Walks and Dates September 2013

Updated on 22nd September 2013.

Thursday 5th September 2012.

Gloddaeth Hall and Bryn Pydew.

Distance: 10 miles. Climb: 1500'.
Start: Marl Hall Wood Car Park on the outskirts of Llandudno. Grid ref: SH 799787.
Directions to get to the car park. Leave the A55 at Junction 19 and follow the A470 towards Llandudno. At a roundabout turn right signposted to Esgryn / Pydew. Go past Esgryn Road to find a small car park on the right.
Leave Chester at 09-00 a.m.
This walk combines two walks from Dave Berry's book "Walks Around Llandudno".  These walks explore the area around St. David's College that we normally visit on our Little Orme walks.  In addition, we will take a short there and back extension to visit the obelisk that we see clearly as we travel along the A55.

Saturday 7th September 2013. 
No walk.

Old Highways South of Druid. 
This walk will replace the Lake Vyrnwy Walk on 21st September 2013.  

Distance: 8 - 10 miles. Climb: 1000'.
Start: Layby on A549, 1 mile West of its junction with A5 and East of Glas-yr-Afon, Glass Bloberry. Grid ref: SJ02974261.
Leave Chester at 08-00 a.m. (8-30 a.m. by negotiation)
This walk is taken from R.J.A. Dutton's book "Hidden Highways of North Wales". It explores a  Roman road, a hill fort, a Medieval road and an old coach road. The extension explores roads and byways North of Glan-yr-Afon. Includes Ty-tan-y-dderwyn, Cefn-eithin and Llwyn-ithel.

Thursday 12th September 2013.
Owain Glyndwr's Mount, Nant Friddisel and Moel Fferna.

Distance: 8-10 miles; Climb: 2262' at a guess.
Start: Pont Carrog. Grid ref: SJ115437.
Leave Chester 9-0 a.m.
This walk is taken from Dave Berry's book "Walks Around Llangollen and The Dee Valley", along with an extension to visit the summit of our old friend Moel Fferna. The exact approach and route of descent will be decided on the day depending on the weather conditions!
Most of my birthday fruit cake has already been eaten, but there is probably enough for this week as well, but make sure you let me know that your coming, so that I can cut the cake into enough pieces!
After walk drinks will be at the Grouse Inn at Carrog, unless anyone can suggest anywhere better!

Saturday 14th September 2013.

Looks like I'm Billy No Mates again, Chester are playing away, so I might have to bake a fruit cake! 
The Roaches and Lud's Church.

Distance: 9 -10 miles. Climb: 2000'.
Start: Roadside parking below the Roaches North of Upper Hulme. Grid ref: SK004621.
Leave Chester at 8-00 a.m.  (8-30 a.m. by negotiation)
This walk is taken from the Pathfinder Guide to the Peak District.  The Roaches has become one of our annual favourite walks, but this route is one that we have only done once before.  It includes the main Roaches ridge, and possibly Hen Cloud. The planned return route will be back along Black Brook. Can be boggy, especially on the lower route back from Lud's Church.

Thursday 19th September 2013.

A Clwydian Trio

Distance: 9 miles; Climb:1900' '.

Start: Pentre-celyn car park . Grid ref: SJ150534.

The car parking area is on the left adjacent to the sign for Pentre-celyn, just off the B5429.

Leave Chester 9-00 a.m.

This is another walk by Debbie Hamilton and is taken from the "Walking" magazine. This walk includes the section of Offa's Dyke Path goes near Moel y Plas, Moel Gyw, Moel Llanfair and Boncyn y Waen-grogen. Her walk starts from Llanfair Dyffryn Clwyd, but we will start at Pentre Celyn about half a mile beyond Graigfechan.

Saturday 21st September 2013. 

As for Saturday 7th September 2013.
See above for details.
Walk postponed - Billy no Mates again!
All Around Lake Vyrnwy. 
This walk will now be put on the list in Summer 2014.

Distance: 14 miles. Climb: 1000'.

Start: Llanwyddyn car park on the South side of the dam. Grid ref: SJ017190.

Leave Chester at 08-00 a.m.

This is another walk taken from "Walkers Britain - Volume 2".  I've wanted to do this walk for some time, but never got round to it.  It is a slightly longer walk than usual, so I thought we'd better do it before my legs tell me that attempting that sort of distance is unrealistic!  The walk is described as a moderate walk with two climbs. It also describes a wide variety of bird life around the edges, so it may be worthwhile bringing binoculars if you have them.

Thursday 26th September 2013.

