The Clwydians North of Graigfechan 11th September 2014

First stop for Damsons!

Heading for Pant Myharan and the Clwydians.

At the foot of Moel Llech, but too early for lunch!

At the foot of Moel Llech and time for lunch

or

"What's this? Oh yes it's one of Margaret's Welsh cakes!"

Looking North towards Moel Famau

Is it art? Not according to Fran. "It's made of plastic and it wobbles."

Lime kiln in the woods East of Graigfechan.

Walk stats: Distance: 8.4 miles. Climb: 1393'.

Time: 5 hours 1 minute. On the move walking average: 2.1 m.p.h. Overall walk average: 1.7 m.p.h.

Group: Martyn, Roger, Annie, Sue and Michel, Celia, Fran and David S.

This was another glorious day for walking, although at times it was a little too warm, especially around mid-day. The views from the Offa's Dyke path over the Clwydians are always good, especially towards the Vale of Clwyd.  Distant views were a little misty, and at no time could we see the mountains of Snowdonia.

 After the circumnavigation of Moel Llanfair were ready for lunch, some more than others!

The treat of the day was provided by Roger (at least he carried them in his rucksack) were some Welsh cakes baked by Margaret. Thank you Margaret, we are all glad you forgot to buy biscuits from your holiday for your Nordic Walking Group. All enjoyed them, but Fran declared that they were best ever.

 It was so pleasant at our lunch spot that we stayed for more than half an hour. Is this what happens when you become a real pensioner?

 On the return route we took a path from near Bryn Isaf Farm to Llwyn Isaf before heading South to Graig and the path through the woods to Graigfechan.

 Birds seen or heard today included: Common crow, Meadow pipit, Goldfinch, Raven, Jackdaw, Common buzzard, Peregrine falcon and Black-billed magpie.

 Overall a good walk and long enough on a warm day like today.

After walk drinks were enjoyed at the We Three Loggerheads where the only beer on offer today was Black Sheep bitter, which wasn't quite at its best!

Maen Achwyfan And More 2nd may 2013

The watch tower on the North side of Coed y Garreg.

"Where have you been, I've been here for ages!"

Ffriddoedd wood, North east of Maen Achwfan.

Maen Achwyfan, stone cross dating from about 1000 AD.

This would have been a better meeting point, a seat with a view.

Alas too early for lunch!

Once one of the worst stiles you could ever come across, now one of the best.

Congratulations to the local council the work done making this stile so good in every way.

Not Bluebells, but at least the Wood anemone were in flower.

A Bluebell, thinking about coming into flower.

After a Cuckoo, this bird had no chance of being the bird of the day!

Walk stats: distance: 10.6 miles. Climb: 690'.

Time: 6 hours 3 minutes. On the move walking average: 2.1 m.p.h. Overall walk average: 1.8 m.p.h.

Group: Martyn, Phil, David S., Annie and Wendy.

What a glorious bright and sunny day this turned out to be, why did we bother to carry our waterproofs with us!

Having sprained my ankle walking last Saturday, I was a little concerned that I would be able to complete the walk, but after heeding Anne Savage's advice I wore a tubular bandage (double) and it gave my ankle the support that it needed, Thanks Anne, I do as I'm told occasionally.

This was supposed to be a the first of our Bluebell wood walks, but alas none were to be seen, but the Wood anemone and Celandine  and even Primroses were blooming well. 

Even the Cowslips were out on the banks alongside the A55 as we went home.

The views from the higher ground by the watch tower were superb, with Liverpool cathedral being clearly seen.

Lunch was taken in Llyn Helyg Wood, where we managed to take advantage of a couple of fallen trees to act as benches as we basked in the sun as we ate our packed lunches.

An intriguing pair of standing stones, protected by fencing, their origins as yet unknown! They are probably not enough to entice us to make a circumnavigation of Llyn Helyg again!

Overall a good walk, despite the challenges through the wood on Glol and the paths around Llyn Helyg and around Crown Bach and Rhydwen Farm, where the route of the path seemed to be blocked by a new slurry pit and a field containing a bull with his wives and offspring!

Birds seen or heard today included: Blue tit, Coal tit, Great tit, Wood nuthatch, Great spotted woodpecker, Willow warbler, Chiffchaff, House martin (the first seen on our walks this year), Barn swallow, Chaffinch, Carrion crow, Rook, Common pheasant, Wood pigeon, House sparrow, Common cuckoo, Common buzzard,  and Common blackbird.

