Ellesmere - Meres, Mosses and Moraines. 26th August 2026

The start of our walk today.

The Mere, Ellesmere.

A Moorhen on The Mere.

Another view of The Mere.

This doesn't set a presidence!

Mallard and Common coot on The Mere.

A Great crested grebe family

or

"Dad's caught lunch."

A Mute swan on The Mere.

Another view of The Mere with a family of Mute swans and Mallards.

Heading for Crimps Farm, followed by an amorous young bull and his girls.

The impressive farm house at Crimps Farm.

Heading towards Lea Wood.

Looks like Nigel needs a rest!

At the trig point south of Lea Wood.

A tree in its last hundred years.

A good reminder of a permanent path diversion. 

The benches in this church grounds will be our lunch spot today.

Michael’s and All Angels Church with two of the group enjoying lunch.

t. Michael’s and All Angels Church from Lyneal Lane.

The Shropshire Union Canal towpath and the way back to Ellesmere.

Heading back to Ellesmere along the Shropshire Union Canal towpath. 

Food home delivery didn't come in time!

Mike emerges fromthe bridge we should have taken to go round Cole Mere.

Blake Mere.

Emerging from the Ellesmere Tunnel.

Rope marks from the days wen horses were used to tow narrow boats along the canal.

An unusual format giving information about the tunnel.

A similar format for giving information, this time about the wood between Castle Field Car Park and the Shropshire Union Canal.

Distance: 7.7 miles. Climb: 394'.
Time: 4 hours 27 minutes. On the move walking average: 2.5 m.p.h.
Overall walking average: 1.7 m.p.h.
Temperature: Around 25.8 Celsius throughout the walk. Felt even warmer when in direct sunshine. It was quite humid at times, particularly as we approached Welshampton.
Beaufort Wind Force: 2 - Max 6.2 m.p.h. Light breeze.
The forecast for today was not good, so we were all prepared for the worst with waterproofs and most of us with umbrellas as well.
Thankfully, the only rain we experienced was a light intermittent shower as we walked around The Mere from the Castle Field car park.
That didn’t stop three of the group stopping to pick up cups of coffee st the kiosk in the park!
Birds seen or heard included: House sparrow, Wood pigeon, Barn swallow, Carrion crow, Mallard, Moorhen, Common coot, Great crested grebe, Winter wren, Common blackbird, Greylag goose, Feral goose and Mute swan.
The surprise of the day was not seeing any Canada geese, I can remember in the past finding it difficult to get past them or avoid stepping on their droppings!
Conditions underfoot were good, and we arrived back at the car with our boots needing no cleaning.
After leaving The Mere behind, the next stretch took us over farmland to Crimps Farm, where we saw over 100 Barn swallows gathering on the telephone wire (or possibly a power). This looks like an early sign that Autumn is on its way,
As we were standing at the trig point south of Lea Wood, were saw a Brown hare running across the hillside below us. Currently, it isn’t very often that we see a Brown Hare on our walks.
Noticeable today, was the ripe fruit ready for gleaning, particularly the Blackberries and Damsons. Predictably, it made our overall progress much slower than usual!
We arrived at Welshampton around mid-day, and decided to have our lunch there, and take advantage of a couple of benches in the grounds of St. Michael’s and All Angels Church.
After lunch, it just a stroll along Lyneal Lane to join the Shropshire Union Canal towpath back to Ellesmere.
We missed out going around Cole Mere (my mistake) as I missed Bridge 54 and was nearly at Bridge 55 before I realised.
The towpath took us past Blake Mere, used by fishermen, well at least four today.
We managed to get through the 80m Ellesmere Tunnel, without the need to get out torches.
We arrived back at the car, having had a very pleasant and enjoyable walk.
After walk drinks were enjoyed at the Pant yr Ochain, where Cwrw Eryri brewed by Bragdy Mws Piws.

Moel y Gaer and Halkyn Mountain 22nd August 2026.

First view of Moel Famau from Moel y Gaer, Rhosesmor.

Moel Famau from the ramparts on Moel y Gaer, Rhosesmor.

Wind turbines off the North Wales Coast.

Heading towards the twin masts on Halkyn Mountain.

Now heading towards the pylons on Halkyn Mountain.

The quarry on Halkyn Mountain looks rather different today.

The tree on the right is a berry laden Rowan with its leaves starting to have an Autumnal look about them.

It may look like the top of Moel Famau, but it's just one of many capped mine shafts on Halkyn Mountain.

Part of the many dykes criss-crossing Halkyn Mountain

I can see the mast at Windmill, so I hope this path takes me here I want to go.

At last,I can see the trig point on Halkyn Mountain.

Fitst selfie taken at the trig point on Halkyn Mountain.

The second selfie taken from the trig point on Halkyn Mountain.

Moel Famau from the trig point on Halkyn Mountain.

The trig point looks like it has had a recent coat of white paint.

The path to Windmill.

