Around The Little Orme and Bryn Euryn 31st December 2022

 

Oystercatchers and Eurasian curlew on the field opposite the Lifeboat Station.

Fulmar takiung up a nesting site on the cliffs in the Little Orme Quarry.

Grey Seals in Porth Dyniewaid.

Grey Seals in Porth Dyniewaid.

Grey Seals swimming off Porth Dyniewaid.

Grey Seals in Porth Dyniewaid.

Grey Seals in Porth Dyniewaid.

Grey Seals swimming off Porth Dyniewaid.

A Common redshank sharing our lunch spot by the pool at Rhos-on Sea.

Walks stats:

Distance: 9.0 miles. Climb: 722'.

Time: 4 hours 2 minutes. On the move walking average: 2.4 m.p.h.  Overall walk average: 2.0 m.p,h.

Temperature: 10.2 Celsius at Porth Dyniewaid, 12.2 Celsius at lunch and 11.2 Celsius towards the end of the walk.

Beaufort Wind Force: 0 - 1. Calm to light air. Hardly noticeable.

Group: Martyn and Ed.

The weather forecasts for today kept on changing, so both of us thought it was worthwhile making the effort to at least start the walk and at least visit Porth Dyniewaid to see the Grey seals.

We weren't disappointed and Ed counted a least 60 before giving up counting. We were  informed that it was just about at the peak at the moment and at least 7 pups had been seen with even more at Pigeon Cave (11 pups) seen from Marine Drive.  Members of the Wildlife Trust were undertakling a count by taking photographs and using IT to do the count.

Both of us were happy to miss out the trig point on the Little Orme and Bryn Euryn and opted for gentle stroll that eventually meant a lot more road walking on quiet roads through the houses,

Lunch was taken by the pool / play area at Rhos-on-Sea where were we were happy to use the seats under cover sheltering from the rain which literally started just as we arrived at Rhos-on-Sea.

It just about stopped by the time we were ready to set off after lunch, as we weaved our way through the houses to rejoin the original planned walk at Colwyn Bay Rugby Club.

Our only complaint today, was the fact that it was far too warm for the Winter gear we were wearing - it was a "boil in the bag" day, what a joy to be able to but on a dry shirt at the end of the walk!

The worst of the rain started just as we arrived back at the cars, but at least there were facilities there for us to change out of our wet gear into dry gear.

Birds seen or heard today included: Oystercatcher, Eurasian curlew, Herrng gull, Woodpigeon, Jackdaw, Carrion crow, European robin, Fulmar, Common starling,  Pied wagtail, Common redshank, Meadow pipit, Great black backed gull, Common blackbird and House sparrow.

An enjoyable walk.marred onl by the fact that my glasses kept steaming up, resulting in me using eight hankerchiefs wiping them and my continually sweating brow!

Arriving home, an email from Fran made my day as it informed us to meet at the Eastgate Clock at 13-45, an hour later than originally planned.  It now means I can go to the morning church service at WEF and still walk into Chester to meet up for the walk around the city walls.

Celebrating the walk was for me done at home where a drop of Jameson's in my cup of tea went down well!

Around The Great Orme 14th December 2022

All photo times - 1 hour , I forgot to change the clock time on my camera!

The atmospheric view of the norther Carneddau from West Shore Llandudno.

The first of the goats seen today.

The Monks' Path looks steep from here!

The Monks' Path - easy peasy whe you'ver got a Leki!

Wind turbines in the Irish Sea.

The Rivals on the Lleyn Peninsula from the Great Orme Plateau.

Heading towards the Great Orme limestone pavements.

"Yes I am a Raven!"

Just to prove we did make it to the trig point on the Great Orme.

Icicles on the north side of the Great Orme.

The first Grey seal seen in Pigeon Bay.

Grey seal swimming in Pigeon Bay.

Even more Drey seals on the beach in Pigeon Bay.

Sounds of the sea and more!

The Little Orme above Llandudno Pier from Marine Drive.

Llety'r Filiast Burial Chamber, The Great Orme.

Wild goats on the limestone  cliff faces abobe the "Igam Ogam".

The Carneddau at sunset from the "invalids' terrace".

Walk stats: 

Distance: 8.2 milers. Climb: 1621'.

Time 5 hours 5 minutes. On the move walking aveage: 2.0 m.p.h. Overall walk average: 1.6 m.p.h. 

Temperature: 3.2 Celsius (at the trig point at lunch time).  mainly around 4 Celsius, but 7.2 Celsius on the Monk's Path in the sunshine.

Beaufort Wind Force: Mainly 0 - 2, but on the summit reached 3 -  very cold gentle breezethat we were very glad to to find shelter from by the picnic tables near the summit cafe.

Group: Martyn, Nigel, Fran and Ed.

