Around the Ystrad Valley and Foxhalls 23rd April 2009

The best view of the day! It may be early, but there are plenty of Bluebells about!

Foxhall Newydd? Why this view? But can anyone identify the location of these wind turbines?

Walk stats:13.1 miles; Climb:1351'.

Time: 5 hours 51 minutes: On the move walking average:2.6m.p.h.: Overall walk average:2.2m.p.h..

Group:Martyn, Richard, Roger, Dave J., Gordon, Annie H., Michel and and Sue.

What a god day for walking this turned out to be. Not quite sunny all day but almost and very little wind. temperatures in the high teens what more could we want? the walk, a little contrived at times resulted in a later than usual lunch (had Fran been with us she wouldn't have been best pleased!). Birds seen were few, but we heard plenty and the the Spring flowers were magnificent. Bluebells seems to be well on their way and our normal Bluebell wood walk I think will have to be brought forward to the middle of May rather than at the end!

Birds seen or heard today included:Robin, Blackcap, Swallow, Blackbird, Carrion crow, Pied wagtail, Chaffinch, Chiffichaff, Willow warbler, Buzzard, Coal tit, Blue tit, great tit, House sparrow, Dunnock, Jackdaw, Wren and Raven.

After walk drinks were enjoyed at at the Britannia Inn at Pentre Halkyn, although the bitter today wasn't at its best!

At 13.1 miles this was a little longer than expected, it won't be as long next time!

Grinllwm and Gerionydd 18th April 2009

On the summit of Grinllwm.

Llyn Gerionydd - just before our lunch pot.

One of the many superb views seen today.

Some of the mountains of Snowdonia.

A rare sight - Roger leaving church - Llanrhychwyn.

Walk stats: 9.7 miles; Climb:1474'.
Time: 5 hours 46 minutes; On the move walking average:2.3 m.p.h.; Overall walk average:1.7 m.p.h.

Group: Martyn, Richard and Roger.

What a glorious day this turned out to be. Sunny all day, virtually no wind and pleasantly warm - perfect for walking. This was a day to linger and just take in the fantastic views or enjoy the birds singing, admire the splash of Spring flowers or the fluttering butterflies or have a chat with the locals! Today we heard the first Cuckoo of the year calling, and recalled that it was in the same area last year where we had seen them.

Other birds seen or heard today included:Buzzard, Kestrel, Meadow pipit, Tree pipit, Carrion crow, Magpie, Jackdaw, Raven, Robin, Chaffinch, Willow warbler, Chiffchaff, Goosander, Mallard, Little egret, Grey heron. Blackbird, Herring gull, Greenfinch, Swallow, Sand martin, House sparrow, Canada goose, Pheasant, Blue tit, Great tit, Pied wagtail, Grey wagtail, Wheatear and Dipper.
Much debate ensued concerning a small white flower that had leaves on separate stems coming from straight from the roots, identified as Wood Sorrel.

After walk drinks were enjoyed at the Britannia Inn at Pentre Halkyn. A pint of Lees bitter in fine condition, as it usually is at the Britannia, the perfect way to end the day!

Cwm Coed Drwg and Moel Morfydd 16th April 2009

This is what it can look like, if you stop to take off your rain gear! The main climb of the day, heading for the trig point on Moel Mprfydd.
Enjoying lunch part 1

Enjoying lunch part 2 (at least 1 enjoying it twice!).

The final descent on the Dee Valley Way to Glyndyfrdwy.

Walk stats: Distance: 9.4 miles; climb: 1990'.

Time: 4 hours 41 minutes: On the move walking average:2.4 m.p.h.: Overall walk average: 2.0 m.p.h.

Group: Martyn, Richard, Roger, Celia, Dave. J., Annie H., Paul, Fran and Tito, Sue and Michel.
The weather forcast for today wasn't good, rain predicted for most of the day, especially after lunch and a cool Easterly wind too! Thankfully we only experienced any real rain for about an hour as we approached the summit of Moel Morfydd.

