Grinllwm and the Grey Mare's Tail from Llanrwst 1st May 2021

The Gower Suspension Bridge - but not the original one!

Two of the six Goosanders seen today.

Trefriw from the riverside path from Llanrwst.

Sand martins house hunting.

Sand martins flying over the Afon Conwy, north east of Trefriw.

"Are you sure this is the easy way up?"

Pointing out the distant peaks of Snowdonia from what we thought was the summit of Grinllwm.

At the real summit of Grinllwm.

Panaroma of Snowdonia from Grinllwm.

First sighting of "baby Brock".

"Baby Brock" moves further away, before disappearing down one of the sett entrances.

Grinllwm fro our lunch spot near Llanrhychwyn Church,

Grey Mare's Tail Waterfalls.

Bluebells next to the path near the Mare's Tail Waterfalls.

A cricket match  taking place at Llanrwst.

A Mallard family o the river north west of Pont Fawr, Llanrwst, but who is that speaking in the background?

Distance: 7.4 miles. Climb: 1047',

Time: 4 hours 47 minutes. On the move walking average: 2.1 m.p.h. Overall walk average: 1.5 m.p.h.
Temeprature: 14.6 - 22.4 Celsius.
Beaufort Wind Force: 0-3 Calm to gentle breeze.
Group: Martyn, Roger and Ed (Our first walk of more than two walkers this year!)

A perfct dayfor walking, warm and sunny and only a gentle breeze to make us feel cool  whenever we happened to be out of the sun's warming rays.

The main challenges of the walk today was climbing through Coed y Gwmannog upto the north west side of Grinllwm's flank. Quite steep and not exactly a path, but carefully placing of the feet needed all the way to the ladder stile. The rest of the walk was delightful, except for one stile that gave me a shock when I tried to lower my foot onto a step that wasn't there!

I think this was the forst time that I have ever visited the summit of Grinllwm, well worth it for the superb views towards the higher peaks of Snowdonia.

It was as we were descending Grinllwm that we heard a Cuckoo calling in the distance from the Crafnant Valley, but the most surprising, but delightful sight was seeing a young Badger foraging in the grass near its sett.

Lunch was taken after visiting Llanrhychwyn Church, taking advantage of suitable stones and tree roots n which to sit. 

Birds seen or heard today included: Willow warbler, Chiffchaff, Mallard, Goosander, Barn swallow, Goosander, Grey Heron, Common chaffinch, Mute swan, Sand martin, Meadow pipit, Wood nuthatch, Common blackbird, Oystercatcher, Shelduck, House sparrow, Song thrush, Black billed magpie, Lesser black back gull, Dunnock, Blue tit. Mistle thrush, European robin, Common buzzard, Carrion crow, Jackdaw, Mistle thrush, Great cormorant and Dipper.

Yes, another Dipper day / Cuckoo day, but best of all a Badger day!

A walk enjoyed by all, and one that needed to be celebrated, which I did with a superb pint of Lees Bitter athe Blue Bell in Halkyn on my way home.