Rhosesmor, Cwm Conwy, Castle Wood, Halkyn and More 27th November 2024

Descending to the first challenge.

Sunshine coming through the trees in Cwm Conwy.

The path alongside the Afon Conwy.

Making progress in Cwm Conwy.

A direction sign that I haven't seen before!

One of several fallen trees that challenged us today!

The climb out of Cwm Conwy.

View as we approached the Halkyn Road.

The view towards the Dee Estuary.

Walking through Castle Wood.

The path through the Rhododendrons as we leave Castle Wood.

Blue skies over the estuary.

Escaping from Castle Wood.

View from my lunch spot.

A better view from my lunch spot!

At lunch -a good seat in the Sun.

Lunch over and waiting to set off again.

Moel y Gaer from our lunch spot, but we missed it out today.

The well filled lake near Top Pen-y-Parc Farm.

At the War Memorial in Rhosesmor.

Walk stats: 6.2 miles. Climb: 820’,

Time: 4 hours 20 minutes. On the move walking average: 2.3 m.p.h. Overall Walk average: 1.4 m.p.h.

Temperature: 5 .5 Celsius at the start. 10.3 Celsius at lunch as we sat basking in the warm sunshine in Halkyn.
Beaufort Wind Force: 0 – 1 Mainly calm, but we did feel a slight wind (just about Light air) as we headed towards Halkyn and Castle Wood.
Group: Martyn, Mike and Fran.
The weather was much better than the forecast as we had glorious warm sunshine throughout the walk. The only downside was that the Sun was low in the sky, making it difficult to see where we were going at times.
Considering all the rain we have had recently, it wasn’t as bad underfoot as I was expecting. However, we did have the challenge of getting over several awkward stiles and around or under trees that had fallen across the path / track.
Lunch was taken in Halkyn, where we took advantage of a bench in the Sun as we had lunch. A small stone marker stone provided an alternative perching spot.
Distant views across the Dee estuary were good, but we never in a position where the Clwydian Hills came into view.
We did cut the walk short to avoid known muddy tracks, but it did allow us to get to the Brit quite early and enjoy a pint or two of Lees bitter as we sat by the roaring fire.
Birds seen or heard included: Jackdaw, Herring gull, Black billed magpie, Common blackbird, Long-tailed tit, Winter wren, European robin, Common buzzard, Fieldfare, Redwing Common pheasant, Red grouse, Collard dove, Carrion crow and Woodpigeon.
Overall, a very enjoyable walk, celebrated with a pint or two of Lees Bitter at the Brit in Halkyn.

Another Ysceifiog, Licswm and Nannerch Round 28th August 2024

Tiled mosaic - not a good shot, I thought I had taken the whole of it!

Info about the mosaic.

The clean stream that runs into Ysceifiog Lake.

On the path towards Bron-eirion.

Is that Moel Famau on the skyline?

One of the better paths in this area.

A better view of Moel Famau from the road leading o Ash Farm.

Mike should be arriving at this stile soon - he didn't!

Somewhere there, there is a stile

The reason why Mike didn't arrive on the path expected.

Herb robert next to the path.

About to leave our Licswm lunch spot in the Community Orchard.

Memorial in he grounds of Chapel y Betherrn, Licswm

I couldn't resist taking a picture of the "igam ogam" notice at Licswm Primary School

Do you recall the name of the tenor, David Lloyd?

The sign that says the church is open.

Inside St. Mary's and All Angels Church, Nannerch.

St. Mary's and All Angels Church, Nannerch.

The black sheep of Ysceifiog.

Heading for St. Mary's Church, Ysceifiog, but has he missed the path?

