Maen Achwyfan, Glol and Llyn Helyg Wood 5th May 2011

Bluebells still flowering in "replanted wood"  East of Bryn-digrif.

Tito at one of his better rest spots, by the "Roman" Watch tower in Coed y Garreg.

One of the footpaths through Glol wood, another Bluebell wood to add to our list!

Name the blue flower? 
Apparently this is Large or Great camas (Camassia Leichtlinii), a plant originally from North America and was featured in the Royal Horticultural Society Show a couple of years ago.

Walk stats: Distance: 10.0 miles. Climb: 971'.

Time: 5 hours 11 minutes. On the move walking average: 2.5 m.p.h.. Overall walk average: 1.9 m.p.h.

Group: Martyn, Phil, Gordon, Fran and Tito.

A very select group set off from Whitford, wondering if the forecast rain would materialize or not. We needn't have worried as we only felt the odd spot of rain throughout the walk. Even better what seemed to0 be like the start of a "reasonable" shower occurred as we were enjoying a good pint of Lees bitter at the  Britannia Inn at Pentre Halkyn.

The Maen Achwyfan  walk went well, and as we went through the woods East of Bryn-digrif and the Glol there were good displays Bluebells. The only disappointment was the walk around Llyn Helyg Wood, we had hoped to see the lake as well and the Bluebells were present in patches.  As Gordon said "This is not really a Bluebell Wood, just a wood with Bluebells!".

The paths through Glol wood seemed to disappear as far as the way we wanted to go, and we eventually found ourselves in the enclosure, when the Sun came out and we decide it was good time to have lunch.

We eventually arrived back at the car, glad that the walk had just tipped the 10 miles mark and that we had had rain!

Birds seen or heard included: Common starling, Greenfinch, House sparrow, Blackbird, Jackdaw, Carrion crow, Rook, Barn swallow (they seemed to be everywhere as we passed farm buildings), Chiffchaff, Willow warbler, Pheasant, Woodpigeon, Great tit, Chaffinch and Blue tit.

Maen Achwyfan, Garth and Felin Blwm Woods 26th November 2009

The Watchtower from near Plas Uchaf.

Too much Sun!

Lunch in the sunshine - Richard not at his best!
The view from the watch tower.
At the Watchtower in Coed y Garreg.

Walk stats: Distance:8.9 miles; Climb:1454'.

Time:4 hours 33 minutes; On the move walking average:2.5 m.p.h.;Overall walk average:1.9 m.p.h.

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

What a glorious day this turned out to be for walking. Sunshine throughout, excellent distant views and in the main shielded from the wind. However at times the wind was quite brisk and kept the temperature in to single figures, almost shorts weather at times!

This was a walk where the paths through the woods, particularly Coed Felin Blwm and Coed Garth were delightful.

The viewpoint of the day was at the Watchtower in Coed y Garreg, now cleared from trees making the view across the Dee Estuary towards Liverpool superb.

Birds seen or heard today included:Kestrel, Starlings (a flock of at least 200), Buzzard, Blue tit, Long-tailed tit (even Tim said he could identify them!), Pheasant, Black-billed magpie, Great tit, Carrion crow, Rook, Jackdaw, Nuthatch, Bullfinch, Goldfinch, Meadow pipit, Redwing and Fieldfare.

After walk drinks were enjoyed in the warmth of the Britannia Inn at Pentre Halkyn, where once again the Lees bitter was excellent.