West Kirby Marine Lake, Red Rocks and More 31st January 2024

Common redshank and Turnstnes on the Old Bath Rocks.

A male Goosander puts in an appearance on West Kirby Marine Lake.

On the beach at West Kirby.

Natterjack toads live here, but we would have to come back after Sunset to see or hear them!

The view to Hilbre Island as we approached Red Rocks.

A quick stop for "elevenses" - a rarity only allowed on short walks!

St. Hildeburgh's Church, Hoylake.

Back at West Kirby Marine Lake to find the wind surfers were out.

West Kirby Marine Lake, the new parade sea defences and seats.

A Great cormorant joins Common redshank on a West Kirby Marine Lake pontoon.

Some wind surfers are better than others.

A Turnstone on the rocks at the West Kirby Old Baths. 

Walk Stats:
Distance: 5.1 miles. Climb: 266’
Time: 2 hours 5 minutes.
On the move walking average: 2.8 m.p.h.
Overall walk average: 2.4 m.p.h.
Temperature: 7.6 – 8.6 Celsius.
Beaufort Wind Force: 3/4, just a L Gentle to Moderate Breeze
Group: Martyn, Sue and Michel, Mike, David S, Nigel and Elaine and Fran.
A dry day, feeling cool was forecast for our walk today. Thankfully it didn’t feel as cold as the 5 Celsius suggested it might be.
There seemed to be lower clouds on the Welsh hills seen across the Dee Estuary, so walking here on the Wirral was a good choice.
Not many birds were on the Marine Lake this morning, so I didn’t slow people down as much birdwatching.
Heading to Red Rocks we stayed on the lower beach path rather than taking the boardwalk through the dunes.
A Red Rocks e had a short refreshment break before setting off up the road to Hoylake Station.
I decided to miss out the path across the Royal Liverpool Golf Course to avoid the possibility of getting muddy boots as we used the grassy path in front of the club house.
Instead we used the hard surface path Hoylake Station that runs between the former public golf course and the railway line.
Arriving back at the Marine Lake we found the wind surfers were out, but no yachts.
Birds seen or heard today included: Jackdaw, Carrion crow, Common blackbird, Black billed magpie, Goosander, Oystercatcher, Black headed gull, Herring gull, Common redshank, Turnstone and Eurasian curlew.
Back at the cars, happy to have relatively clean mud-free boots, having had an enjoyable morning walk and ready for refreshments at the Wheatsheaf Inn at Raby. Everyone enjoyed their drinks (alcoholic and non-alcoholic), their meals and some even had room a pudding! We were in The Cowshed, so it wasn’t as toasty as the main bar area!

Around Pentrefoelas, Ffridd-y-Foel and Foel Las Motte 27th January 2024

Setting off from Pentrefoelas along the Merddwr, heading towards Gallt-y-celyn.

Looking north eastward towards Pentrefoelas.

Leaving Gallt-y-celyn with the dogs still giving us a welcome!

Heading for trouble!

You wouldn't think this was the path, would you?

I think the path crosses the wall here!

It doeasn't look any easier from this side!

Heading across Bryn Prys.

Crossing the Merdwr.

The view from our lunch spot.

Our lunch spot south of Cefngarw.

The first Snowdrops of the day, east of Cefngarw

Evidence of the power of nature!

Evidence that reporting footpath problems can sometimes pay off!

Is this Moel Siabod?

Heading south towards Cefn-y-gadfa.

Maes Gwyn dating from 1665.

Foel Las Motte.

A magnicent display of Snowdrops near Hen Voelas.

A waterfall on the north side of Pentrefoelas.

Walk Stats:
Distance: 10.7 miles. Climb: 1233’
Time: 5 hours 38 minutes.
On the move walking average: 2.5 m.p.h.
Overall walk average: 1.9 m.p.h.
Temperature: 7.7– 8.2 Celsius.
Beaufort Wind Force: Max 2/3, just a Light to Gentle Breeze
Group: Martyn, Mike and Ed.
A dry day, feeling cool was forecast for our walk today. Thankfully it didn’t feel as cold as the 2 Celsius suggested it might be.
Distant hills were always in cloud, causing us to debate the identity of the hills we could partially see.
Route finding in the morning proved challenging, but eventually we always managed to get back on track.
As expected it was pretty wet underfoot and our trousers all ended up pretty muddy, almost as bad as last Wednesday.
Probably the highlight of the day was seeing two Brown hares – only Ed managed to see both of them.
At one point crossing below Ffridd-y-foel we ended up wading across a flooded section of the path, but with gaiters on our feet remained dry.
Birds seen or heard today included: Jackdaw, Carrion crow, Rook, Common blackbird, Black billed magpie, European robin, Great tit and Common buzzard. An enjoyable walk, celebrated at the Foelas Arms at Pentrefoelas where a real fire welcomed us and the local Nant brewerty beer was sampled. Even my mug of strong tea went down well.

