Cwm Conwy, Moel y Gaer and Coed-y-Felin 3rd September 2009

Starting off in the sunshine, well nearly!
Not again - going the wrong way!

Another day for flower power, flowering gorse on Moel Y Gaer.

What I remember most about this walk - Richard!

Walk stats:Distance:12.5 miles; Climb:2180'.

Time:5 hours 29 minutes; On the move walking average: 2.7 m.p.h.;Overall walk average:2.2 m.p.h.

Group:Martyn, Richard, Roger, Gordon, Annie H., Sylvia and Dave J.

This was another day when the weather turned to be better than perhaps we were expecting. we had the occasional shower that invariably made us don our waterproofs for longer than was necessary!

A good and varied walk, less muddy than usual on the Cwm Conwy path through the wood. Breezy at times especially around Moel y Gaer where we had lunch! Views towards the Wirral. Moel Fammau and Moely Parc were good.

A really good combination of walks that we must do again!

Birds seen or heard today:Swallow, House martin, House sparrow, Kestrel, Common gull, Black-headed gull, Great tit, Carrion crow, Blackbird, Magpie, Woodpigeon and Hobby.

after walk drinks were enjoyed, as is often the case, at the Britannia Inn at Pentre Halkyn, especially today as my last pint of Lees was on the house!

Cwm Conwy, Moel y Gaer and Around Gwysaney 7th January 2009

On the reservoir at Moel Y Gaer

Two friends on Moel Y Gaer Walking through Big Wood

Walk stats: Distance: 12.4 miles; Climb:1375'.

Time: 5 hours 33 minutes; On the move average:2.6 m.p.h.; Overall walk average:2.2 m.p.h.

Group:Martyn, Richard, Roger, Annie H., Gordon, Tim and Dave J.

What a glorious day this turned out to be, sunshine and blue skies all day and hardly any wind. Perfect for walking! It was even warm enough to sit in a short sleeved shirt without a coat to have lunch.

This is always a good walk to complete at any time of the year and the fact that the ground was frozen helped us to negotiate those muddy and wet areas that we have encountered on warmer days made it even better today. The views across the estuary, the Cheshire plain and towards the Clwydians were excellent. Even though it was icy on some of the minor roads none of us actually slipped over, although there were a few near misses.

Birds seen or heard today included:Carrion crow, Rook, Jackdaw, Buzzard, Blue tit, Great tit, Lapwing, Black-headed gull, Nuthatch, Long-tailed tit, Woodpigeon, Fieldfare, Dunnock, Robin and Great-spotted woodpecker (bird of the day).

As usual refreshments were enjoyed at the Britannia Inn at Pentre Halkyn where J.W.Lees bitter went down particularly well. Some of the group even had crisps!

Cwm Conwy, Moel y Gaer and Gwysaney 27th March 2008

Cwm Conwy & Moel Y Gaer
(David Berry walk 15 - Walks Around Holywell and Halkyn Mountain)
Around Gwysaney (Dave Berry walk 14 -Walks Around Holywell and Halkyn Mountain)

Walkers:
A larger party than last Thursday:
Richard(our leader for the day), Dave, Sylvia, Celia, Paul, Fran, Tito, Sue, Michel.

Stats:
Total distance: 21 kms 13.1 miles
Total ascent: 510 m 1683 ft
Walking average: 4.1km.h 2.6m.p.h

Unlike last Thursday, there were plenty of birds to be seen and heard:
Curlew, Mallard, Coot, Lapwing, Partridge, Chiffchaff, Wren, Nuthatch, Robin, Chaffinch, Snipe, as well as the bird Richard and Dave saw on a previous visit to Moel Y Gaer but whose name they did not know.
We also saw a lovely hare, a rare sight these days.

Two ‘delightful’ walks and in brilliant weather conditions for most of the day. Both walks presented navigating challenges quickly sorted out by Richard and his second in command, Dave. On one occasion, some stranded walkers had to be traced by ‘phone…!
We had lunch at the top of Moel Y Gaer in brilliant sunshine, with excellent views of the Dee estuary, Wirral and Cheshire plain. When Michel suggested that a siesta might be a good idea, Dave commented that ‘discipline has gone’, time for our leader to take charge of us again!
In the afternoon, Tito took an unusual interest in a couple of cock pheasants and practised his hunter- gatherer skills, soon joined by Michel. The last leg of the walk was, as always, very rewarding and the welcome JW Lees most appreciated.

Report provided by Michel

Sounds like another good walk, but I understand the weather wasn't good in the morning, but got better in the afternoon - Martyn