Inside St. Mary's Church, Ysceifiog,

Leaving St. Mary's Church, Ysceifiog,

Walk stats: 8.8 miles. (10.0 miles for Mike). Climb: 1063’
Time: 5 hours 0 minutes. On the move walking average: 2.4 m.p.h. Overall Walk average: 1.8 m.p.h.
Temperature: 17.6 Celsius to 21.2 Celsius.
Beaufort Wind Force: 0 - 2. Calm to light air and briefly increasing to a welcome 6.1 m.p.h. Light breeze
Group: Martyn, Mike and Ed.
We arrived at Ysceifiog just after 10-15, in the hope that we would miss the early rain shower given on most forecasts. The only other rain forecast was around 13-00. Very little wind on the forecast, but humidity was pretty high for most of the day.
As a change, I decided that we would investigate a path I hadn’t used before, that avoided most of the path through the wood north of Ysceifiog. Instead, we took the path that went past Bron-eiron to meet up with the previously used route near Mynydd-llan. Route.
When we arrived at the road, north of Gors, Mike decided he wanted to extend the walk by taking a track directly opposite, I recall this wasn’t a good track, but couldn’t remember why.
Me and Ed went down the easier route down the road and agreed to meet Mike at Ash Farm. Although Mike’s route was longer than ours, we anticipated arriving at Ash Farm at about the same time.
Mike arrived about 10 minutes after us, but not along the path we expected!
The path he was checking out turned out to be impassible at one point and he had to retrace his path and head along the road as Ed and I had done earlier.
Back on track, but a little later than usual, we arrived in Licswm in time for lunch. We took advantage of the bench in the Community Garden / Orchard, just as the rain shower had stopped and the Sun came out. This was a bonus to be able to sit on a bench in the sunshine.
We all had fruit cake, before setting off, and having had two pieces I anticipated needing very little for my tea / evening meal!
After lunch we returned to our planned walk, following the recently restored footpath past Tan-yr-onen and Llwyn-drain.
In Nannerch we took advantage of it being open church month and ween inside St. Mary’s and All Angels Church for the first time.
Similarly, arriving at Ysceifiog, we were able to see inside St., Mary’s Church. Both churches gave the welcoming option to make yourself a tea or coffee. We declined, but it was a lovely welcoming offer they had made.
Birds seen or heard today were but included: Woodpigeon, House sparrow, Common Blackbird, Black billed magpie Carrion crow, Common buzzard, Goldfinch, Barn swallow, Moorhen, Coot, Mallard and European robin.
Arriving back at the cars, we knew we had had a good enjoyable walk. All that was needed now was to find suitable hostelry for some liquid refreshment. I didn’t expect it to be the Piccadilly Inn at Caerwys. At least they had a couple real ale pumps on display, but unfortunately the Conwy Brewery’s Golden Gate wasn’t on! However, the Wainwrights Bitter tasted pretty good, considering it is brewed by the Marston's Group!!

Holywell Common, Racecourse and Pen-y-Ball Top 21st February 2024

" I can't believe I'm walking on Holywell Cpmmpn".

"Neither can I!.

On the Racecourse.

Still on the Racecourse.

Snowdrops blooming, but Daffodils waitin unti the 1st of March!

At our lunch sptot

The most important Station of the Cross at Pantasaph.

The view from Pen-y-Ball tpp rig point.

The view from Pen-y-Ball tpp rig point.

Spring lambs on Peny-Ball Top.

"We need to get away from that lot!"

It's like climbig Everest after lunch!

The terrible two at the trig point on Pen-y-Ball Top.

The Pen-y-Ball Monument.

One of many shaft cap on the edge of Brynford.

Not Moel Famau, but at least we can see Moel-y-Parc.

Walk Stats:
Distance: 8.5 miles. Climb: 961’.
Time: 4 hours 30 minutes.
On the move walking average: 2.4 m.p.h.
Overall walk average: 1.9 m.p.h.
Temperature: 10.5 – 14.6 Celsius.
Beaufort Wind Force: Max 5 – Fresh breeze.
Group: Martyn, Ed, Nigel and Mike.
Surprisingly this turned out to a good day for walking, overcast to start, but ending in glorious sunshine.
I did wear my Paclite jacket, but that was related to the wind, not the rain.
On this walk we did have challenges in terms of muddy tracks that we needed to negotiate around sheep/cattle sections around The Racecourse, but at least the extensive Gorse barrier had been removed.
Lunch was taken at Pantasaph friary, where we took advantage of a bench provided as well as the PCs.
After lunch the weather improve, the Sun came out and we were in danger of overheating unless we discarded some of our outer clothing!
Birds seen or heard today included: Jackdaw, European robin, Common blackbird, Blue tit Common kestrel, and Mallard.
Overall an enjoyable walk, arriving back at the car a little earlier than expected would the Blue Bell at Halkyn be open? It was, it now open at 12-00 each day, serving excellent pint of Lees bitter as well as other real ales and ciders.