Stanage Edge and High Neb 23rd May 2015

Bluebells on Ridgeway Side. Taken from Baulk Lane looking West.

Our first view of the Stanage Edge.

Bronte Cottage.

High Neb and Stanage Edge.

 Looking towards Stanage Edge from the Causeway.

Celia at High Neb trig point.

Water collecting cups - drinking water for Red grouse.

Looking across the Causeway toward Hook's Car and Burbage Rocks.

Martyn at the trig point West of Cowper Stone.

Bluebells in High Lees Wood.

Walk stats: Distance: 9.0 miles. Climb:1030'.

Time: 5 hours 49 minutes. On the move walking average: 2.0 m.p.h. Overall walk average: 1.5 m.p.h.

Group: Martyn and Celia.

A popular day for walking, predictable as the weather forecast was good and it was a Bank Holiday weekend. We didn't get as much Sun as we had hoped, but at least it didn't rain and it wasn't windy.

 The walk along the edge to High Neb trig point gave us good views towards Shining Tor. The highlight of our approach to Stanage Edge was hearing first a Cuckoo, Eurasian curlews, Skylarks and even the plaintive cry of a Golden Plover.

 Birds seen or heard today included: Common swift, Barn swallow, House sparrow, Pied wagtail, Meadow pipit, Chaffinch, Willow warbler, Skylark, Red grouse, Eurasian curlew, Cuckoo, Skylark, European robin, Dunnock, Lapwing, Carrion crow and Jackdaw.

 Discovering a delightful Bluebell wood North of Hathersage Booth was a bonus too.

 Overall a good walk, even with the modifications made to the original description in order to shorten it a little.

 After walk drinks were enjoyed at the Chesterfields, where it was peasant enough to sit outside. The tea went down well and I assume Celia's Sam Miguel did too!

Pontcysyllte, Croes yr Esgob, Trevor Hall Wood and the Canal 2st May 2015

"Oh where did you get that hat?"

Early spotted orchid.

Ramsons everywhere - but there were many more to come!

Bluebells galore too!

Listen, don't look!

Looking across the Dee valley towards Trevor Rocks and the Llantysilio Range.

Croes yr Esgob - identified by David S.

Trevor Rocks from our lunch spot.

"Where am I?"
or
"Why are we waiting? I've had my lunch."

"These are better when they're out of date than when they are fresh!"
or
"It's only lunch and my legs are tired already!"

"Come on, haven't you got anything to eatr?"

The Pontcysyllte Aquaduct from the Pontcysyllte Road Bridge.

Cysyllte Bridge over the Llangollen Canal.
"Nearly back at the car!"

Walk stats: Distance: 10.9 miles. Climb: 1254'.

Time: 5 hours 58 minutes. On the move walking average: 2.3 m.p.h. Overall walk average: 1.8 m.p.h.

Group: Martyn, Sue and Michel, Roger and David S.
What a glorious day it turned out to be, pleasantly warm all day, with the occasional cool breeze to help us. We did get rain after lunch, I think I counted at least ten spots!
 The views from high point East of Llyn y Cwm were superb. Although I usually note all the birds that we see and hear, today they were outshone by all of the flowers that we saw.
 Flowers seen today included: Bluebell, Ramson, Cuckoo flower, Garlic mustard, Dandelion, Buttercup. Daisy, Periwincle, Common vetch, Cowslip, Wood sorrel, Forget-me-not, White dead nettle, Common spotted orchid, Primrose and Golden saxifrage.
 Birds seen or heard today included: Common buzzard, Jackdaw, Carrion crow, Willow warbler, Chiffchaff, Common blackbird, Goldfinch, Dunnock, Wood nuthatch, Song thrush, Woodpigeon and Mallard.
  We even investigated a new path that took us via Ty canol over the A539 and onto the canal at near the Bryn Howel Hotel.
 We arrived back at the car, knowing we had been on a good walk and looking forward to some liquid refreshment at Telford Inn nearby. Telford Piffle did the trick!

