A Burton and Parkgate Round 26th November 2025.

Moel Famau from the start of our walk on Station Road, Burton.

Canada geese, Mallard and Teal on Decca Pools.

Hawthorn berries in the hedges next to the King Charles III Coastal Footpath.

Information Board at Denhall Quay.

Denhall Quay.

Not open as we passed by in the morning.

Good views of a Common kestrel until it disturbed by a Carrion crow.

Heading for Neston Reedbed.

The new surfaced path behind Neston Reedbed.

The path leading to Parkgate.

Parkgate.

A Marsh harrier hunting over the marsh at Parkgate.

When is a Pill Box not a Pill Box?

When it is a Bat Box!

Parkgate Bat Box information board.

The Wirral Way.

View from the Wirral Way towards the coast. 

Neston Cutting on the Wirral Way (sewer pipe on the right)

Our lunch spot neat Lees Lane.

At lunch.

Heading towards out exit point at Windle Hill Bridge.

Windle Hill Bridge information board.

Moel Famau from Neston Road, Burton.

Knitting obviously allowed on this post box!

The path off Wood Lane into Burton Wood.

Is this the path through Burton Wood?

Hampstons Well stones.

Hampstons Well, now cared for by the local community.

Distance: 9.1 miles.
Climb: 545’.
Time: 4 hours 25 minutes.
On the moves walking average: 2.7 m.p.h.
Overall walk average; 2.0 m.p.h.
Temperature: 3.2 – 6.2 Celsius.
BWF: Max 9.2 m.p.h. Gentle breeze.
Birds seen or heard included: Common blackbird, Marsh harrier, Hen harrier, Common kestrel, Pied wagtail, Canada goose, European robin Long tailed tit, Carrion crow, Rook, Black billed magpie, Teal, Moorhen and Mallard.
The forecast for today, was relatively good for the morning, but with increasing likelihood of rain after lunch.
In fact, it was much better than the forecast, and the only rain experience was after the walk as we left the Harp Inn at Ness.
On this occasion, we decided to head for Parkgate first, in the hope that we would find the best way through Burton Wood. We found a way through Burton, and left t the correct point, but I wasn’t convinced that it was the path described in the route description that we attempted to follow in the past.
What the walk did do, was enable us to check out parts of the route that we will do on next month’s “Short Walk” and to find a suitable lunch stop in Stanney Fields Park.
The section of the walk from Neston Old Quay past Neston Reedbed is now a well-defined surfaced path, no longer a muddy path that at times wasn’t easy to negotiate.
The walk to Parkgate was done in sunshine, with very little wind. Distant views were good, although the clouds were only just clear of Moel Famau.
Lunch was taken on the Wirral Way, near Lees Lane Ponds car park and picnic site.
Section of the walk, after leaving the Wirral Way had in the past been quite muddy, but today was much better than we expected. In fact, my boots only took ten minutes to clean just after getting home.
We arrived back at the cars, having had a good walk, and before the rain had arrived.
After walk drinks were enjoyed at the Harp Inn at Ness, where Nigel enjoyed the White Rat bitter and I had a pot of tea, large enough, not to require a jug of hot water to top up the pot!

Coed Ceunant and Around Fron Hen 19th November 2025.

On the path to Bwlch Penbarra.

The from the rod s we descended the Coed Ceunant road.

A roadside trees with snow sticking to its branches.

Distant hills decked in snow.

Looking across the Coed Blaenant valley towards Cae-Mawr Farm.

Mike getting round the fallen tree,

The view from my lunch spot.

Lunch time.

Descending the path through Coed Rhiwisg.

We had to cross this field of mangelwurzels.

Going through one of the many new kissing gates.

Offa's Dyke Path south east of Moel Eithinen.

Walking on Offa's Dyke Path.

Nigel's photo of the birthday girl.

Another photo of the birthday girl in the snow.

Nigel checking the route?

When is Hare not a Hare?

When a closer look shows that it's bush!

The6e is plenty of snow on this side of Fron Hen.

Even the north facing wall is coated in snow.

Enjoying the snow.