The temperatur on the car thermometer was was - 4 Celsius for most of the journey, but we arrived at Llandudno West Shore in warm sunhine, sio warm that wearing shortys wouldn't have been a problem!

Climbimg up the Monks' Path meant we felt a little warmer than was comfottable, but we did get good vies over the Conwy esturay towards the Carneddau and over Puffin Island to Anglesey.

As we headed around the plateau we had good views towards the Clwydian Hills,which seemed to be decked in more snow than the what we could see on the northern Carneddau.

At one point we even saw Moel Famau.

Lunch was taken using one if the picnic table on the southern side of the cafe, sheltered from the wind, bt sitll in the sunshine.  An 86 year old local stopped by an chatted for a while, sayng that he did the Great Orme walk most weks, despite his wife tellng him not to do so!

Aftewr lunch we headed down past St, Tudno's Church to the Marine Drive in the hope of seeing Grey Seal in Pigeon Bay,  We weren't disappointed!

Our rerturn route took up Fairy Glen, past the ski slope and down past half wy station and the Great Orme Copper Mine (well worth a visit in the Summer Season). 

The final part of the walk was along the "Invalds' Terrace", a gentle stroll that took us pass the "Igam Ogam / zig-zag" path to the summit. this path gave s superb views of the Carneddau as the Sun slowly sank below the horizon.

Birds seen t herard today included: Common redshank, Oystercatcher, Herring gull, Jackdaw, Carion crow, Raven, Great cormorant, Meadow pipit, European robin, Miste thrush, Common blackbird and Red billed chough.

Despite Ed trying to encourage u to go to the Palladium in Llandudno, we opted to to head for The Rake for acupof tea. The other opted for an enjoyable pint of Brimstag Brewery's Trappers Hat.

After dropping of the Upton lot,, I headed to St., James' Avenue to deliver a Christma car to DS. I knockedon the door, but no=one answered, DS was in the garage, but he didn't hear me knocking!

The Christmas lights in Upton, were pretty good in Cross Green, but those in St. James' Avenue were beven better!

 

Traeth Lavan and Its Foothills 3rd December 2022

The Afon Aber at Abergwyngregyn.

Looking above the Chapel at Abergwyngregyn towards the Traeth Lavan Foothills.

Looking over Abergwyngregyn towards Traeth Lavan.

Thankfully the high tops of the Carneddau are not on our route today.

The easy part of the walk today.

Investigating a path - how does it get to the other side of the A55?

Penrhyn Castle from the minor roadnear the Gatehouse.

A Grey heron, one of the birds that we saw at The Spinnies.

Looking wstward towards Penrhyn Castle from the coasta path near Cwrtiau.

Walk stats:

Distance: 9.0 miles. Climb: 1168'.

Time: 4 hours 32 minutes. On the move walking average: 2.5 m.p.h. Overall walk average: 2.0 m.p.h.

Temperature: 3.5 - 7.2 Celsius, mainly around 4 Celsius.

Beaufort Wind Force: 2 - 3, light to gentle breeze (max 8.2 m.p.h.

Group: Martyn, Mike and Ed.

A good day for walking, cool at times, feeling quite warm in the sun at lunch, where we sat in short sleeves at a picnic table at The Spinnies car park on the coast.

The best views of the day came as we crossed foothills on the North Wales Footpath. At one point the Sun was shining over Anglesey, and we all sad we should have been doing the Beaumaris / Penmon Walk.

We called in at The Spinnies, but most of the birds must have been in hiding!

As we had lunch, a former teacher from UHS recognise Mike and came across to have a chat.

After lunch it was along the coastal path, part of which had been made safer by rerouting through the adjacent field.

The track west of Cwrtiau, was better than on previous occasions, but still needs attention considering it is part of the Wales Coastal Path.

Birds seen or heard today included: European robin, Winter wren, Carrion crow, Herrig gull,Common redshank, Eurasian curlew, Grey heron, Mallard and Moorhen.

An enjoyable walk, celebated bydrinks at The Albion in Conwy.

Exploring the Flint Castle Hinterland 8th October 2022

Flint Castle - the start of the walk today.

Oakenholt Marsh from the Coastal path just before we headed inland.

The curch at Oakenholt where my godson Tom Ted R was christened.

A delightful green path on the way to Flint Mountain.

The Church of St. Thomas, Fli9nt Mountain.

The view from the highest point on Flint Mountaim, looking northward.

Goats in the grounds of the horticultural college at Northop.

A Common buzzard poses for us as we climb out ofthe Afo Conwy Valley twards the Halkyn Road.

Thankfully no bull anywhere in sight today.

Flint Castle ahead.

Acorns a plenty!

Flint Castle - the end of our walk today.

Walk stats: 

Distance: 10.3 miles. Climb: 1017'.

