Walks and Dates May 2024

 Latest Information About Harris Hikers from 23rd March 2023.

After much discussion between group members, those present decided to follow DS’s suggestion that “Short walks with an. option of a meal at a nearby venue” should take place on the fifth Wednesday in a month, and members of the group would take it in turns to plan the walk and venue.
There are three such Wednesdays left in 2024. 

.These are:- May 29th, July 31st, and  October 30th.

It was also agreed that Wednesday Walks should in the main be walks of around 8 miles with no more than about 1200’ of climb. If proposed walks exceed these suggestions routes should have obvious short cuts to reduce distance and / or climb involved.
It was also agreed that each month a different member of the group should plan the walk.
This walk should be for the Wednesday in the month and that would include the “Short Walk and Meal Option” on the fifth Wednesday.
In order to include that walk in the monthly “Dates and Walks Post", details of the walk need to be sent to me by 15th of the previous month.
Wherever possible I would like people to let me know of their intention to walk or not to walk by Monday afternoon/early evening prior to the walk on Wednesday. There isn’t an issue with last minute cancellations for any reason. This happens anyway when adverse weather is forecast at the last minute.
Where the “Short Walk and Meal” is concerned, the person planning the walk and meal should

be contacted directly and informed of their intentions as soon as you have made your decision.

Wednesday 1st May 2024.

Moel Arthur and Penycloddiau.

Distance: 7-9 miles. Climb: 1380'.
Start: Llangwyfan Forestry car park: SJ138668
Leave Chester 09-00 a.m.

Those planning to walk: .

Those not walking: Martyn.

This walk combines two walks taken from Dave Berry's book "Walks in the Clwydian Hills". This area of the Clwydians has so much to offer, and Moel Arthur and Penycloddiau are particularly good. On a good day the views from both hill forts are superb.

This a walk most of the group have done many times, so I thought it would be a good one to suggest on a day when I am unable to walk.

Saturday 4th May 2024.

Pendle Hill – the annual search for Dotterel.

Distance: 8.0 miles. Climb:1900’.

Start: Downham Village Car park. Grid ref: SD785442.

Leave Chester:8-30 a.m.

Those planning to walk: Martyn, Ed, Mike, Nigel, Winston.

Those not walking: .

This is a little shorter than our usual Saturday walks.  The route today is the one in Terry Marsh’s book “Fifty Classic Walks in Lancashire”. He describes it as “undoubtedly the finest ascent of Pendle Hill”. Let’s hope for a good day weather-wise, topped up with good views of  Dotterel as we did a few years ago.  Don’t forget to bring binoculars.

The last few times we have done this walk, the weather hasn't been kind.lets hope the weather is better this year.

Wednesday 8th May 2024.

Gronant, Big Pool N.R., Around Talacre Abbey 

and Coed Bell.

Distance: 7-8 miles.
Climb: 1250’
Start: Gronant Dunes Car Park on Shore Road, Lower Gronant. This is off the Coast Road (A548), signposted Presthaven Sand and Gronant Sand Dunes. Grid ref: SJ090837.
Leave Chester at 9-00 a.m.
Those planning to walk: Martyn, Ed, Fran, Nigel, Mike, Sue and Michel.
Those not walking:  
When we visited Coed Bell at the end of April 2021 and we were impressed by the display of Bluebells, so naturally it had to be included in our annual Bluebell Wood Walks.
The walk explores the low hills at the northern end of the Clwydian Hills, but starts along the coast before heading past Abbey View Caravan Park. We will probably make a short detour to visit Big Pool Nature reserve, before climbing  above the site of Talacre Abbey and onto to the track past Home Farm. We usually have lunch opposite Home Farm, where we can take advantage of the stone wall as perching spots. 

After lunch we will visit Coed Bell, hopefully with lots of Bluebells, before descending through Gronant and back to the start.

Saturday 11th May 2024.

Pont Rhyd-yr-Hydd.

Distance: 9-10 miles. Climb: 1600'.

Start: Llandrillo riverside car park. Grid ref: SH035371.

Leave Chester 08-30 a.m.

Those planning to walk: Martyn, Mike, Ed.
Those not walking:  

This walk is taken from Dave Berry's booklet " Walks Around the Berwyn Mountains and Ceiriog Valley". It is described as an exhilarating walk exploring the upper Dee Valley between Llandrillo and Cynwyd. The route follows ancient upland trackways, rising to a height of 1600'. Providing the weather is good, we should get some panoramic views from the higher parts of the route. The return route passes through attractive undulating countryside past the 18th century Hendwr.

Wednesay 15th May 2024.

A Bluebell Wood Walk from Whitford, including Maen Achwyfan and Coed Pen-y-Gelli.

After the stunning Bluebells seen in Coed Bell last week, I have decided to cancel this walk and replace it with a  different walk.

See below for the new walk.

Distance: 8 miles. Climb:1000’.

Start:Roadside parking opposite the church in Whitford. Grid ref:SJ147782.

Leave Chester 9-00 a.m.

Those planning to walk: Martyn, .
Those not walking: Ed, Nigel, Sue and Michel

The walk starts off by using one of the walks in Dave Berry’s book “ Walks Around Holywell and Halkyn Mountain. We have completed this one several times, including visiting the beautifully carved Maen Achwfan.  Lunch will be taken at the quarry next to Coed Pen-y-Gelli. The return route takes us to Lloc and then returns to Whitford via Twll Bach.

Replacement walk.

The Dinorben Arms, Bodfari, Around Moel-y-Gaer, Sodom and More.

Distance: 6 miles.  Climb: 1136'.

Start: Dinorben Arms, Bodfari, Denbighshire. Approximate Postcode LL16 4DA.

Bodfari is on the A541 (Mold to Denbigh road).

Grid ref: SJ092700

Leave Chester at 09-00.

Those planning to walk: Martyn (Walk + Meal), Fran (Walk + Meal), Mike (Walk + Meal).

Those not walking: Ed, Nigel, Sue and Michel.

I know this is shorter than our usual walks, but this gives me an opportunity to recce the walk before doing with a group from church.  It also a another possible "Harris Hikers Short Walk and Meal". 

Most of the walk follows the walk provided by the Dinorben Arms. There description of the route can be found on their web site.  There walk is only 3 miles, so I have extended the walk to include part pf the Clwydian Way towards Craig Tremeirchion and rejoining the Offa's Dyke Path through Sodom.  The walk picks up the Dinorben Arms route north east of Moel-y-Gaer. 

Let me know if you are interested in joining me on this recce followed by drinks and maybe a meal at the Dinorben Arms.

Saturday 18th May 2024.

Bluebell Woods Around Parbold. 

Cancelled - a rest day instead!

Distance: 10 miles. Climb: 800'.

Start: Hunter's Hill Quarry Nature Reserve on Bannister Lane WN6 9QD. Grid ref: SD503123
It is 48 miles from Saltney, so should be a little less from Chester and should take just over an hour to get there.

Leave Chester at 08-30 a.m.

Those planning to walk: Martyn, .
Those not walking: Ed

This walk is a walk that we haven't done for a few years, but each time we have the Bluebell have been superb. This walk is on the East of Parbold, and visits up to ten different woods, After the"beast from the East" the Bluebells are blooming a little later than expected but hopefully they will be still in flower.  The walk also includes part of the Leeds - Liverpool Canal as far as Appley Bridge. This is a walk that we have done a few times now.    Last time the Bluebells and wild garlic in Fairy Glen were quite stunning.  In the past we have seen Brown hares, so hopefully we will today too. Bring binoculars with you just in case. There is no description, just the OS map.

Wednesday 22nd May 2024.

Coed-y-Felin, Moel Ffagnalt and Moel-y-Gaer.

Postponed due to a dire weather forecast of heavy rain all day!

Distance: 9-10 miles. Climb: 1400'.

Start: Coed-y-Felin, Hendre. Grid ref: SJ196678.

Leave Chester at 09-00.

Those planning to walk: Martyn, Sue and Michel, Nigel and Fran.    . 

Those not walking: Mike.

This walk combines two walks taken from Dave Berry's booklet " Walks Around Holywell and Halkyn Mountain.

It is a few years since we last walked from this from Coed-y-Felin, and this will be the first time we have done so on a Saturday.. The main walk explores the varied countryside between the Wheeler Valley and and Halkyn Mountain, whilst the extensions explores Moel Ffagnalt and the area around Rhes-y-cae.Weather pemitting we can expect good views from both Moel Ffagnallt and Moel-y-Gaer.

Saturday 25th May 2024.

Big Low, Berristall Vale and the Saddle of Kerridge.

Postponed - my look for a nearer alternative if weather is OK.

Distance: 8-9 miles; Climb: 2000'
Start: The Adlington Street car park Grid ref: SJ931782.
Leave Chester 8-30 a.m. and meet in the car park.

Those planning to walk: Martyn,  . 

Those not walking: .

This is another walk that combines two walks from Graham Beech's book "East Cheshire Walks". He describes the walks as moderate to strenuous and includes some of the most scenic surroundings around Bollington. We have already strolled along Kerridge Hill and can vouch for that part of the walk.
After walk drinks will be in the Vale Inn, a hostelry that impressed us on earlier visits.

Wednesday 29th May 2024.

Ram Wood and Big Wood from the Glasfryn.

This is one of our short walks.

Distance: 4-5 miles. Climb: 500'.

Start: Glasfryn (Brunning and Price), Mold. Grid ref: SJ240654

Leave Chester at 09-00.

Those planning to walk: Martyn (Walk + Meal), Fran (Walk + Meal), Elaine and Nigel (Walk and Meal), Sue and Michel (Walk + Meal), David (Walk + Meal).

Those not walking: Mike, Ed?.

This walk is one suggested by DS as a suitable walk for one of our fifth Wednesday in the month short walks.  This will be the second such walk in 2024.

Starting at the Glasfryn means most of us will anticipating having a meal afterwards.

This walks uses quite lanes, as well as going through two woods where we know from past experience some of the tracks can be a little boggy!