Walks and Dates March 2025

Saturday Walks.

I have decided that it has become pointless for me to plan Saturday walks in advance as most weeks I am the only one around.

However Saturday walks can be arranged on request.

One short walk a month could be included on request.

Saturday 1st March 2025.

No planned walk - see below for a list of possible walks.

Wednesday 5th March 2025.

Tegg's Nose and Macclesfield Forest.

Distance: 9 miles. Climb: 1900'.
Start: Tegg's Nose Country Park Car park. Pay and Display. Grid ref: SJ950732.Leave Chester at 08-30 a.m.
Those planning to walk: Martyn, .
Those not walking: 

This walk is taken from the "Pathfinders Guide to Cheshire". It is described as a varied
walk with good views from Tegg's Nose.
We will visit Tegg's Nose first, rather than at the end of the walk. The walk is also described
as an undulating walk exploring the countryside on the edge of the Peak District.
This is a walk that we have come to like and regularly appears on the list at this time
of the year.

Saturday 8th March 2025.

Rhaeadr Fawr (Aber Falls), Rhaeadr Fach and More.

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

Start: Abergwyngregyn Car Park. Grid ref: SH65657284.

Leave Chester:8-30 a.m.

Those planning to walk: Martyn, Mike.

Those not walking: 

This walk follows the North Wales Path  up the valley to Aber Falls. The Afon Rhaedr-fawr is then crossed and the North Wales path followed.  The path passes Rhaeadr Fach, before crossing a stream and some rather boggy terrain. It then rises before contouring around the hillside. The path is now part of the North Wales Pilgrim's Way, giving extensive views towards Penrhyn Castle, Puffin Island and Anglesey. Eventually the North Wales Pilgrim's Way descends to the minor road at Bronydd Isaf. The minor road is then followed back to Abergwyngregyn, passing through Crymlyn with its few houses.

Both waterfalls can be impressive, especially after spells of rain in he Carneddau.

Wednesday 12th March 2025.

Mynydd Marian.

Distance: 7-8 miles. Climb: 1000'.
Start: Llandulas Beach Car Park. Grid ref: SH907786.
Leave Chester at 09-00.

Those planning to walk: Martyn, .

Those not walking: .

Those planning to walk: Martyn, Mike, Fran, Ed. Those not walking: Sue and Michel
This walk is taken from Dave Berry's book, "Walks on the North Wales Coast". It combines an interesting section of the coast line with the attractive limestone countryside between, Old Colwyn, Llysfaen and Llandulas. This is one of my favourite walks, but the walk today will allow us to see what work is being done on the sea defences from Old Colwyn to Colwyn Bay.
I think it should be completed by now. High tide at about 09-45. It's quite a big tide at 8.8 m / 28.7'.

Saturday 15th March 2025.

Around Bosley Cloud.

Distance: 8- 9 miles. Climb:1200'.

Start: Lay-by on the A523, South of its junction with the A54. Grid ref: SJ917657.

Leave Chester at 08-30.

Those planning to walk: Martyn, Mike. 

Those not walking: .

This walk is taken from Jen Darling's book "Best Pub Walks in Cheshire", although we won't take her advice on the local hostelries! The walk takes us to the top of Bosley Cloud with its panoramic views over the Cheshire plain.. After visiting the trig point on Bosley Cloud, the walk heads West to meet up with the Macclesfield Canal, which we follow for an easy four mile stretch.

Wednesday 19th March 2024

Chirk, Church Bank, Temple Wood and Chirk Castle.

Start: Chirk Centre Car Park. Grid ref: SJ291377.
Leave Chester at 09-00 a.m.
Those planning to walk: Martyn, .

Those not walking: .

Distance: 8.4 miles. Climb: 965’

This was a walk devised by Ed that allowed us to visit the temple we had seen on earlier walks, but only from the nearby road. This walk includes using a path that goes much closer.

This is quite a varied walk, including sections of the Llangollen Canal and the grounds of Chirk Castle.

Last time we were able to visit inside the church. 

Saturday 22nd March 2025.

No planned walk - see below for a list of possible walks.

Wednesday 26th March 2024.

Conwy Mountain and Around Maen Esgob and Craigfedwen.

Distance: 8 miles. Climb:1447'.
Start: Long stay car park on the B5106 at Conwy. Pay and Display. Grid ref:SH781773. Post code: LL32 8LS

Leave Chester at 08-30.

Those planning to walk: Martyn, .

Those not walking: .

The walk starts by heading through the castle walls and on the North Wales Coastal Path along the harbour as far as the secondary school. The North Wales Path is the followed over Conwy Mountain through Castell Caer Seion and onto the Sychnant Pass.

 The views from the Conwy Mountain Ridge can be superb, with the Great Orme in one direction and Tal y fan in the other, as well as good views towards Conwy castle and the Conwy Valley.

 After crossing the Sychnant Pass Road, the North Wales Path is once more folowed. At the point where there is a definite fork, it is possible to make a short there and back extension to visit the site of a monument. Returning to the North Wales Path, it is then followed along the East side of Maen Esgob as far as the head of the Fairy Glen. A path heading eastward then takes us past Llyn y wrach.

