Ffrith Mountain and The Alyn Gorge 17th April 20224

The Afon Alyn at Loggerheads.

Walking along the Leete down the Alyn Gorge.

One of many flowers seen along The Leete.

The first Bluebells seen today on our way to Cilcain.

Ramsons in flower.

Lesser celendine and Primrose on the verge as we approached Cilcain.

Daffodils at their best.

Moel Famau on the skyline as we left Cilcain.

A very young lamb eyes us up!

Time to put on the waterproofs.

Enjoying lunch!

Lunch over, it's good to be on our way!

The youngests lambs of the day.

Not all lambs are white!

"Hands up, who agrees we had a really emjoyable walk."Walk Stats.
Distance: 9.1 miles. Climb: 1024’.
Time: 5 hours 0 minutes.
On the move walking average: 2.4 m.p.h.
Overall walk average: 1.8 m.p.h.
Temperature: 9.1 Celsius at the start of the walk. 6.1 Celsius Mid-afternoon. 10.1 Celsius as we descended along the road to Loggerheads towards the end of the walk.
Beaufort Wind Force: 3, just a Gentle!
Group: Martyn, Sue and Michel, Ed, Fran, Nigel and Mike.
The weather forecast today suggested we might have an odd shower or two and we could expect the feel like temperature to get as low as 2 Celsius.
Alas in the morning we experience, rain and hail, especially at the time stopped for lunch.
The bonus today was all of the birds singing and lots of plants coming into flower.
Birds seen or heard today included: Carrion crow, European robin, Common blackbird, Blue tit, Common chaffinch, Wood nuthatch, House sparrow, Common chaffinch, Winter wren, Great tit, Chiffchaff, Woodpigeon, Great spotted woodpecker, Common buzzard, Raven, Goldfinch, Eurasian jay and Willow warbler.
Flowers seen today included Common dandelion, Ramson, Common Dog violet, Daffodil, Tulip, Primrose, Wood anemone, Periwinkle and Stitchwort.
No takers for the Moel Famau extension today, everyone was happy to stick to the described route, even if we did complete it in the opposite direction as to the usual way we do the walk.
Arriving back at the cars at Cadole, we all knew that we had had a good walk resulting in tired legs demanding reviving with a pint of Purple Moose’s Snowdonia Ale, Timothy Taylor’s Landlord or even a pot of tea at the Glasfryn.

Deborah's Well, Moel Fineg and Big Wood 22nd November 2023

Deborah's Well, but the inscription isn't very clear.

Even magnfied it isn't much clearer!

There is always at least one view of Moel Famau on any wak in the Clwydians.

Who's that on Moel Findeg?

Leaving Moel Findeg.

Head count at Maeshafn lunch spot.

Autumnal colours south of Maeshafn.

On the path next to the east side of Burley Hill Quarry.

The now disused Burley Hill Quarry.

Autumnal colours in the leaves on the path through Big Wood.

 On the path through Big Wood.

A reminder of what Liverpool evacuees saw when they were at Cholomendy.

A reminder of what Liverpool evacuees saw when they were at Cholomendy.

Walk Stats:

Distance: 8.2 miles. Climb: 1200’.

Time: 4 hours 55 minutes. On the move walking average: 2.1 m.p.h.

Overall walk average: 1.8 m.p.h.

Temperature: 11.2 Celsius at the start. 11.8 Celsius at lunch. 11.0 Celsius at the end.

Beaufort Wind force: 2-3. Ranging from a Light Breeze to a Gentle Breeze, but never feeling that cold.

Group: Martyn, Sue and Michel, Mike, Nigel and Ed.

The weather forecast today gave a 10% chance of rain, but thankfully it remained dry throughout the walk.

However at one point Moel Famau was covered in cloud, so it was good to realise that we were in a better place today!

This is quite a roller coaster of a walk, with many ups and downs with most of the hard work done before lunch.

The best views came from the top of Moel Findeg, where Beeston Castle and Peckforton Hill were easily identified beyond the Padeswood Cement Works.

Lunch was taken at Maeshafn, where we were able to take advantage of picnic benches and a covered seating area next to the playground.

After lunch we headed southward from Maehafn, passing the Miners Arms (currently closed and undergoing major refurbishment) along the path adjacent to the east side of Burley Hill Quarry,

Today we were able to see better autumnal colours in the leaves still left on the trees and those already fallen and lying on the woodland tracks.

Birds seen or heard today included: Black billed magpie, Common chaffinch, Common blackbird, Wood nuthatch, Redwing, Mistle thrush, Common buzzard, Eurasian jay and Carrion crow.

Overall it was a very enjoyable walk, worthy of going to the Glasfryn for liquid refreshments.

Moel Famau, Around Ffrith Mountain, Clwyd Forest and Coed Moel Famau from Bwlch Penbarra 15th November 2023

Seting off along Offa's Dyke towards Moel Famau.

Nearly there!

Here comes the Ranger!

Ravens enjoying the breeze.

The view from the top of the toer on MoelFamau.

On the way down from Moel Famau.

Lonely tree ahead!

A lonley traves to us as we pass by.

Heather management on the slopes of Moel Famau/

View from my lunch spot.

Looking back along the path we were investigating.

Discussing the next move?

Aurtumnal  colours in Coed Moel Famau.

On the last climb of the day.

Moel Findeg in the distance.

Walk Stats:

Distance: 8.0 miles. Climb: 1611’.

Time: 4 hours 18 minutes. On the move walking average: 2.2 m.p.h.

