A Clwydian Hills Round from Pentre-celyn 25th November 2023

Not much wind, but just enough to make the wind turbines roatate.

Autumnal colours still on some trees.

A lot of dog activity over Moel y Waun.

More dog activity over Moel y Waun.

Nearly don to the crowds.

Not my most favourite section of the Offa's Dyke Footpath.

Arenig Fawr on the skyline.

Moel Famau on the skyline.

Time for a rest with Moel Gyw on the skyline.

The designated path through Coed Plas-y-nant.

Fungi next to the path through Coed Henblas.

The remains of an industrial building in Coed Henblas.

Walk Stats:
Distance: 10.3 miles. Climb: 1700’.
Time: 5 hours 27 minutes. On the move walking average: 2.2 m.p.h.
Overall walk average: 1.9 m.p.h.
Temperature: 6.4 Celsius at the start. 3.4 Celsius as we joined the Offa’s Dyke Footpath east of Moel y Gelli. 8.0 Celsius at lunch south of Pen-yr-allt. 6.4 Celsius as we joined the road north of the cattle Breeding Station. 7.5 Celsius at the end of the walk.
Beaufort Wind force: 0-1. Calm to Light air, but in reality we hardly felt noticed any measurable wind all day.
Group: Martyn and Ed.
The weather forecast today was pretty good, and for once it was pretty accurate. It was on the cool side with very little wind, some sunny intervals (very few) and no rain.
However at one point Moel Famau was covered in cloud, so it was good to realise that we were in a better place today!
The surprise of the day was hearing the sound of Hunting Horn and seeing a good number of dogs running across the hillside. It looked like a training exercise s the dogs didn’t seem to be running in any particular direction and needed lots of encouraging to go where they should.
Once on the Offa’s Dyke Footpath, we had lots of good distant views particularly northward along the Clwydian Hills and westward towards the Arenigs and Clocaenog Wind Farm.
Birds seen or heard today included: Black billed magpie, Great tit, Stonechat, Winter wren, Common blackbird, Collared dove, Redwing, Fieldfare, Common buzzard, Eurasian jay, Jackdaw, Raven and Carrion crow.
Even taking the mile or two of road walking in to account, this turned out to be a very enjoyable walk. The only downside was not getting home early enough to clean my muddy boots outside before sunset!

Around Penycloddiau and Moel y Parc 28th October 2023

The path leading to Penycloddiau from the Coed Llangwyfan Car Park.

At the new gate (replacing a stile) onto Penycloddiau.

On part of the new to us path around the East side of Penycladdiau.

Still on the new to us path around the East side of Penycladdiau.

Our first sighting of the Moel y Parc TV Mast.

The closest we got to the Moel y Parc TV Mast.

Moel y Parc trig point - no longer able to be bagged!

Our first sigt of the wind turbines off Prestatynproducing power.

A first for Ed - visiting the cairn on Moel y Parc.

The wind turbines seen from the cairn on Moel y Parc.

Any commentary ics not s by me!

Descending Moel y Parc towards Penycloddiau.

Inspecting a well known landmark on this part of the Clwydian Way  - a 60 cubic metre water tank that has seen better days!

Looking back down the "Blue Walk" through Coed Llangwyfan.

Walk Stats:
Distance: 8.2 miles. Climb: 1316’.
Time: 4 hours 23 minutes. On the move walking average: 2.3 m.p.h.
Overall walk average: 1.8 m.p.h.
Temperature: 11.2 Celsius at the start.
9.2 Celsius on reaching the outer rampart of Penycloddiau.
11.2 Celsius at lunch and 14.1 Celsius at the end of the walk when the Sun had come out to play!
Beaufort Wind force: 0-4. Max just a Moderate Breeze as we descended Moel y Parc towards Penycloddiau.
Group: Martyn and Ed.
This was another last minute change of walk as we thought Llandegla Moors might be on the boggy side after all the rain we had had recently.
As we approached the car park, we were slowed down by lots of Red legged partridge ambling along the road and showing a great reluctance to get out of the way.
We set off on the main path heading for Penycloddiau, but arriving at the outer rampart, we decided to take that went around the East side of the hill fort. This proved to be a very pleasant path despite not being being designated a Right of Way, but was obviously well used and easy to follow. This was a new path to me and one that I would be happy to take again.
Another first for me was taking the path in an anticlockwise direction to reach the cairn on the top of Moel y Parc – the windiest spot of the day.
Distant views weren’t great, but as we approached the cairn on Moel y Parc we did get views towards the North Wales Coast and the many wind turbines gently rotating.
Lunch was taken on the Clwydian Way towards Aifft, where the remains of an old wall gave us comfortable places to sit.
At lunch we were briefly entertained by a party of Long tailed tits who decided to feed in a tree next to where we were sitting.
After lunch we decided to extend the walk slightly and follow the Clwydian Way that contoured around the Western flanks of Penycloddiau ad then climb through Coed Llangwyfan on the “Blue Trail” but in reverse to the directions shown by the arrows.
In fact the whole walk was done in the opposite direction to that was given in the route description.
Birds seen or heard today included: Carrion crow, Common buzzard, Stonechat, Common pheasant, Red legged partridges (large numbers on the road as we approached the Coed Llangwyfan Car Park), Raven, Meadow pipit and Long tailed tit.
Overall an enjoyable walk in weather conditions that were on the cool side (fleece warn throughout the walk, although could have been discard for the climb through Coed Llangwyfan).
After walk drinks were enjoyed at the Blue Bell in Halkyn, where the Lees Bitter went down well and I think Mike enjoyed his Pepsi and a packet of Piper’s Chilli Crisps!
Arrived home in time to clean my boots outside in the warm sunshine - always a bonus!

