Conwy Mountain, Around Maen Esgob and Craigfadwen 31st August 2024

Going into Conwy Harbour at high tide.

Leaving Conwy Harbour at high tide.

Looking across the estuary towards the Great Orme.

The only shaded part of the North Wales Path (NWP 1) experienced today.

NWP 2

NWP 3

On the rising path to Castell Seion.

NWP 4

Hazy  views of Tal-y-Fan from he North Wales Path.

Heather on the rocky slopes above the North Wales Path.

A closer look at Ling.

NWP5

Looking back towards Conwy.

The NWP information board about Castell Seion.

I  think those rocky stones are part of Castell Seion.

A Common buzzards looks to be enjoying the thermals.

I  think those rocky stones are also part of Castell Seion.

Mike having a drink break on Castell Seion

Ed made it to Castell Seion too.

A Stonechat on the North Wales Path.

Another Stonechat on the North Wales Path.

NWP 5

NWP 6

NWP 7

Mike and Ed just ahead of me.

NWP 8

Another view towards the Great Orme from the North Wales Path.

Goldfinch feeding on thistle seeds.

A monument?

Heather around Maen Esgob.

Heading for paddle in Llyn y Wrach.

The view from our lunch spot.

The view towards the Afon Conwy from the path below Craigfadwen.

Only three alpacas this time.

The donkeys are still here as well.

Distant views of Castell Seion.

Ponies grazing in a field as e headed towards Mount Pleasant.

About enter Conwy on the way to the start.

Walk stats: 8.0 miles. Climb: 1444’ (1900’ for Ed and Mike).
Time: 5 hours 0 minutes. On the move walking average: 2.4 m.p.h. Overall Walk average: 1.8 m.p.h.
Temperature: 17.6 Celsius to 21.2 Celsius.
Beaufort Wind Force: Mainly 0 - 2. Calm to light air to a 5.1 m.p.h. Light breeze. However, it did increase to a 11.2 m.p.h. Gentle breeze as we climbed over Maen Esgob and headed towards Craigfadwen.
Group: Martyn, Mike and Ed.
A good day for walking, although feeling a little warm at times. Thankfully a very pleasant cool south easterly breeze accompanied us all day.
Distant views were somewhat hazy, but nevertheless pretty good.
I decided to follow the North Wales Path, while Mike and Ed took, he higher route via Castell Seion. We grouped together just before crossing the Sychnant Pass.
Lunch as taken next to Llyn y Wrach, although on this occasion it lacked water!
After lunch, most of the walk was downhill, and did include a fair bit of easy road walking that resulted in us “picking up speed” and arriving back at the cars before 15-00.
Birds seen or heard today were but included: Woodpigeon, House sparrow, Common buzzard, Black billed magpie Carrion crow, Goldfinch, Barn swallow, House martin, Winter wren, Herring gull, Stonechat, Meadow pipit, Raven and Little egret.
After walk drinks were enjoyed at the Albion in Conwy, Conwy Brewery’s Golden Gate was enjoyed by Mike and Ed enjoyed MBH’s vanilla stout.
Another good walk, and for me a bonus that my boots didn’t need cleaning.
After dropping Mike off, I had another bigger bonus, being able to get through Chester at about 16-30 before the racegoers had decided to leave the Roodee and head up Watergate Street.

Another Ysceifiog, Licswm and Nannerch Round 28th August 2024

Tiled mosaic - not a good shot, I thought I had taken the whole of it!

Info about the mosaic.

The clean stream that runs into Ysceifiog Lake.

On the path towards Bron-eirion.

Is that Moel Famau on the skyline?

One of the better paths in this area.

A better view of Moel Famau from the road leading o Ash Farm.

Mike should be arriving at this stile soon - he didn't!

Somewhere there, there is a stile

The reason why Mike didn't arrive on the path expected.

Herb robert next to the path.

About to leave our Licswm lunch spot in the Community Orchard.

Memorial in he grounds of Chapel y Betherrn, Licswm

I couldn't resist taking a picture of the "igam ogam" notice at Licswm Primary School

Do you recall the name of the tenor, David Lloyd?

The sign that says the church is open.

Inside St. Mary's and All Angels Church, Nannerch.

St. Mary's and All Angels Church, Nannerch.

The black sheep of Ysceifiog.

Heading for St. Mary's Church, Ysceifiog, but has he missed the path?

Inside St. Mary's Church, Ysceifiog,

Leaving St. Mary's Church, Ysceifiog,

Walk stats: 8.8 miles. (10.0 miles for Mike). Climb: 1063’
Time: 5 hours 0 minutes. On the move walking average: 2.4 m.p.h. Overall Walk average: 1.8 m.p.h.
Temperature: 17.6 Celsius to 21.2 Celsius.
Beaufort Wind Force: 0 - 2. Calm to light air and briefly increasing to a welcome 6.1 m.p.h. Light breeze
Group: Martyn, Mike and Ed.
We arrived at Ysceifiog just after 10-15, in the hope that we would miss the early rain shower given on most forecasts. The only other rain forecast was around 13-00. Very little wind on the forecast, but humidity was pretty high for most of the day.
As a change, I decided that we would investigate a path I hadn’t used before, that avoided most of the path through the wood north of Ysceifiog. Instead, we took the path that went past Bron-eiron to meet up with the previously used route near Mynydd-llan. Route.
When we arrived at the road, north of Gors, Mike decided he wanted to extend the walk by taking a track directly opposite, I recall this wasn’t a good track, but couldn’t remember why.
Me and Ed went down the easier route down the road and agreed to meet Mike at Ash Farm. Although Mike’s route was longer than ours, we anticipated arriving at Ash Farm at about the same time.
Mike arrived about 10 minutes after us, but not along the path we expected!
The path he was checking out turned out to be impassible at one point and he had to retrace his path and head along the road as Ed and I had done earlier.
Back on track, but a little later than usual, we arrived in Licswm in time for lunch. We took advantage of the bench in the Community Garden / Orchard, just as the rain shower had stopped and the Sun came out. This was a bonus to be able to sit on a bench in the sunshine.
We all had fruit cake, before setting off, and having had two pieces I anticipated needing very little for my tea / evening meal!
After lunch we returned to our planned walk, following the recently restored footpath past Tan-yr-onen and Llwyn-drain.
In Nannerch we took advantage of it being open church month and ween inside St. Mary’s and All Angels Church for the first time.
Similarly, arriving at Ysceifiog, we were able to see inside St., Mary’s Church. Both churches gave the welcoming option to make yourself a tea or coffee. We declined, but it was a lovely welcoming offer they had made.
Birds seen or heard today were but included: Woodpigeon, House sparrow, Common Blackbird, Black billed magpie Carrion crow, Common buzzard, Goldfinch, Barn swallow, Moorhen, Coot, Mallard and European robin.
Arriving back at the cars, we knew we had had a good enjoyable walk. All that was needed now was to find suitable hostelry for some liquid refreshment. I didn’t expect it to be the Piccadilly Inn at Caerwys. At least they had a couple real ale pumps on display, but unfortunately the Conwy Brewery’s Golden Gate wasn’t on! However, the Wainwrights Bitter tasted pretty good, considering it is brewed by the Marston's Group!!