It is with great disappointment that I have decided to change the walk on the 26th September 2013. 
Not everyone in the group counts the Llantysilio Ridge as one of their favourite walks! The new walk is below.

Around the Ystrad Valley and Foxhalls.

Distance: 10 miles. Climb:1200'.
Start: Layby just outside Denbigh on the A543 Pentrefoelas Road. The layby is just after the road out of Denbigh makes a right angled left bend.  Grid ref: SJ043660.
Leave Chester 9-00 a.m.
This walk is based on two of Dave Berry's walks from his book " Walks in the Vale of Clwyd".
The first time that we did both of these walks it ended up being more than 13 miles, but on this occasion we will miss out bits from each which should reduce the walk to about 10 miles.
 This walk explores the wooded Ystrad Valley and passes houses associated with Dr. Johnson and Beatrix Potter. The second walk explores the countryside South of Foxhall Newydd, a 16th century house owned by John Panton, Recorder of Denbigh. If we are observant, we should be able to see the outline of an Iron-age enclosure, but we haven't spotted it on earlier walks.

Saturday 28th September 2013.

Around Anglezark Reservoir and More.

Distance: 8-11 miles. Climb: 1200!

Start:Car park and picnic site, Rivington Park Lower Barn. Grid ref: SD628138.

Leave Chester 8-30 a.m.

This walk is based on a walk from Terry Marsh's book "Fifty Classic Walks in Lancashire". His part of the walk is described as being on generally good paths and tracks, but can be muddy! The extensions will result in the whole walk going past 5 reservoirs. It will probably be worthwhile bringing binoculars with you.
The route includes White Coppice and Healey Nab.
Last time we walked in this area it was in November 2010, so the birds that we see and hear will be probably be different, and hopefully the weather will be warmer!

A Pentrecelyn Walk in the Clwydians 19th September 2013

A promise of better weather to come.

"Oh no, we've lost Roger"

The path along Boncyn y Waen-grogen.

Waiting for a view on Moel y Plas.

At the cairn on Moel y Plas.

Setting of after lunch on the Boncyn Banhadlan on the East side of Mol Llanfair.

Is this one of the sculptures on the Art Trail?

The Clwydian Hills the East side of Coed Henblas near Graigfechan.

Walk stats: Distance: 8.6 miles. Climb: 2000' (probably a little on the high side).

Time: 5 hours 1 minute. On the move walking average: 2.2 m.p.h. Overall walk average: 1.7 m.p.h. (we must have had too long for lunch!).

Group: Martyn, David S., Phil, Annie H., Roger, Sue and Michel.

Showers in the morning and good after lunch were on the forecast, so we set off with waterproofs on. In reality we only really needed them for about half an hour as we approached Moel y Plas, where visibility was so poor, that only three actually went to the cairn, and one only went to retrieve the others!

 Lunch time on the East side of Moel Llanfair was the turning point, and the Sun came out, the waterproofs came off and we could bask in the warm Sunshine as we ate our lunch.

  On our return route from, we decided to explore a few new (to us) paths that headed for Llwyn Sinnet and eventually down to Graig before going into Coed Henblas.

  Knowing my keen interest in ornithology as Roger and I  were approaching the track above Tyddyn Ucha, Michel shouts "is that a pair of Blue tits?" It wasn't until I looked through my monocular in the direction he was pointing, that I realised what he meant!

  We assume it was one of the pieces being displayed as part of the "Art Trail", signposted on the road as we headed towards Mold.

Despite the overgrown path along the East side of Coed Henblas, we eventually reached the main track and a gentle stroll back to the car.

 Birds seen or heard today included: Common buzzard, Carrion crow, Raven, Common snipe, Barn swallow, Meadow pipit, House sparrow, Woodpigeon and Wheatear.

 Overall a good walk, ans one that will be repeated in the future, hopefully on a day when we get a better view from Moel Llanfair.

After walk drinks were enjoyed at the Gold Cape in Mold, where a brew from Purple Moose went down well.

Owain Glyndwr's Mount, Moel Fferna and Nant Friddisel 12th September 2013

The view from Owain Glyndwr's Mount.

Spot the three that climbed to the top of Owain Glyndwr's Mount.

Just starting lunch at the cairn /shelter on Moel Fferna.

Well into lunch at the cairn /shelter on Moel Fferna.

The call of the Grouse was too much, so once again we didn't make it to the Pen y Grog quarry.

Walk stats: Distance: 8.4 miles. Climb: 1510'.

Time: 5 hours 12 minutes. On the move walking average: 2.0 m.p.h. Overall walk average: 1.6 m.p.h.