Evidence of the damaged caused by a wildfire on Halkyn Mountain near Windmill.

The extent of the wildfire damage near Windmill.

Not long before some much needed liquid refreshment.

The final selfie, taken in the Blue Bell with a pint of Lees bitter on the table.

Distance: 4.5 miles. Climb: 525'.
Time: 2 hours 3 minutes. On the move walking average: 2.7 m.p.h.
Overall walking average: 2.1 m.p.h.
Temperature: 14.6 Celsius at start.
18.8 Celsius at the end
Beaufort Wind Force: 2 - Max 6.6 m.p.h. Light breeze.
Birds seen or heard included: House sparrow, Wood pigeon, Barn swallow, Carrion crow, Raven.
As I hadn't sampled Lees bitter for some time, I decided to take a bus trip to the Blue Bell in Halkyn.
I set off on the 08-90 bus to Mold to catch the 126 Holywell bus at 10-20. This would get me to the Blue Bell before it opened at 12-00, so I got off the bus at Rhosesmor and went to the Blue Bell via Moel y Gaer and Halkyn Mountain. I explored lots of new paths on Halkyn Mountain, none of which were marked on the OS map.
Only three dog walkers and two cyclists seen today, but the surprise of the day was a young man on a unicycle.
Mainly overcast, but the Sun didn't come out fully till I was approaching the trig point on Halkyn Mountain.
The walk took past the area on Halkyn Mountain that suffered from wild fires. The strong smell of burned wood was still present.
I arrived at the Blue Bell, just at the right time, as the regular Blue Bell walking group were leaving. Thankfully, no problem finding a seat.
The pint of Lees bitter and a beef and onion batch went down well before catching the 14-30 bus back to Mold.

A Two Canals Walk From The Anderton Boat Lift 19th August 2026

The Trent and Mersey Canal near the Anderton Boat Lift and the start of our walk.

The path we would have take had DS been with us.

On he path above the Barnton Tunnel.

The western end of the Barnton Tunnel.

Marty spots something of interest.

The Saltersford Tunnel.

The only kingfisher seen today.

On of several Mute swans seen on the Trent and Mersey Canal today.

Marty tries to creep up on a Grey heron.

What is Marty doing now?

Marty shows great interest in the Floating pennywort.

"Come on Marty, you can do it!"

The Weaver Navigation and the Little Leigh Swing Bridge.

A family of Great crested grebes.

A Great crested grebe with one of chicks.

A Great crested grebe with one of chicks.

Just a light rain shower before lunch.

"It's alright for you two, you've got umbrellas."

Th view from my lunch spot.

Fran and Marty's lunch spot.

A carpet pf Floating pennywort at Saltersford Locks.

An almost hidden part of the Saltersford locks.

The path next to the Weaver Navigation.

This would have been a better lunch spot.

The Barnton Swing Bridge.

A rather sad looking Anderton Boat Lift.

Distance: 8.3 miles. Climb: 253’. Time: 4 hours 25 minutes. On the move walking average: 2.5 m.p.h. Overall walk average: 1.9 m.p.h. Temperature: 21.2 Celsius at the start, warming to 23.3 Celsius towards the end.

Beaufort Wind Force: Max 2, just a 5 m.p.h. Light breeze.
Group: Martyn, Fran and Marty the cockapoo.
We completed the walk in an anticlockwise direction, following the Trent and Mersey canal towpath as far as Little Leigh, joining the Weaver Navigation Towpath near the Leigh Arms.
The walk along the towpath was very pleasant, not a lot of Sun and no rain or wind.
Marty entertained us as he showed great interest in the Floating pennywort a serious invasive plant that the Canal and River Trust are finding it hard to remove.
Whether Marty was trying to help the Canal and River Trust or was just enjoying a game of tug-of-war, we will never know why it dominated his mindset on this walk.
Just after joining the Weaver Navigation path, just as we were looking for a lunch spot, it began to rain – nt a short shower as forecast, but a deluge! I wasn’t expecting to have to wal with squelshing footwear! Canvas walking shoes today were not the wisest choice!
We eventually found a spot for lunch by the Saltersford Locks, and thankfully by then the 30 minute downpor had stopped.
Ten minutes after setting off after lunch, we found a better spot for lunch with a bench overlooking the Weaver Navigation.
By now the Sun was shining strongly and doing a good job of drying our trousers.
After the Barnton Swing Bridge, we rejoined the Trent and Mersey Canal Towpath and retraced our steps to the start.
The surprise of the day was the amount of the Floating Pennywort that was seen on the canal and the the Weaver Navigation.
Birds seen or heard today included: Mute swan, Moorhen, Carrion crow, Black headed gull, Herring gull, Common buzzard, Grey heron, Long tailed tit, Mallard, Wood nuthatch, Woodpigeon and Great crested grebe.
We arrived back at the car, having had an enjoyable walk, thankful that we were back in the car before it started to rain.