The first Bluebells seen in Coed Allt-ytywod.
A few more Bluebells seen in Coed Allt-ytywod.
Walking through an avenue of Bluebells seen in Coed Allt-ytywod.
Views of the Dee Estuary and Hilbre in the distance as we emerged from the north side of Coed Allt-y-tywod.
Dog violets in Coed y Garreg.
Bluebells in Coed Pen y gelli.
Lunch time in the Coed Pen y gelli Nature Reserve, but Ed's gone missing!
Cowslips at Gorsedd.
Moel Famau and the Clwydians on the skyline from our walk south of Gorsedd.
Not quite ripe, but stil a Lords and Ladies Plant / Cuckoo Pint.
Time: 4 hours 28 minutes. On the move walking average: 2.3 m.p.h. Overall walk average: 2.0 m.p.h.Max temperature: 18.2 Celsius.
Beaufort Wind Force: 0 - 2 . Mainly calm with the occasional gust to a very pleasant light breeze.
Group: Martyn, Ed, Sue and Michel and Wendy.
This was the first Bluebell Walk that all Harris Hikers could have come on if they so wished. We only had five takers, but they were rewarded with some fine displays of Bluebells in the three woods visited, Coed Allt-y-tywod, Coed y Garreg and Coed Pen-y-gelli.
We even investigated a path east of the usual path after crosing the A5151 that leads to Crown Wood. It wasn't trampled by cows, so was marginally better than the most direct path, but had the added challenge of more stiles and briers waiting to triping you up.
Coed Allt-y-tywod, the first wood did not disappoint, the display of Bluebells got better and better the further north and east into the wood we got.
Emerging from Allt-y-tywod we had magnificent views over the estuary towards Hilbre and the Wirral.
The second wood, Coed y Garreg wasn't so good, but there were patches of Blubells showing, but much of the north west side of the wood had been felled and looked in a dreadful state. No doubt nature will improve it with time.
Coed Pen y gelli was also pretty good, particularly the sectionof wood north west of the cricket ground.
Birds seen or heard today included: Common blackbird, Chiffchaff, House sparrow, Great tit, Collared dove, Dunnock, Barn swallow, Rook, Raven, Carrion crow, Jackdaw, European robin, Song thrush, Blaclcap, Great spotted woodpcker, Woodpigeon, Common starling, Goldfinch, Greenfinch, Willow warbler, Common pheasant and Winter wren.
In the morning we had times of dampness / light showers, but never enough to make me get my waterproofs out of my rucksack but I was the only one to remain in shorts, short sleeved shirt and a sunhat throught the walk!
As well as Bluebells, other niteable flowers seen included: Cowslips, Dog violets, Red campion, Early purple orchid and Lorss and Ladies /Cuckoo Pint, Green alkanet, Jack by the Hedge and the not so rare Daisy and Dandelion.
It was good to see bees around the flowers too.
Lunch was taken at the Coed y gelli Nature Reserve, taking advantage of a limestone ledge that that privided sutable perching spots for every length of leg to rest in comfort.
The only down side to this walk was being back at the cars at 14-05, far too early to head for the Bluebell at Halkyn for a pint of Lees bitter!
The bonus being getting home to clean my boots before it rained again!
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