Group: Martyn, Fran, Phil, Roger, Annie H., Sue and Michel, Sue and Dave P.

With the prospect of a good warm and dry day, just two of the group believed the forecast and wore shorts, both were thankful that they did! My only regret was that I had taken my sun hat out of my rucksack and put a pair of mitts in their place!
This walk involved the most climbing for some time, but the ascent was taken on a route that never involved any really steep sections. We arrived at the summit of of Moel Fferna, as usual just in time for lunch. The views today were superb, particularly the Eglwyseg Escarpments, that looked quite stunning when the sun was shining on them.
 As it was so pleasant, we had a longer than usual lunch, just to enjoy the superb vista for a little longer.  As there was 9 of us, the last 6 pieces of fruit cake had to be made into 9, so most of the group had little more than a mouthful to celebrate visiting Moel Fferna on lovely day.
 Birds seen or heard today included: Red grouse, Kingfisher, Barn swallow, Goldfinch, Carrion crow, raven, Common buzzard, Meadow pipit, Blue tit, Goldfinch, Common pheasant, Woodpigeon and Wheatear.
 After walk drinks were enjoyed at the Grouse Inn at Carrog, where we sat outside, enjoying a Lees bitter and being entertained by a dog racing up and down the river bank opposite, what it was chasing we will never know.

Upton-by-Chester County High School - News

Carole Bowness.
Funeral Arrangements.

Many of you who have been at Upton-by-Chester County high School from the 1970s, will remember Carole (PHU), and some of you will have seen her at one of the Christmas meals more recently.

Sadly Carole passed away today (5th September 2013),.
 Yet another of our colleagues that has been battling against cancer for some time, but finally succumbed.

I will post details about the funeral arrangements as soon as I get them.

I am sure our condolences and thoughts are with her daughter, Debbie and the rest of her family at this sad time.
Carole's funeral will take place on 
Tuesday 18th September 2013
at Blacon Crematorium at 15-20. 

Bryn Pydew, Coed Brungarth and Gloddaeth Hall 5th September 2013

An interesting fungus on Hazel.

At the Bryn Pydew Obelisk.

A men's only walk, but who took the photo?

The Conwy Valley from the road South of Bryn Pydew.

The Bryn Pydew Obelisk, from the road South of Bryn Pydew.

A Ladies only walk.
Not really, one of them took the photo at the obelisk.

Walk stats: Distance: 8.1 m.p.h. Climb: 1047'.

Time: 4 hours 43 minutes. On the move walking average: 2.2 m.p.h. Overall walk average: 1.7 m.p.h.

Group: Martyn, Wendy, Celia, Fran, Annie H., Roger, Sue and Michel.

The weather today, was a little on the damp side, not quite rain, but still feeling wet. Thankfully it wasn't cold and and the wak did finish with the Sun doing its best to shine! 

 Our first objective was to visit the Bryn Pydew Obelisk, that gave us "superb" views towards Conwy castle and the Conwy Valley.

 Lunch was taken on edge of Coed Brungarth taking advantage of a few convenient stones to sit on and the trees to shelter from the "rain".

 We didn't get any views until much later, when we could see the windmills off Abergele as we approached the woods East of Gloddaeth Hall, and then had glimpses of the Great Orme as we passed the West side of St. David's College.

 Birds seen or heard today included: European robin, Jackdaw, Carrion crow, Blue tit, Woodpigeon, Common buzzard, Dunnock, Eurasian jay, Barn swallow Goldfinch, Grey heron and House sparrow.

 Flowers seen today included: Red clover, White clover, Creeping buttercup, Common dandelion, Harebell, Rock rose, Hedge bindweed, Great willowherb, Lord's and Ladies, Common mallow, Small scabious and more that may be added later.

After walk drinks were enjoyed at the Britannia Inn at Halkyn, where the Lees bitter was in agreeably good nick!

Cwm Dulas, Cefn yr Ogof and Gopa wood 31st August 2013

Looking towards the Little Orme from the slopes of Cefn yr Ogof.

Craig y Forwyn (Maiden's Leap)

At the trig point on Cefn yr Ogof.

Looking across Craig y Forwyn towards Snowdonia fro Pen-y-corddyn mawr.

Walk stats: Distance: 9.7 miles. Climb: 1300'. 

Time: 5 hours 40 minutes. On the move walking average: 2.2 m.p.h. Overall walk average: 1.7 m.p.h.

Group: Martyn, Roger and Celia.