Overall walk average: 1.8 m.p.h.

Temperature: 8.6 Celsius at the start. 5.6 Celsius on the top of Moel Famau and 11.1 Celsius at lunch.

Beaufort Wind force: 4-5. Ranging from a Moderate Breeze to a Fresh Breeze as we climbed to the top of Moel Famau.

Group: Martyn, Ed, Nigel, Mike, Sue and Michel.

The weather forecast was good, although they did suggest it would have a feel like temperature of 8 Celsius and the wind could be gusting in excess of 20 m.p.h.

At the start we had to battle against the cool Moderate breeze, forcing us to hall don gloves and have hoods or hats on to protect face/ears from the wind.

Distant views weren’t perfect, but we were able to spot some flooded areas in the Vale of Clwyd north east of Denbigh.

We didn’t linger long on the top of Moel Famau and were happy to get in the lea of the hill where we were protected from the worst of the wind.

Mike and Nigel decided to extend the walk a little by heading down the Offa’s Dyke Path while we took the Clwydian Way. The managed to catch up with us as we descended past Ffrith Mountain, having added 0.7 miles to their walk.

Lunch was taken north east of Cwm-llydan, where we sat in the Sun, but protected from the wind by the adjacent forest.

After lunch it was a steady climb around Coed Cefn-goleu and part of Clwyd Forest until we reached the path that we decided to explore for the first time. This proved to be a good choice as it meant we avoided the main stony forest track for most of the way back to Bwlch Penbarra. Birds seen or heard today included: Raven and Meadow pipit. Overall it was a very enjoyable walk, completed in at times pleasantly warm sunshine.

Most of us went straight home, but two of the group heade for a suitable hostery on the way back to Upton.

Around Bryn Alyn and Eryrys13th September 2023

A time to pause in Big Covert west of Burley Hill Quarry.

Burley Hill Quarry through th trees.

Part of the Clwydian Hills seen from the easr of Burley Hill Quarry.

We don't have to keep to coviddSocial distancing jst yet!

Burley Hill Quarry from the northern slopes of Bryn Alyn.

Moel Famau from the northern slopes of Bryn Alyn.

At our lunch spot south eat of Bryn Alyn.

Which way to Eryrys?

Gleaning finished in Nercwys Forest!

At the trig point on Nercwys Mountain.

At the trig point on Nercwys Mountain.

This is the path we want!

Moel Famau from the path on the way to Fron Deg.

Not the type pe of plane you expect to see flying over the Clwydians!

Spot the bus stop - that's where our car is parked!

Using the new gate leading to the road at Brybn-yr-orsedd.

And there are steps and a hand rail to help as well!

Even the awkward stile leading to the layby had been replaced by a nice new gate.

Walk Stats:

Distance: 9.7 miles. Climb: 1634’. (9.7 m.p.h. 1390’)

Time: 5 hours 54 minutes. On the move walking average: 2.0 m.p.h. (1.9 m.p.h,)

Overall walk average: 1.6 m.p.h. (1.6 m.p.h.)

Temperature: At 19.2 Celsius at lunch. 17.8 Celsius at the end of the walk.

Beaufort Wind force: 0 – 2. Mainly Calm /light air, but briefly reached a 4.8 m.p.h. light breeze as we climbed up the path on the north east slopes of Bryn Alyn.

Group: Martyn, Mike, Sue and Michel.

The forecast for today was pretty good; in fact it was pretty well perfect for walking – not too hot and very occasionally a gentle cooling breeze.

At the start, we had to suffer walking along the main road as far as Llanferres where we picked up a track taking us towards Maeshafn.

Although the Sun was shining it wasn’t long before we were walking along forest tracks through Big Covert to Maeshan. It was a very pleasant walking in the shade of the trees.

We were a little later getting to the start to the walk, so we knew we wouldn’t make it to the usual lunch spot in Nercwys Forest. As we climbed the slopes of Bryn Alyn we were on the lookout for a suitable spot to stop for lunch.

After deciding to reverse our usual route to Nercwys Forest, we soon found a suitable spot in an area that looked as though it had been part mining explorations. Plenty of stones to sit on and sheltered from any breeze.

At Eryrys we took the lanes to link with our usual path to Nercwys Forest. It turned out to be a good route to take – ripe Damsons on a roadside tree forced to stop for a while!

Later on as we crossed the cleared section of Nercwys Forest, it was ripe Blackberries and Bilberries that delayed us!

We failed to spot the path to Fron Deg that we really wanted and ended up doing an unintentional extension to the trig point on Nercwys Mountain (something I had wanted to do for some time.

We eventually got back on track and were soon descending the steep track to the road at Bryn-yr-orsedd and that awkward stile to negotiate.

We didn’t need to worry as the stile had been replaced by a new easy to use gate with steps and hand rail leading down to the road.

We arrived back at the car having had a really enjoyable walking and looking forward to some liquid refreshments at a suitable hostelry.

Birds seen or heard today included: Common buzzard, Wood nuthatch, Dunnock, Barn swallow (must be one of the last to still be here), Eurasian jay, Sparrowhawk, Jackdaw, Tufted duck and Meadow pipit.

It was disappointing to find the Druids Inn at Llanferres closed so we ended up defaulting to Fran’s choice and headed to the Glasfryn! As usual some enjoyed Purple Moose’s Cwrw Eryri and one enjoyed a Brimstage Brewery’s New Zealand Pale Ale. One person enjoyed a pot of tea, but alas it lacked a tot of whisky!