South Stack Cliffs Nature Reserve and More 16th May 2015

Our first view of Holyhead Harbour from the path leading from the Breakwater Country Park.

A section of the path on the leading from Twr to cae-alltwen.

Penrhosfeilw standing stones with Gorse of the day in the backround!

Panorama looking East South Stack Cliffs Nature Reserve near Clybyddiad.

An obliging Madow pipit.

The coastline looking towards South Stack.

Amale Stonechat.

Guillemots on the cliffs at South Stack.

The coastal path heading towards Porth Namarch and the Breakwater Country Park.

Walk stats: Distance: 10.7 miles. Climb: 1266'.

Time: 5 hours 47 minutes. On the move walking average: 2.2 m.p.h. Overall walk average: 1.8 m.p.h.

Group: Martyn and Celia.

Our normal route is over 12 miles and took us through the centre of Holyhead, so I decided to try starting from the Breakwater Country Park on a route that went South of the town towards Llaingoch and into the South Stack Cliffs Nature Reserve West of Porth Dafarch.

 The path from Twr to Cae-alltwen and Mynydd cleyn-bach was a delightful path that weaved its way, often with flowering Gorse on both sides. Today was a day that we couldn't get a way from the sweet smell of coconuts!

 Within ten minutes of arriving in the South Stack Cliffs Nature Reserve, we saw two Red-billed choughs and heard a Skylark singing. Blue skies all round, warm sunshine and the wind not as strong or as cold as we had been expecting, things couldn't get any better! Well yes they could we actually saw a Puffin, admittedly through a telescope in Ellin's Tower. Pretty good as it was the only one that as yet had returned.

 Birds seen or heard today included: House sparrow, Barn swallow, Common swift, Chiffchaff, Willow warbler, Jackdaw, Rook, Red-billed chough, Herring gull, Lesser black-backed gull, Oystercatcher, Meadow pipit, Skylark, Stonechat, Carrion crow, Mallard, Moorhen, Greenfinch, Common whitethroat, Chaffinch, Common blackbird, Guillemots, Common buzzard, Common pheasant, Puffin, European robin and Winter wren.

 There were a few butterflies about, we saw two Small whites, two Orange tips and a Small tortoiseshell.

 On of the highlights today was the vast number of flowers seen including: Bluebells, Red campion, Sea campion, Thrift, Spring Squill, Sea mayweed, Scabius, Buttercups, Self-heal, Tormentil and the seemingly ever present Gorse (plus many more that I can't remember).

 We arrived back at the car having had a good walk, found a new route and ideas about trying an alternative path from the Breakwater Country Park next time we come to this area.

 After walk drinks were enjoyed at the Blue Bell Inn at Halkyn, where the Cornish Vintage Cider went down well and as it was "World Whisky Day", I had a whisky in my tea when I got home!

Two Woods, The Coast and Pen-y-Ball Hill 14th May 2015

The Windmill in Holywell - a well known landmark.

Bluebells in Coed Pen-y-Maes.

The Coastal Path near Greenfield Dock.

The middle pol in the Greenfield Heritage Park.

An attempt to capture the hundreds of House Martind flying over this pool.

At the Pen-y-Ball Hill trig point.

Which way now?

Panorama from the tumulus North west of the Pet Cemetery.

One young calf that decided it didn't like us!

At least these are running away from us!

Walk stats: Distance: 8.9 miles. Climb: 1122'.

Time: 5 hours 8 minutes. On the move walking average: 2.1 m.p.h. Overall walk average: 1.7 m.p.h.

Group: Martyn, David S and Phil.

 Earlier in the week the weather for today suggested relentless heavy rain, but thankfully things changed, the rain didn't reach us and all we had to contend with was a cool Easterly wind.

 The first part of the walk was new to us, first passing the Windmill (currently for sale) through a housing estate into Coed Pen-y-Maes. This was a delightful wood with good paths and a good show of Bluebells.