Only three of the group, Fran, Paul and Martyn decided to brave the conditions and walk in shorts!

This was in fact a grey day weathewise, bur it was still a really good walk and has so much potential for experiencing good views on an appropriate day with somewhat more distant visibility!

Birds seen and heard today included: Greenfinch, House sparrow, Dunnock (Roger's bird of the day), Carrion crow, Raven, Herring gull, Blue tit, Great tit, Red grouse, Pheasant, Wren, Meadow pipit, Stonechat, Buzzard, Swallow (more than one!) and Green woodpecker (only seen by Dave J.)

After walk drinks were enjoyed at the wonderful Grouse Inn at Carrog where the Lees Bitter is is always served it top condition and the views to the river are superb (if you get the window seat!).

Here Fran declared that she must win the award for still wearing shorts and showing bare legs. No one commented except Michel who said that they were the sexiest legs on show! No-one commented, but everyone seemed happy having had another good day in the hills!

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All Around Moel Eilio from Dolgarrog 11th April 2009

A Willow warbler - not that you can tell! Llyn Eigiau Reservoir - not the usual view!
Llyn Cowlyd reservoir.
Celia on the Roman road! Coety or Coedty Reservoir with Moel Eilio behind.

Walk stats: Distance:10.1 miles; Climb:1967'.

Time:5 hours 54 minutes; On the move walking average:2.2 m.p.h.;Overall walk average:1.7 m.p.h.

Group: Martyn, Richard, Roger, Celia, Sylvia and Dave J.

What a glorious day this turned out to be. Wall to wall blue skies to start with and sunshine virtually throughout the walk. This was certainly a day to linger and we did much of that as we tried to spot the singing Willow warbler or the skylark serenading us high in the sky. this was a beautiful walk, easy at first, then a little challenging off-roading although theoretically on a footpath, finishing with a lovely wooded descent alongside the Afon Porth - llwyd before visiting the Memorial Trail commemorating the 1925 Dalgarrog flooding disaster when 16 local people lost their lives.

Birds seen or heard today included:Blue tit, Great tit, Chiffchaff, Willow warbler, Meadow pipit, Skylark, Wren, Stonechat, Wheatear, Carrion crow, Greenfinch, Garden warbler, Great-crested grebe, Buzzard, Raven, Song thrush, Pheasant and a calling bird of prey (not easily identified, maybe a Merlin but probably a Kestrel). On route we also saw an unusual red spider, a few Rabbits and a collection of tadpoles.

After walk drinks were enjoyed at the Britannia Inn at Pentre Halkyn. It seems such a long time since we have enjoyed the generous hospitality of this local. The Lees bitter was excellent as usual and the bonus of the day was some Hot cross buns provided by the landlady Sarah. It's a pity we don't have a local like this nearer home!

The Ceiriog Valley, Y Foel and Biddulph Tower 9th April 2009

The bird of the day - a Yellowhammer. Admiring the view or not!
The view towards Llangollen and the Eglwyseg Escarpments from the ridge North of the Ceiriog Valley.

At Biddulph Tower on Y Foel.

Walk stats:Distance:9.3 miles; Climb:1837'.

Time:4 hours 57 minutes; On the move walking average:2.6 m.p.h.;Overall walk average:1.9 m.p.h.

Group:Martyn, Richard, Roger, Gordon, Annie H.,Fran and Tito, Sue and Michel, Sue and Dave P.

We set off from Pontfadog hopeful that the weather forecast for rain and strong winds would not materialise. It looked good until we reached the ridge road above the Ceiriog Valley where the strong cooling wind kicked in. This time we decided to make the short there and back trip to the viewpoint overlooking the Vale of Llangollen. Was it worth, yes because we saw a wonderful Yellowhammer on a Gorse bush on our return to the ridge road. We had lunch by Biddulph Tower, sheltering from the wind, but thankfully at this point not in the rain. We decided to do a bit off-roading, heading across the Heather clad moorland in search of a track that would lead to a footpath heading back to Glyn Ceiriog. This could section could easily be described as Tito's tumbles with Heather! Heather hopping isn't one of favourite hobbies to say the least, but we did eventually find the footpath! Soon afterwards the rain started and accompanied us all the back to the car. A diversion caused us to use the "quiet" road back to Pontfadog!