We did see a few Small white  and Peacock butterflies, and even a rabbit!

After walk drinks were enjoyed at the Britannia Inn at Halkyn, where as ever the Lees Bitter tasted good!

If I remember, the next time I put this walk on the list, we will have to attempt parts of it in the opposite direction to see if the paths on the ground are easier to locate!

Fron Hen and Bryn Alyn 15th April 2013

Wind damage in a wood South west of Fron Hen.

Looking across the valley from the slopes of Fron Hen towards Bryn Alyn.

"This is just a gentle stroll!"

You can't get away from Moel Famau!

I think it's lunchtime.

Walk stats: Distance: 10.8 miles. Climb: 1900'.

Time: 5 hours 39 minutes. On the move walking average: 2.3 m.p.h. Overall walk average: 1.9 m.p.h. (I must have allowed too much time for lunch!)

Group: Martyn, Annie, Sue and Michel, Phil, Tim, David S., Fran and Celia.

Considering the weather forecast, we did very well, no rain until about 14-00 hours.and even then it was only very light. It was just about sufficient for those with new Paclite waterproofs to test their new gear!

This walk is always a bit of an up and down, up and down sort of walk, but it does give a lot of variety and usually lots of opportunity to get muddy boots. However today was an exception, all the ground was very dry, even the usually muddy section!  The only water we saw was near the end where we could see two springs bubbling up out of the ground.  

The views today were somewhat limited, but as we contoured around Fron Hen we could see the two cathedrals in Liverpool quite clearly. It was good to see the Spring flowers starting to appear, with Wood anemone showing quite well and Daffodils too.

Birds seen or heard today included: Coal tit, Blue tit, Great tit, Chiffchaff, Willow warbler, Woodpigeon, Common buzzard, Common kestrel, House sparrow, Dunnock, Common blackbird, European robin, Meadow pipit, Canada goose, Mallard, Goldfinch, Jackdaw, Carrion crow and Barn swallow.

After walk drinks were enjoyed at the Glasfryn at Mold, where Purple Moose, Snowdonia Ale went down well.  I think the Titanic Stout went down well with David too!

This is always a good walk, whatever the time of the year, and today was no exception and very likely to be on the list in next year.

The Alyn Valley, Coed Ddu and and Around Moel Plas-yw 10th May 2012

"We're big girls now!"

Our Mam says "Neigh cast a clout before May's out".

The approach to the Alyn Valley.

Wild garlic and Bluebells on the descent to the Alyn Valley.

Young bullocks running towards the front runners in in the group.

Walk stats:Distance: 9.7 miles. Climb: 1605'.

Time: 5 hours 9 minutes. On the move walking average: 2.3 m.p.h. Overall walk average: 1.9.m.p.h.

Group: Martyn, Roger, Phil, Sylvia and Dave J.

Numbers down again, some on Grandparent duty, some even on holiday, some with ailments and some with no excuse at all!

Five of us set off, hoping that the weather forecast would be right and that it would be mainly cloudy, warm and with a bit of luck no rain.  In fact we did better than that, we even had quite a bit of sunshine and no rain of any note.

This wasn't a walk for magnificent views, although we did get some good views of the Clwydian hills around Moel Fammau.

One surprising observation on today's walk was the fact Bluebells were everwhere, not just in the woods, but on the banks below the hedges along the roads that we walked. Perhaps we should include this as one of our annual Bluebell  wood walks.

The evidence of Spring flowers was also a delightful, as well as Bluebells standing out, some of the woods had masses of Wild garlic in flower too.

Lunch was taken in Coed Ddu, surrounded by  Bluebells, well at least a few!

We set off, and once again we didn't quite get it right, but manged to take a path that led directly to where we wanted to be!

On this occasion as we entered the wood on Moel Evan, we decided to take the path that contoured around its slope, a good choice as it meant that we didn't lose height on our way to the track around Moel Plas-yw.

Birds seen or heard today included: Barn swallow, Common pheasant, Blackcap, Chaffinch, Carrion crow, Common blackbird, Chiffchaff, Willow warbler, Meadow pipit, Skylark, Common buzzard, Goldfinch, Dunnock, Winter wren and Jackdaw.

After walk drinks were enjoyed at the Britannia Inn at Halkyn, where the hospitality as usual was welcoming and the Lees bitter in good nick!

Overall a good walk, just about right for us, well me really!