 Emerging from the wood we had to cross a field containing about 20 young bullocks that decided to stampede in front of us, became trapped and then stampeded in front of me as I stood still (David and Phil had escaped to the stile by this time).

 The approach to the coast past the Recycling Centre wasn't the most attractive part of the walk, but at least the section along the coast to Greenfield Dock was pleasant enough.

 On the way to the Greenfield Heritage Park, Phil decided that David needed to experience a visit to St Bueno's Well, so we decided to go through the park via the pools and the paths on the Western side.

 The main lake had few birds on the water, but there were lots of Barn swallows flying around with the odd House martin. The higher pool had very few Barn swallows but more than a hundred House martins flying of the water and some coming within inches of our face as we crossed over dam.

 My attempt to capture them doesn't really how how amazing it was.

 Lunch as is the norm for these Holywell walks was taken in the Memorial Gardens, where we could take advantage of the benches available.

 Arriving at St Bueno's Well, it had been marked out with red and white tape, and a note informing that an archaeological dig on the site was taking place. Perhaps one day we will find out if they found anything of interest.

 Although the walk description didn't actually go to the trig point on Pen-y-Ball Hill we decided that the small detour to visit it was well worth while. 

 The views from Pen-y-Ball Hill towards the coast, Pen-y-Ball Monument towards the Clwydians and from near the tumulus across the Dee Estuary, were all superb.

 Birds seen or heard today included: Willow warbler, Great tit, European robin, Barn swallow, House martin, Common coot with cootlets, Mallard, House sparrow, Feral pigeon, Woodpigeon, Pied wagtail, Jackdaw, Grey heron, Jackdaw and Common buzzard.

 After walk drinks were enjoyed at the Bluebell Inn at Halkyn, where we had to sit outside for them to open or so we thought. The door was open, neither of us had the strength to open the door, we had to be let in by a young lady helping in the bar!

 Overall a good walk on a day when we expected the worst!

Bluebells Around Parbold 9th May 2015

The view from Hunter's Hill as we started the walk. (at the start of the walk)

Our first Bluebells in Hunter's Hill Nature reserve.

A Barn swallow nrear Priory Wood.

Bluebells in the wood East of Gillibrand House.

The remains of the windmill on Horrocks Hill.

Blackpool tower from Hunter's Hill Nature Reserve.

Panorama from Hunter's Hill Nature Reserve. (At the end of the walk)

Walk stats: Distance: 11.2 miles. Climb: 924'.

Time: 6 hours 4 minutes. On the move walking average: 2.3 m.p.h. Overall walk average: 1.8 m.p.h.

Group: Martyn and Mike.

we set off with a little rain in the air, but thankfully after about half an hour it stopped and then we had intermittent sunshine for the rest of the walk. However in the morning we were also accompanied by a cool wind that meant that fleeces were still required.

 This was a a Bluebell walk and we weren't disappointed, they seemed everywhere along the route, not just in the woods that we were walking through. In fact the number of flowers seen was very numerous and included: Bluebell, Red campion, Ramson, Cowslip, Stitchwort, Dandelion, White dead nettle, Daisy, Forget-me-not, Gorse and Broom.

 Bird seen or heard today included: European robin, Common whitethroat, Winter wren, barn swallow, Common pheasant, Jackdaw, Common blackbird, Mallard, Moorhen, Common buzzard, Common starling, House sparrow, Song thrush, Mistle thrush, Chiffchaff and Willow warbler.

 Overall a good walk, with superb views with Blackpool tower  clearly seen in the distance.

 After walk drinks were enjoyed at the rather busy and quite noisy Helter Skelter in Frodsham, where Worley's Farm house cider went down well.

Coed Pen-y-Gelli and more 7th May 2015

Bluebells in our first wood - Coed Allt-y-tywod.

Cowslips East of Crown Wood.