This turned out to be a superb day for walking, even though the breeze on the coast made it a little cool  ast we set off.  Intermittent sunshine accompanied us all the way round.
  This is a delightful varied walk, especially when as today we also visited the summit of Cefn yr Ogof, and this time we did so without upsetting any of the locals as we retraced our steps from the trig point and took a new (to us) path down to the road at Rhyd-y-foel.
 Lunch as usual was taken on the North side of Pen-y-corddyn mawr, where I sat in the shade of a tree by a small ruin, the others preferred to sit in the Sun!
 On entering Gopa Wood, we decided to explore a little and took the forest track Southward, rather than our usual way that headed towards the coast. This proved to be a lovely route through fairly open deciduous woodland and eventually dropped down to our usual path.
 Birds seen today were few, but included: Black-headed gull, Herring gull, Common gull, Lesser black-backed gull, Great black-backed gull, Carrion crow, Great cormorant, Oystercatcher, House martin, Barn swallow and Mute swan.
  Butterflies seen today included: Small white, Meadow brown, Speckled wood, Small tortoiseshell, and Common blue.
 We did a little better for flowers which included: Creeping buttercup. Welsh poppy, Sea campion, Sea mayweed, Traveller's Joy (Old Man's Beard), Red valerian, Common valerian, Great willowherb, Rosebay willowherb, Teasel, White clover, Red clover, Indian balsam, Herb robert, Tormentil, Rock rose, Common mallow, Small scabious, Common knapweed, greater knapweed, Dandelion, Common daisy, Common ragwort, Harebell, Gorse, Common heather (Ling), Bell heather, Hedge bindweed, Common restharrow and Yarrow.
 We arrived back at the car, just in time for me to a a text from Sue Pearson telling me that Chester had just beaten Wrexham - a perfect ending, I just had to go to the Britannia Inn to celebrate with a pint of J.W. Lees! 

Melin y Wig, Derwen and Betws Gerfil Goch 29th August 2013

On the woodland path by the infant Afon Clwyd.

The preaching cross at Derwen Church.

The central stain glass windows in Derwen Church.

The Vale of Clwyd from near Derwen.

A few visitors, waiting to head South!

The stain glass window above the altar in St mary's church at Betws Gwerfil Goch.

Walk stats: Distance: 8.8 miles (although 1 GPS gave it as just over 10 miles! Climb: 947'.

Time: 4 hours 14 minutes. On the move walking average: 2.3 m.p.h. Overall walk average: 1.7 m.p.h.

Group: Martyn, Roger, Annie, Sue and Michel.

Despite the French connection returning, there was still only five of us to enjoy this delightful walk the Vale of Clwyd.  Most of the walk was completed in sunshine, although it did cloud over around lunch time, and the odd shower forecast didn't materialise other than a few spots.

In the past parts have the route have proved to be on the wet side, but today there wasn't any problems and even the worst part on the last leg back to Melin y Wig had been rerouted to avoid the most boggy bits.
Lunch was taken just after visiting Derwen, where we able to find suitable places to sit alongside the Afon Clwyd and watch the small Brown trout in the river as we enjoyed our food, including a piece of 10 month old fruit cake (still some left for the next few walks!).
 As well as being able to enjoy this beautiful countryside, we also met several really lovely people.
 Once again the farmer at Clegir Uchaf, directed us through his fields to avoid fields with a bull, after his daughter dog found it great fun to run around  our feet, trying to be caught by her, but Michel managed to catch him! Talking to the farmer he said that he had seen up to 10 Red kites in the air above his farm, although he hadn't seen Grey partridge for a while.
 arriving at Betws Gwerfil Goch, we decided to see if we could could see inside the church, were we were very fortunate to arrive at a time when the Vicar was there, and she took us inside the church.. She was a delightful lady and explained that church services had recently stopped because the church had been taken over by a colony of bats, and their droppings were everywhere. This was a beautiful church inside, but what can you do to encourage the bats to relocate and the building again used for what it was intended.
 At the end of the walk, our only regret was that our tingling legs, reminded us that too many Nettles had manged to sting us!
 Birds seen or heard today included: Common buzzard, Winter wren, Barn swallow, Jackdaw, Carrion crow, Blue tit, Raven, Black-billed magpie, Eurasian jay, Common pheasant and Red kite.
Flowers seen today included: Common daisy, Red campion, Tormentil, Yarrow, Dandelion, Gorse, Herb robert, Foxglove, White clover and Rosebay willowherb.
After walk drinks were enjoyed the Castle Hotel in Ruthin, where on display they had a poster pointing out that Wetherspoons had been awarded a certificate as one of the top employers for 2013!