 Once the West side of Maen Esgob is reached, the main track is followed parallel to the stone wall towards Craigfedwen, where the footpath goes South of Waeny-fedwen and onto the minor road near Llechwedd. The route goes Northward on the road ad then takes the first path on the right which leads around Bryn-mawr to a minor access road. It is along this road that several large and/or interesting properties can be seen. at the T-junction, the route goes right and in a very short distance a broken kissing gate leads the way to a field path leading  to the Sychnant Pass Road at Mount Pleasant on the outskirts of Conwy. The Sychnant Pass Road  is then followed back to Conwy.

Saturday 29th March 2025.

No planned walk - see below for a list of possible walks.

Bollington to Bowstones.

Distance: 9-10 miles.

Climb:1800' at a guess.

Start: Pool Bank Car Park, (B5090) Palmerston Street, Bollington (Opposite the Spinners Arms). Post Code SK10 5PW.

Grid ref: SJ93687789

Leave Chester at 08-30 a.m.

Those planning to walk: Martyn, .

Those not walking: .

This walk is taken from Graham Beech's book "East Cheshire Walks", and is the second walk from this book that we will undertake. He describes this walk as an exhilarating walk to the Bowstones, and is a popular walk. It includes a fair portion of Lyme Park and sections of the Gritstone Trail. He describes the walk as strenuous, but I think we can still cope, even though it is over fifteen years since we last did it.

Long Mynd, Wild Moor and Pole Bank.

Distance:10-11 miles. Climb:2100’.

Start: Centre of Church Stretton car park (Pay and display). Grid ref: SO454930.

Leave Chester 8-30 a.m.

Those planning to walk: Martyn, .

Those not walking: .

This walk is taken from Ian R. Jones’s booklet “20 Church Stretton Walks”.  All of the walks around Church Stretton are popular, although this walk does include a few sections that are a little less visited by the throngs.  Another possible Dotterel day, but if we do see any, it will be our first on the Long Mynd.  Even without Dotterels this is a superb area of the country to walk in, especially as you explore the moors around Pole Bank.

Alderley Edge, Hare Hill and Over Alderley.

Distance: 8-9 miles; Climb: 1100'
Start: National Trust car park near The Wizard Grid ref:SJ860773
Leave Chester 09-00 a.m. and meet at the car park.
To get to the car park from Chester take the A51 then A54 towards Winsford, Middlewich and Holmes Chapel. From Holmes Chapel take the A535 to Chelford (Aldeley Edge). at Chelford turn right on to the A537 to Monks Heath. At Monks Heath take the A34 to Aldeley Edge. On the outskirts of Alderley Edge take the B5087 (Macclesfield Road). The National trust car park is just after The Wizard (pub). This is a pay and display car park but free to National Trust Members. The Car Park closes at dusk! 

Those planning to walk: Martyn, .

Those not walking: .

This walk combines two walks taken from Graham Beech's book "East Cheshire Walks". The first walk heads north-east to Waterfall Wood, Daniel Hill, Alder wood and Hare Hill. Just after Finlow Hill Wood it links in with the second walk that then heads south to St., Catherine's Church with its unusual octagonal tower.

Wales.

Traeth Lafan and Its Foothills.

Distance:7-8 miles. Climb:1000'.

Start: Abergwyngeryn Free Car Park Grid ref: SH0652728. Post code: LL33 0LF

PC (opens about 09-30) nearby and a cafe at the outdoor centre that allows walkers to use the toilets (opens earlier than PC.)

Leave Chester at 08-30 a.m.

This walk taken from Dave Berry's book "Walks On the North Wales Coast". The Traeth Lafan and it Foothills. This walk is an annual favourite and has in the past given us some wonderful experiences, especially in Winter trampling through soft fluffy knee deep snow, that didn't stick or wet our legs.  You never know we may get some  snow, this time too. It should be worthwhile bringing binoculars with you as we may visit The Spinnies Nature Reserve on the way back to our car.

This walk is described as walk of contrasting coastal and upland scenery with good views from the higher points on the North Wales path.

 This time we will use the road to The Spinnies, and avoid the unpleasant smelly muddy experience of taking the path through the farm yard,

We may see a Kingfisher at The Spinnies, but that often depends on whether the tide is coming.

Moel y Garneddd.

Distance: 7-8 miles.

Climb: 1200'.

Start: Fronfeuno Snowdonia National Park Lakeside Car park Grid ref: SH917351.

Leave Chester 08-30 a.m.

This walk is taken from Dave Berry's booklet "Walks Around Y Bala and Penllyn". The walk explores the undulating countryside West of Bala. The route follows a a bridleway up to moorland, eventually crossing Moel y Garneddd at a height of 1170'. We can expect to see superb views as we cross the open moorland. The return route goes through attractive woodland. This is a walk for experienced walkers only and should not be attempted in poor visibility. Careful navigation is required.

Caer, Gai, Cwm Dyfrydwy with an extension over Garth Fawr.

Distance: 9.1 miles. Climb: 1100'.

Start: Roadside parking in Llanuwchllyn on B4403. Park opposite the PC and chapel. Grid ref: SH875302.

Leave Chester 08-30 a.m.

This walk combines two walks from Dave Berry's booklet "Walks Around Y Bala and Penllyn". One walk is described as a fascinating walk featuring a Roman fort and historic houses and the other explores both sides of the Dyfrdwy Valley. The optional extension explores the countryside South of Llanuwchllyn, climbing to open moorland around Garth Fawr at a height of 1079'. It returns along the Western side of the Afon Twrch (Cwm Cynllwyd).