Early purple orchids East of Crown Wood.

"Where am I"

Bluebells in Coed Pen-y-Gelli.

More Bluebells in Coed Pen-y-Gelli.

Looking across the estuary towards Liverpool.

Taken from a road descending North from Gorsedd towards Waen Farm.

Walk stats: Distance: 9.4 miles. Climb: 657'.

Time: 4 hours 58 minutes. On the move walking average: 2.3 m.p.h. Overall walk average: 1.9 m.p.h.

Group: Martyn, David S., Roger and Phil.

We arrived at Gorsedd with rain in the air, but by the time we were ready to move off it had stopped and thankfully although it threatened a couple of times rain never materialise.

 As many of the forecasts had suggested we had intermittent periods of sunshine and pleasantly warm temperatures around the 10 Celsius mark. This was particularly welcome as we enjoyed our lunch in the Coed Pen-y-Gelli Quarry Nature Reserve.

 The main objective was visit known Bluebell woods hoping for magnificent displays of flowering Bluebells. We did see many Bluebells, but as yet these particular woods didn't have Bluebells at there best.

 In fact we did see good numbers of Bluebells along the hedgerows by minor roads and bridleways.

 However we did see other flowers as a compensation.  These included Early purple orchids and Cowslips, as well as some fields that seemed to being growing magnificent crops of Dandelions.

 Birds seen and heard today included: Chaffinch, Goldfinch, Common pheasant, Great tit, Blue tit, Jackdaw, Carrion crow, Rook, Common buzzard, Pied wagtail, Wood nuthatch, Willow warbler, Chiffchaff, European robin, Greenfinch, Mallard, Woodpigeon, Greylag goose, Barn swallow and Common blackbird.

 After walk drinks were enjoyed at the Bluebell Inn at Halkyn, where the house bitter went down well.

Pendle Hill from Downham 2nd May 2015

Marsh Marigolds - a bright start to the walk.

At the Scout Memorial Cairn at the Western End of Pendle Hill.

At the Beacon / Big End trig point.

Pendle Hill from the path after crossing Great Coppy.

"Why don't you shelter behind the wall too!"

Another plane - this time unidentified.

Walk stats: Distance: 8.2 miles. Climb: 2019' (wind assised, probably nearer 1600').

Time: 4 hours 45 minutes. On the move walking average: 2.1 m.p.h. Overall walk average: 1.7 m.p.h.

Group: Martyn, Mike and Celia.

Optimistically we hoped that we would miss out on any rain until well after lunch. Alas we had "spotty rain" for most of the walk and real rain for the last half an hour or so.

  Once on Pendle Hill we had to battle agains a very strong and cold East south east wind, so much so that we had to take shelter in the wind break shelter in order to put waterproof jackets on to keep us warm rather than dry!

  We saw plenty of Skylarks and heard even more singing, but didn't get any close ups of Dotterel. We did however see a small flock flying above as we descended the Big End path towards Pendle House.

 Lunch was taken, sheltering behind a stone wall just before getting to Pendle House.

 The stretch across Great Coppy and on towards Pendle Road is always a bit bleak, but at least the Skylarks were still singing. At one point Mike very chivalrously decided to give Celia his leki to help her get across a section of very peat boggy moorland, lost his balance and stepped right back into the middle of the worst bit! 

 On the last stretch from Lane Head to Downham we were passed by the last few of the Pendle Fell Race Competitors who had run fourteen miles and climbed over 4000', a little more than us. 

 We arrived back at Downham, having had a good walk despite the weather. The winner of the race finished in about 2hours 19 minutes!

 Bird seen or heard today included: Mallard, Common blackbird, Chaffinch, Carrion crow, Jackdaw, Eurasian curlew, Meadow pipit, Black-billed magpie and the Dotterel.

 After walk drinks were enjoyed at the Netherton Hall at Frodsham, where the Lees Bitter wasn't perhaps at its best and the coffee tasted better!