, very few people out walking, but one did tell me that he had seen a Cattle egret in a field beyond the pumping station towards Cop House Farm.

 The prospect of rain doesn't seem to put cyclists off as much, and there seemed to a steady stream of them on the Wales Coast Path going in both directions.

This encouraged me to extend my walk a little to see if I could spot this Cattle egret.  I did see two egrets on the grassy river bank towards Cop House Farm Cottages, but thanks to a dog walker I never got quite near enough to see both of them before the dogs disturbed them and they flew off.  However I did see one of them clearly, and that was a juvenile Little egret, so I will never no, if the other one was a Cattle egret or not.

Despite this disappointment, I did see some Common sandpiper, always a nice spot.

Birds seen or heard today included: Moorhen, Common blackbird, Greenfinch, Goldfinch, Common starling, Barn swallow, House martin, Woodpigeon, Carrion crow, Grey heron, Oystercatcher, Black billed magpie, Lapwing, Black headed gull, Lesser black back gull. Common sandpiper and Little egret.

A Rowen tree at the Riverside and one at Saltney Ferry Primary School were laden with berries, so does that mean we are in for a hard winter?

It started to rain again just as I arrived at the Saltney Ferry Footbridge, and continued on and off until I arrived home, when again as expected it stopped.

It was well worth venturing out, and I was home early enough to watch the cricket that I missed yesterday!

Thurstaston Hill Revisited Wednesday 15th July 2020.

Thurstaston Hill Revisited, Finishing With A Stroll Along The Beach.

Setting off on the Wirral Way from Thurstaston Country Park car park.

Wales cis over there somewhere!

At the toposcope doing their best to social distance.

The lunch spot for most of the group.

The view from my lunch spot - the beach from Caldy towards Thurstaston.

A Common kestrel trying to spot some food on the cliff by Caldy Beach.

A slightly different shot of the same Common kestrel.

A Common coot trying to distract us from the nearby chicks.

A female Mallard with one remaining large duckling.

Distance: 6.8 miles. Climb: 526'.

Time: 3 hours 36 minutes. On the move walking average: 2.3 m.p.h. Overall walk average: 1.9 m.p.h.

Group: Martyn, David S., Wendy, Sue and Michel.

The forecast suggested that there was a >20% chance of rain after 10-00, alas at times in reality it was 100%. However each spell never lasted long, and usin an umbrella was all that was needed. Distant views were never clear, but on our second visit to the Thurstaston Hill toposcope we could just about make out the outline of Liverpool Anglican Cathedral.

Insteady of visiting Royden Country Park, we descended the north side of Thurstaston Hill towards Caldy Rugby Club, and followed field paths alongside several horse fields to reach the road leading to the shore at Caldy.

Lunch was taken on the beach, sheltering from the cool breeze behind the large stones near the steps.

We had good views along the beach towards Thurstaston as we had lunch, frequently being serenaded by the haunting call of the Eurasion curlews out on the mud flats.

Birds seen or heard today included: Goldfinch, Chiffchaff, Woodpigeon, European robin, Common blackbird, Mallard, Moorhen, Common coot, Carrion crow, Herring gull, Black headed gull, Lesser black back gull, Oystercatcher, Skylark, Song thrush, Greenfinch, House martin, Barn swallow, Little egret and Common kestrel.

We arrived back at the car, still dry and looking forward to a celebratory drink, but alas that would have to wait until we got home.

An enjoyable and interesting walk, even if it wasn't exactly the walk we were expecting.

The bonus today was finding that it was free parking at the Thurstaston Visitor Centre Car Park, as many of us have little change with using "contactless" for most of our transactions for the lastfour months.