Walks and Dates October 2026

 

Wednesday 7th October 2026.

Audlem and the Shropshire Union Canal.

Distance: 5.6 miles. Climb: 180!
Start: Cheshire Street Car park, Audlem. Grid ref: SJ659436.
Leave Chester at 09-15. (It takes just under an hour to drive to Audlem)

Those planning to walk: Martyn (I will drive), Sue and Michel, David S., Mike, Nigel, Fran?.

Those not walking: Elaine. 

This walk is taken from the "Pathfinders Guide to Cheshire",
The walk is described as exploring the attractive valley of the River Weaver with fine views throughout.

Saturday 10th October 2026. 

By arrangement.

Wednesday14th October 2026 .

Coed Ceunant and the River Clwyd.

Distance: 8.3 miles. Climb: 680'.
Start: Start: Ruthin Craft Centre Car park (free) on Lon Parcwr (4th turning off the roundabout if approaching from Mold/Chester. It is opposite Tesco). Grid ref: SJ125586.

Leave Chester at 09-00. 

Those planning to walk: Martyn, . 

Those not walking: . 

This walks from Dave Berry's book "Walks In the Vale of Clwyd" that we have done several times before, but not for some time In the past we have linked them with other walks that take the mileage to about 13 miles, more than most of us want these days. He describes the walk as  one exploring varied countryside, with excellent views and visits the charming ruins of a Medieval church using field paths and some delightful bridleways between Ruthin and Llanbeddr Dyffryn-Clwyd. It explores the attractive lower slopes of the Clwydian's, including a lovely wooded area.

Saturday 17th October 2026. 

By arrangement.

Wednesday 21st October 2026

Cwm Conwy, Castle Wood and Moel Y Gaer.

Distance: 7 - 10 miles. Climb: 1200'.

Start: Rhosesmor. Parking area next to the children's play area. Grid ref:SJ214684.

Leave Chester at 9-00 a.m.

Those planning to walk: Martyn, .

Those not walking: Mike.

This walk is based on a walk  from Dave Berry's book "Walks Around Holywell and Halkyn Mountain".  The Cwm Conwy walk is one of my favourite walks in the Halkyn area at any time of the year. The extension continues the walk as far as the old cemetery at Halkyn, but any additional extension would need to include Halkyn Mountain itself - not to everyone taste! 

Saturday 24th October 2026. 

By arrangement.

Wednesday 28th October 2026.

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 09-00 a.m.

Those planning to walk: Martyn (I will drive), .

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

Last time we attempted to do this walk, we encountered road closures and footpath closures, hopefully they we have all been sorted by now.

Saturday 31st October 2026. 

By arrangement.

Holywell Common, Racecourse, Pantasaph, Pen-y-Ball Top and Monument 30th September 2026.

Things to look out for as we cross Holywell Common.

The main path to Holywell Common.

Tracks through the old mine workings.

Looking across Holywell Common towards the Clwydian Hills.

A closer look at Moel Famau from Holywell Common.

Power lines to guide us?

Blue skies above Holywell Common.

The waning Harvest Moon, seen from Brynford.

Not the flag we expected to see flying in this area.

The Flag of Aquitaine flying near Brynford.

The Welsh Flag flying as it should in Wales.

Part of Holywell Racecourse.

"Is he asleep?

Relaxing on the bench with a good view towards Pantasaph.

The view from the bench that would have made a good lunch spot for three.

The quarry near Pantasaph.

At the Pen-y-Ball trig point.

The Pen-y-Ball Monument.

Moel Famau from the Pen-y-Ball Monument.

St. Michael's Church, Brynford.

Distance: 8.5 miles. Climb: 656’.
Time: 4 hours 44 minutes. On the move walking average: 2.5 m.p.h.
Overall walking average: 1.8 m.p.h.
Temperature: 17-8 Celsius at the start, rising to 21.8 Celsius after lunch.
Beaufort Wind Force: 2-3 Mainly a Light breeze, with a maximum 8.2 m.p.h. Gentle breeze on Holywell Common.
Group: Martyn, Mike and Nigel.
The weather today was perfect for walking, pleasantly warm and no more than a Gentle breeze. Not quite wall to wall blue skies, with only the occasional small white cloud appearing briefly.
Our path across Holywell Common took us through the hollows of earlier mine workings tracks created by off-road mountain bikers.
Once on the main plateau, we had good views of the Clwydian Hills, including Moel Famau.
Perhaps the surprise of the day was seeing a flag flying that had a yellow dragon with a blue tongue and claws. Apparently, it was a flag of Aquitaine in France.
Thankfully, a little further on we saw a much more appropriate flag flying – the Welsh flag.
We only went around the eastern section of the racecourse, now cleared of the gorse that once hindered your progress.
Our planned lunch spot was a bench in grounds of the Pantasaph Friary / Retreat, but when e arrived there the bench had been removed. We ended up sitting on a low wall, not as comfortable as a bench, but served he purpose.
After lunch we headed for Pen-y-Ball top, and chose a route above the quarries, and to our surprise we came across a bench that would have been a good place to stop for lunch, with its good views towards the Clwydians and Pantasaph.
The usual paths to Pen-y-Ball Top were blocked by a fence protecting a crop, but thankfully, we were able to reach the trig point using the there and back path, part of the path we would take to the Pen-y-Ball Monument.
The Dee estuary and the Wirral were clearly seen from the vantage of the trig point on Pen-y-Ball Top.
The Pen-y-Ball Monument also gave good views of Moel Famau and the Clwydian Hills.
Not many birds were seen or heard today, but those we did see included: Carrion crow, Rook, European robin, Woodpigeon and Common starling.
We arrived back at the car, having had a really enjoyable walk and looking forward to a pint of Lees bitter at the Blue Bell in Halkyn before heading home.