The Bryn Pydew Obelisk, Gloddaeth Hall and around Marl Hall Woods 24th January 2024

The first lambs of the year on one o our walks.

A new bench jusut fo "poo bags"!

Thankfully when we returned a the end of our walk the "poo fairy" had been!

Approaching the Bryn Pydew Obelisk and bin buzzws by a RAF jet!

Is this the start of another "Ministry of Silly Walks"?

Not our best ever view of the Carnddaua. 

St. Cystlennin's Church

Snowdrops in c Grounds.

Heading on a new pth through Coed Bron Garth from St. Cystsynnin's Church.

The quarry east of Bryn Pydew Nature reserve.

The last stile escaping fom the worst mud esxperience ever!

The Bryn Pydew Obelisk from Marl Hall Woods.

At the Marl Woods Viewpoint.

Walk Stats:
Distance: 7.0 miles. Climb: 1362’
Time: 4 hours 36 minutes.
On the move walking average: 2.1 m.p.h.
Overall walk average: 1.5 m.p.h.
Temperature: 9.6 – 11.2 Celsius.
Beaufort Wind Force: Max 5 (a 20.5 m.p.h. gust t the Bryn Pydew obelisk).
Group: Martyn, Sue and Michel, Nigel, Mike and Ed.
The weather today was much better than the forecast, pleasantly warm and not as windy.
As we approached our usual path through Coed Bron Garth, Ed’s it might be worth heading along the road to St. Cysteninn’s Church to see if the Snowdrops were out. Thankfully they were.
Lunch was taken on the western edge of Glanwyddwn in a relatively sheltered spot and using a convenient wall to sit on.
After lunch we experience the worst part of our walk, too much mud and boggy terrain everywhere, but we all survived and finished the walk wondering when we would be able to clean our boots.
Birds seen or heard today included: Jackdaw, Carrion crow, Rook, Common blackbird, Black billed magpie, Blue tit, European robin, Great tit, Common buzzard, Great spotted woodpecker.
An enjoyable walk, despite ending up with muddy boots, but home early enough to being able to clean them outside before it was too dark.
After walk drinks were enjoyed at the Albion in Conwy where several beers were sampled by those who weren’t driving (Nigel and Michel).

Bersham Iron Works, Nant Mill and Around Minera 20th January 2024

The start of our walk near the Bersham Iron Works Car Park.

The first weir on the Afon Clywedog.

The "waterfall" on the Afon Clywedog west of Bersham Iron Works.

The delightful path through Plas Powe Wood.

The road bridge over the Afon Clywedog at Nant Mill.

One of the bilingual information boards at Nant Mill.

No longer a ford at The Nant!

A gnome hiding in the trees.

The Minera information board, east of the quarry.

The lime kilns east of Minera Quarry.

St.Mary's Church, Minera.

Just one eye on passersby!

The Minera Lead Mine Visitor Centre ahead.

On the King's trail through Plas Power Wood.

St.Mary's Church, Bersham.

Walk Stats:
Distance: 8.5 miles. Climb: 1316’
Time: 4 hours 50 minutes.
On the move walking average: 2.3 m.p.h.
Overall walk average: 1.7 m.p.h.
Temperature: 6.1 – 7.4 Celsius.
Beaufort Wind Force: 3/4 just a Gentle to Fresh breeze with a maximum 18.1 m.p.h. gust of 18.1m.p.h.
Group: Martyn and Ed.
This was another walk changed at the last minute in the hope of finding somewhere to walk that avoided us getting wet.
On this occasion, Ed’s suggestion turned out to be a good one as even the odd shower failed to materialise. However we didn’t avoid the strong breezes altogether, but much of the walk through the woods sheltered us to a large extent.
Last year when we did this walk we encountered a large number of gnome (>100 we were informed) but today Ed counted less than half that number! Had they gone on holiday? We thought the best solution was that they had been removed as maintenance was done in their preferred location on the hillside.
Lunch was taken at the picnic site at the Minera Lead Mining Centre where the picnic tables meant we were sheltered from the worst of the blustery conditions.
The surprise of the day was probably the ford at The Nant now in a state that it can no longer be used, but at least for those on foot there is still a footbridge nearby.
On the return route we decided to follow the King’s Trail through the wood back to Bersham Iron Works. Despite the extra climb it was a pleasant alternative route to the main track through the wood we had earlier used.
Birds seen or heard today included: Jackdaw, Carrion crow, Common blackbird, Black billed magpie, Blue tit, European robin, Great tit, Wood nuthatch and Woodpigeon.
An enjoyable walk, despite ending up with muddy boots, but home early enough to being able to clean them outside before it was too dark.
After walk drinks were enjoyed at the Pant-yr-Ochain where Titanic Brewery’s Plum Porter went down well, but there again it always does!