About Me

My photo
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, 26 May 2021

The Gop, Golden Grove and Sea Views 26th May 2021

At The Gop cairn.
Is that Moel Famau in the distance?
An historical cave below The Gop, but no-one seems interested!
"I don't believe it - two red blobs approaching!"
Lunch time on the long bence at Gwaenysgor.
A Common spotted orched next to the path on our walk today.
Looking towards the coast on our way to the Golden Grove.
Final views of Moel Famau.
Distance: 7.3 miles. Climb: 1161'.
Time: 4 hours 28 minutes. On the move walking average: 2.1 m.p.h. Overall walk average: 1.6 m.p.h.
Temperature: 13.4 Celsius at Gwaenysgor.
Beaufort Wind Force: 0-2. Calm to light air and gustingn to light breeze.
Group: Martyn, David S, Ed, Fran and Mike.
A good day for walking, largely overcast with minimal sunshine and at times with a coolish north westerly breeze.
An unusual walk in that for one reason or another we ended taking to "short cuts", but in the ended it suited us call as we ended the walk early enough for most of to visit the Britannia Inn at Halkyn for a celebratory drink, Lees Bitter for most and a coffee for DS.
A slower than usual overall average walking rate, but I put that down to having ten minute chat to a friendly farmer and a longer than usual lunch break at Gwaenysgor, wher we ended up sharing the wall in the Memorial Garden.
Distant views weree somewhat misty although we couls still make out Moel Famau being threated by a cloud ready to engulf the top on the top. Moel Siabod at one point could be made out and as usual we had good views over Prestatyn towards Barkby Beach and the Irish Sea.
This is quite a varied walk a few ups but with plenty of opportunities to recover with flat sections and  downs.
Birds seen and heard today included: Common blackbird, Goldfinch, Song thrush, Barn swallow, House martin, Mallard, Chiffchaff, Common buzzard, Common whitethroat, European robin, Common Chaffinch, Carrion crow, Jackdaw, Raven and Skylark.
It was good to see lots of flowers on display including: Common spotted orchid, Bluebells and Red valerian.
Overall an enjoyable walk, leaving us with the challenge to remove the remains of sheep dropping from the treads of our boots with its reluctance to let go of your boot.

No comments: