Around Big Wood, Ram Wood and Gwysaney Hall from the Glasfryn 29th May 2024.

Our first view of Gwysaney Hall from the track heading to Big Wood.

Another view of Gwysaney Hall from the track heading to Big Wood.

On the track heading to Big Wood.

The delightful track as we entered Big Wood.

Was it the joke?

All paying attention now!

Just to prove I was there!

We  debated the location of the church - I think it is Northop.

Hidden Mallards.

Mallards on the pond north west of Gwysaney Hall.

A magnificent tree in the grounds of Gwysaney Hall.

Tree art?

Another view of Gwysaney Hall from the spot where we stopped for a drinks break.

Moel Famau from the spot where we stopped for a drinks break.

Looking across the valley towards Big Wood.

Walk Stats:
Distance: 4.0 miles. Climb: 443’
Time: 2 hours 40 minutes.
On the move walking average: 2.4 m.p.h.
Overall walk average: 1.5 m.p.h.
Temperature: 14.7 Celsius as we approached Ram Wood.
Beaufort Wind Force: Max 2, just a Light breeze.
Group: Martyn, Sue and Michel, Nigel, Elaine and David S.
The weather forecast today was looking good, at list to lunch time when showers were forecast for about 13-00.
This was one of our short walks with the added bonus of a meal (often starting and finishing at a Brunning and Price hostelry). The walk today was no exception and all arrived at the Glasfryn, Mold and ready to walk just after 09-30. We were in danger of completing the walk an hour earlier than the table DS had booked!
It turned out to be largely overcast, but with a temperature approaching 15 Celsius with a cool Light breeze, it was almost perfect conditions for walking.
Although DS had done this walk several times this year, the rest of us hadn’t done the walk in an anticlockwise direction before, so it was like doing a new walk.
The first section through Big Wood is always a pleasant stroll on a wide forest track, but once it turns into a path heading westward, the concentration is needed to negotiate the somewhat boggy terrain. Thankfully everyone arrived at Quarry Farm with our boots still relatively clean.
We intended stopping in Ram Wood for a short break for those wishing to quench their thirst to do so. In fact, we stopped a little further on where we had the opportunity to sit on an embankment and others could enjoy the view of Gwysaney Hall in one direction and Moel Famau in the other direction.
This pleasant stroll gave us superb views of Gwysaney Hall and frequent purple splashes of Rhododendron in flower, a reminder of the fact that this area was part of a large estate when planting this invasive plant was in fashion.
We arrived back at the Glasfryn a little early, but that didn’t prove to be a problem.
Purple Moose’s Cwrw Eryri and Weetwood’s Turncoat the beers enjoyed.
Most of the group made good choices and enjoyed their meals. Alas I didn’t, the Lebanonese beanburger that I chose was probably the worst meal that I have ever eaten at a Brunning and Price Hostelry. To say the only enjoyable bit was a slice of tomato is not an exaggeration! , As you might expect I won’t be choosing the Lebanonese beanburger ever again!
Overall, an enjoyable morning stroll, made even better when it started raining when were safely in the dry enjoying a drink.
Birds seen or heard today: Carrion crow, Jackdaw, Black billed magpie, European robin, Common blackbird, Common chaffinch, Chiffchaff, Winter wren, Song thrush, Woodpigeon, Goldfinch, Common starling, House sparrow, Common pheasant, Eurasian jay, Mallard, Common buzzard and Blackcap.