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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, 27 November 2024

Rhosesmor, Cwm Conwy, Castle Wood, Halkyn and More 27th November 2024

Descending to the first challenge.
Sunshine coming through the trees in Cwm Conwy.
The path alongside the Afon Conwy.
Making progress in Cwm Conwy.
A direction sign that I haven't seen before!
One of several fallen trees that challenged us today!
The climb out of Cwm Conwy.
View as we approached the Halkyn Road.
The view towards the Dee Estuary.
Walking through Castle Wood.
The path through the Rhododendrons as we leave Castle Wood.
Blue skies over the estuary.
Escaping from Castle Wood.
View from my lunch spot.
A better view from my lunch spot!
At lunch -a good seat in the Sun.
Lunch over and waiting to set off again.
Moel y Gaer from our lunch spot, but we missed it out today.
The well filled lake near Top Pen-y-Parc Farm.
At the War Memorial in Rhosesmor.

Walk stats: 6.2 miles. Climb: 820’,
Time: 4 hours 20 minutes. On the move walking average: 2.3 m.p.h. Overall Walk average: 1.4 m.p.h.
Temperature: 5 .5 Celsius at the start. 10.3 Celsius at lunch as we sat basking in the warm sunshine in Halkyn.
Beaufort Wind Force: 0 – 1 Mainly calm, but we did feel a slight wind (just about Light air) as we headed towards Halkyn and Castle Wood.
Group: Martyn, Mike and Fran.
The weather was much better than the forecast as we had glorious warm sunshine throughout the walk. The only downside was that the Sun was low in the sky, making it difficult to see where we were going at times.
Considering all the rain we have had recently, it wasn’t as bad underfoot as I was expecting. However, we did have the challenge of getting over several awkward stiles and around or under trees that had fallen across the path / track.
Lunch was taken in Halkyn, where we took advantage of a bench in the Sun as we had lunch. A small stone marker stone provided an alternative perching spot.
Distant views across the Dee estuary were good, but we never in a position where the Clwydian Hills came into view.
We did cut the walk short to avoid known muddy tracks, but it did allow us to get to the Brit quite early and enjoy a pint or two of Lees bitter as we sat by the roaring fire.
Birds seen or heard included: Jackdaw, Herring gull, Black billed magpie, Common blackbird, Long-tailed tit, Winter wren, European robin, Common buzzard, Fieldfare, Redwing Common pheasant, Red grouse, Collard dove, Carrion crow and Woodpigeon.
Overall, a very enjoyable walk, celebrated with a pint or two of Lees Bitter at the Brit in Halkyn.

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