Tie: 4 hours 49 minutes. On the move walking aveage: 2.4 m.ph. Overall walk average: 2.1 m.p.h.

Temperature: Maximum - 20.0 Celsius in the Sun at lunch time. Minimum - 15.8 Celsius, but mainly about 17 Celsius.

Beaufort Wind Force: 0 - 2. Mainly calm and occasionally gusted t a 4m.p.h light breeze.

Group: Martyn and Ed.

This was asuperb day for walking, far sunnier and less windy than the any of the weather forecasts had predicted.

In the first part of the walk, we had good views across the Dee estuary to the Wirral that were  even better when we arrived at the "top" of Flint Mountain.

Lunch was taken on the Halyn Road, having decided on a slight extension to avoid crossing the A55 on foot that the path along the Afon Conwy sign posted us to do.

Hading downhill towards Flint, we had to cross the golf course, but a couple of golfrs pointed us in the the right direction after we pointed out where one of their golf ball had come to rest.

North Wales seems to be a hot spot for Oak trees, in Aurumn you think of hearing the rustle as you walk through fallen leaves, but today we seemed to walking on carpets of Acorns on most of the paths we used!

We arrived back at Flint Castle having had a good walk and looking forward to a refreashing pint at the Market Cross in Holywell. 

Birds seen or heard today included: Eurasian curlew, Mallard, Woodpigeon, Wood nuthatch, Carrion crow, Rook, Jackdaw, Eurasian jay, Common buzzard and Grey heron.

 

Mynydd Marian 28th September 2022

Setting off on the North Wales Coastal Path from Llanddulas to Old Colwyn.

The Little Orme and Great Orme from the Llanddulas to Old Colwyn Coastal Path.

A few Great cormorants on the Raynes Quarry,  Llanddulas landing stage.

Flood defence work still ongoing at Old Colwyn.

Looking over Old Colwyn to the Little Orme.

The Conwy Brewery. - anyone interested?

Yes  - two of the group did!

And another one!

The Little Orme from Mynydd Marian - looks ike rain is on its way!

Our lunch spot at Llysfaen bus shelter.

Those that preferred to be out in the open.

A really good vsection of the North nWales Path when it goes across the top of the blimestone escarpment, south east of Llysfaen.

"A tissue, a tissue we all fall down"

or

something is going on in a fairy ring!

It's starting to rain - time  to ?

Craig yr Forwyn - a temptation for some!

Taking the bhort cut over Craig y Forwyn.

The "red blob" in fron again as we descend into Llanddulas!

One of the stain glassed windows in Cynbryd's Church.

Walk stats:

Distance: 8.6 miles. Climb: 1000'.

Time: 4 hours 26 minutes. On the move walking average; 2.2 m.p.h. Overall walk average: 1.9 m.p.h.

Temperature: 11 Celsius as we arrived. Max temp - 21.2 Celsius mid adfternoon in the Sun.

Beaufort Wind Force - 0 -1. Mainly no wnd at ll (calm) occasion reaachig a 2.1 m.p.h light ait breeze.

Group: Martyn, Sue and Michel, David S, Fran, Nigel and Ed.

As we set offv it felt a little on the chilly side, so we all had fleeces on, but on reaching Old Colwyn it felt warm enough to shd ur outer layers.

We had sunny spells, but as we approached the top of Mynydd Marian we could see the Little Orme was getting rain and it was on the way, so Ed persuaded us to head the Llysfain and have lunch in the bus shelter. This we did, arriving at the bus shelter in glorious sunshine and the Sun shone throughout our lunch break. Ed felt justified when we had two spots od rain just as we were getting ready to set off after lunch.

After lunch we were on the North Wales Path pas the caravan park, when we were delayed somwhat as some memberes of the group, linked with European connections more knowledgeable about mushrooms found a Fairy Ring too much if a temptation!

Arriving at the foot of Craig y Forwyn, three of the group decided to take the broute over the top to experience delights of viewing the Llanddulas Landfill ste while he rest of the group continued on the "delightful" North Wales Path below the eastern crags of Craig y Forwyn.

Both groups joined up again for the final part of the walk past The Valentine Inn and St. Cynbryd's Church back to the cars.

On this occasionthe church was open, so it was good to see its mpressivec arved baptismal fontand the lovely stain glass windows.

Birds seen or heard today included: Great cormorant6, Herring gull, European robin, Common blackbird, Woodpigeon and Collared dove.

As always this as a walk enjoyed by all and celebrated by most of as the Blue Bell i Halkyn where the Lees bitter was excellent.  A brew from th Tatton Brewery was also on offer, and that went down well too, as did on of the alcohol free brews offered.

A good day was had by all, despite the overasll ten minutes of rain that we had!