Birds seen or heard today included:Carrion crow, Chaffinch, Blue tit, Great tit, Housesparrow, Curlew, Lapwing Grey wagtail, Blackbird, Meadow pipit, Skylark and Yellowhammer.

We tried in vain to find an open hostelry in the Ceiriog Valley, but ended up at the Pant Yr Ochain at Gresford where a Derwent brew and Timothy Taylor Landlord were the beers sampled.

St. Celynin's Church and Tal Y Fan 4th April 2009

An early view of the Conwy. St. Celynin's Church - unfortunately not open.

At the trig point on Tal y Fan.

No I won't go in that cromlech!

Walk stats: Distance:7.4 miles; Climb:2605'.

Time :4 hours 36 minutes; On the move walking average:2.1 m.p.h.; Overall walk average: 1.6 m.p.h.

Group:Martyn, Richard, Roger,Celia, Dave J., Fran and Tito.
Another day of surprises, especially the weather. At time it was warm and sunny and unfortunately when we were approaching the ridge of Tal y Fan the cloud/mist came down and a bitterly cold gale force wind seemed determined to limit our forward progress. We didn't linger long at the trig point! Lunch was taken sheltering behind a substantial wall. We were all thankful that hot liquid refreshment was the order of the day, a little bit of fruit cake helped too! The other surprise was the vast number of people that we saw on Tal y Fan, it must have been over 30 in all. We certainly didn't expect this minor little peak to be so popular.

At last we have visited St. Celynin's Church, but it was disappointing to find it closed.

The walk invited us to search out several standing stones, one or two being quite impressive, as well as an ancient burial chamber.

Birds seen or heard today were few and far between but included: Buzzard, Raven, Carrion crow, Great tit, Meadow pipit, Skylark, Coal tit, Chaffinch, Shelduck and Grey wagtail.

It was good to see some of the Spring flowers in bloom including some British Bluebells, almost a month before we would normally expect to see them.

Only Richard, Roger and Martyn went to the Lees hostelry in Rowen for refreshment. Lees Dark was also enjoyed as well as the normal Lees bitter.

Eglwyseg Escarpments 2nd April 2009

On the first ascent - left .....left .... left .. right .. left!

Lazy horses!At the lunch spot.
An Impressive Rock Face on one of the Eglwyseg Escarpment (below our lunch spot!).

A Second Elwyseg Escarpment.

Walk stats: Distance:9.4 miles; Climb:1384'.

Time:4 hours 40 minutes; On the move walking average:2.4 m.p.h.;Overall walk average:2.0 m.p.h.

Group:Martyn, Richard, Roger, Gordon, Celia, Fran and Tito, Sylvia and Dave J.

The weather forecast was good, dry and sunny all day! It didn't quite turn out that way. The morning was pleasantly on the cool side, almost perfect for walking, and the only real sunshine was from lunchtime and afterwards.

This must be one of the most rewarding walks you can go on with virtually no effort involved. Superb views all the way round whilst following the edges of these fantastic limestone escarpment. Every step gives a view that just makes you want to stop and linger and take it all in!

The spot of the day was what seemed to be a giant Brown Hare running across the moor on the skyline, but for Dave J., it was probably the good views of a Wheatear at the lunch spot!

Other birds seen or heard today included:Chaffinch, Buzzard, Canada goose, Chiffchaff (my bird of the day!), Raven, Carrion crow, Great tit, Meadow pipit, Stonechat and Skylark.

The Australia Arms was closed again, so we ended up at the Pant y Ochain where we sat outside to enjoy our drinks in the sunshine!