Around Fron Hen, Loggerheads and Big Covert 7th December 2022

On the way to Fron Hen.

Looking towards bthe Clwydians from Fron Hen.

On the trtack heading eastward rtowards Loggergeads.

Bright yellow fungi on gorse.

On the old Mold to Ruthin road.

One less awkward stile to go.

Our luynch seats at Loggerheads.

The Afon Alyn at Loggerheads.

Crossing the bridge on the way towatds Colomendy.

Moel Famau Jubilee Tower from the path in Big Covert.

Walk stats:

Distance: 8.4 miles. Climb: 1329'.

time: 4 hours 32 minutes. On the move walking average: 2.2m.p.h.  Overall walk average: 1.8 m.p.h.

Temperature: 4.4 Celsius - 6.7 Celsius.

Beaufort Wind Force: 0-1. Hardly enough to measure.

Group: Martyn, Sue and Michrl, Nigerl and Wendy.

Birds seen or heard.: Carrion crow, Common kestrel Common buzzard, Wood nuthatch, Redwing, Fieldfare, Common blackbird, European robin, Winter wren, Blue tit, Pied wagtail and Grey wagtail.

This was a superb day for walking, bright blue skies, sunny and very little wind. In the su it felt pleasantly warm.

The views in the morning were good nd somne of the more eagle-eyed amongst us claim to have seen snow on the higher hills towards Snowdonia.

Lunch was taken at Loggerheads, where we all sat on the seats around a large oak tree. Thankfully most of us were in the Sun as well.

The afternoon walk took us east of the main road back to the start, not quite as oiginally planned, but the same as we did the last time we did the walk. It was while on the path through Big Covert thast we had our one and only view of Moel Famau.

Overall an enjoyable, celebrated by a drinks at the Druids Inn at Llanferres. Purple Mooses's Snowdonia Ale was the beer of choice although two did have tea!  Wendy bought the round as it would be her birthday next week, but she isn't able to make the walk then.

Unfortunately DS had early morning car problems, and opted to take it to the garage, and get it sorted, rather than switch car and sort the car out later.

 

Around Aberwheeler and Llandyrnog 22nd June 2022

Even the cows want to be in the shade!

A Barn swallow takes a rest.

Setting the pace on the Clwydian Way next to the Afon Clwyd.

We had to go through the middle of that lot!

Glan-y-wern Hall from the Denbigh Road.

Looking back to our lunch spot in the shade.

Ed's Golden ringed Dragonfly.

Ed's Dragonfly again. 

One of many bad stiles seen today near Glan Clwyd Ganol Isa.

Walk stats:

Distance: 8.9 miles. Climb: 354'.

Time: 4 hours 22 minutes. On the move walking average: 2.4 m..h Overallwalk average: 2. m.p.h.

Temperature: Max - 27.2 Celsius.Lunch - 25.4 Cesius in theshade. End of walk - 25.8 Celsius.

befort Wind Force: 0 - 2. Mainly light air and occasionally a very welcome light breeze, reaching 6 m.p.h.

Group: Martyn, Michel and Ed.

A good day for walking, but at times it did feel a little warmer than we would have liked.

In the morning most of the riverside stiles had been replaced by stiles, alas the stiles after lunch were often in a dire state, especially those near Glan Clwyd Ganol Isa.

We sotted a couple of sheep in the Afon Clwyd, but unfortunately the bank was too steep for any of s to give them any help.

Lunch was taken at Llandyrnog Football Ground, where we were very grateful to find a seat and picnic bench on the veranda under cover.

Birds seen or heard today included: House sparrow, Common starling, Barn swallow, Chiffchaff, Grey heron Common buzzard, Mallard, Goldfinch, Common blackbird, Common chaffinch, Common swift, Jackdaw, House martin, Rook, Carrion crow, Wodpigeon and Raven, 

We arrived back at the cars with feet looking forward to being released from being trapped in boots and three walkers looking forward to some liquid refreshment at the Dinorben Arms at Bodfari.  Conwy Beacomer and Timothy Taylor Landlord were sampled, but Ed couldn't find a beer dark enough for his liking, so had a cider instead.

I think this may be the last time I do this walk, as I get older I don't like the hassle of reporting so many bad stiles every year and seeing nothing get done!