Distance: 7.6 miles.
Climb: 1657’ Time: 5 hours 4 minutes.
On the moves walking average: 2.1 m.p.h.
Overall walk average; 1.5 m.p.h.
Temperature: Around 4.7 Celsius. Lowest measured was 0.6 Celsius as we contoured around Fron Hen.
BWF: 0-3 Max 12.7 m.p.h. Gentle breeze.
Birds seen or heard included: Common blackbird, Common buzzard, Common chaffinch, European robin Long tiled tit, Carrion crow and Common chaffinch.
We knew that it was going to be cold, but none of us anticipated how much snow we would encounter.
We originally planned to start at Bwlch Penbarra, but the road to the top car park was very icy, so we eventually decided to park at the lower car park.
The nearby hills were covered in snow, giving us superb views as we descended the road
The only problem that we had was at the top of Coed Blaenant, where a tree had fallen across the path, but with care and Mike’s supporting role, we all managed to get past.
We stopped for lunch, just before joining the A494 Ruthin Road. It was Fran’s 27th birthday, so she treated us all to some home-made chocolate cake with quince jelly between the layers.
After lunch, as we left Coed Rhiwisg, heading for the Clwyd Gate, it was pleasing to note that all the stiles had been replaced with kissing gates. Not having to climb over awkward stiles, is always appreciated by the >70 members of the group.
After Clwyd Gate, I suggested that it preferred to miss out Foel Fenlli, and return to the car using path that contoured around the eastern slopes of Fron Hen. No-one objected.
It was on this section that we had to cross six-inch-deep snow with Hare foot prints. At point we were the fist to walk in the snow. There is something special about walking in virgin snow.
Overall, a very enjoyable walk, and one that will be repeated again in the future. After walk drinks were enjoyed at the Glasfryn, where the beer of choice was Purple Moose’s “Cwrw Eryri”.
After dropping me off, the Upton contingent, headed for the Wealstone in Upton, to continue their celebration of Fran’s birthday.

The Wales Coastal Path from Barkby Beach (Prestatyn) to Pensarn (Abergele) 15th November 2025

Barkby Beach, the start of my walk today.

Barkby Beach - the tide ebbing.

More of the ebbing tide at Barkby Beach.

An Oystercatcher and Herring gull on Barkby Beach.

Only 4 miles to go until lunch at Rhyl.

The Coastal Path to Rhyl.

You can only just see the wind turbines off shore.

Sand collecting on the path.

A  Great black back gull on the beach.

Reflections.

At least one council tries to keep the path from too much sand.

The Police helicopter flies past.

A Carrion crow points the way.

Rhyl in the distance.

A Carrion crow takes advantage of the pile of cleared sand.

No sand here.

Herring gull and Great cormorant.

Looking across the golf course on the way to Rhyl.

On the outskirts of Rhyl.

"I didn't know the Druids had public toilets."

Getting closer to Rhyl.

Rhyl Lifeboat Station.

Rhyl Central beach, where I enjoyed playing on as a youngster.

Stranded on the beach.

Approaching The Foryd and Rhyl Harbour.

Pont y Ddraig and the Foryd ahead.

Rhyl Harbour and Pont y Ddraig.

The Wales Coastal as it heads towards Kinmel Bay.

More of the Wales Coastal Path near Kinmel Bay.

The Little Orme and Great Orme from Kinmel Bay.

"I wasn't expecting a flood on this path!"

Part of the Wales Coastal Path approaching Pensarn.

Still 2.5 miles to go.

The Snowdonia hills on the skyline above Pensarn beach.

The last stretch of the Wales Coastal Path behind the sea defences.

Abergele and Pensarn station getting closer.

The notice board by the car park at Pensarn.

It should have reminded me that dogs leave unwelcome messages that sometimes their owners fail to clear up.

I didn't, and had to clean the bottom of my shoes before I dared catch the bus back to Rhyl.

At Rhyl, I had 30 minutes to wait for the Holywell bus, so I enjoyed 20 minutes  in this welcoming local hostelry, enjoying a pint of Black Sheep bitter.

Distance: 9.2 miles.
Climb: 240'
Time: 4 hours 10 minutes.
On the moves walking average: 3.0 m.p.h.
Overall walk average; 2.2 m.p.h.
Temperature: Around 12 Celsius
BWF: 0-2 Max 7.2 m.p.h. Light breeze.
Birds seen or heard included: Common starling, Meadow pipit, House sparrow, Herring gull, Great black back gull, Great cormorant, Oystercatcher, Common redshank, Pied wagtail, Common blackbird, Black billed magpie and Eurasian curlew.
The weather today, turned out to be better than expected, it didn't feel that cold, and the wind was always at my back. Showers were on the forecast, but thankfully they didn't materialise.
Distant views were never good, although the Great Orme did get clearer as I approached Pensarn. As I approached "sunny" Rhyl, even the wind turbines seemed to be in sunshine. It didn't get as far as shining on me today!
The sea was on the way out as I set off from Barkby Beach, and was at its lowest when I arrived at Pensarn.
I stopped briefly at Rhyl harbour to change my shirt and have a few cups of fruit tea
The height of the new sea defences and work around Kimmel Bay, meant that I didn't see the sea for quite some time after lunch.
Not many cyclists on this route today, but lots of dog walkers!
I was lucky with the bus time from Pensarn/ Abergele station, as the Rhyl bus arrived two minutes after I arrived at the stop. I was even luckier at Rhyl, the Chester bus was delayed, so I had twenty minutes to have a pint of Black Sheep bitter in the Cob and Pen, before it arrived.
Finally, I stopped off at the Central Hotel in Shotton to have another pint along with meal of "Steak and ale pudding with mash potatoes and mushy peas.
Overall, a very enjoyable day out, despite it being overcast!