Berwyn Halt, Horseshoe Falls, Coed Hyrddyn and Valle Crucis 16th March 2017

The Horseshoe Falls as we left the Llantysilio Green Car Park.

Llantysilio Church - Snowdrops not at their best, Daffodils much better.

Trapped trees on the Horseshoe Falls.

One of several notices displayed along the Llangollen Canal.

Male Goosander on the River Dee.

The easy part of the walk.

The River Dee from Llangollen.

A male Mandarin Duck on the Dee at Llangollen.

Looking across the Dee valley towards the Eglwyseg Escarpments.

The River Dee looking East from the Chainbridge.

Dinas Bran from the path contouring around Coed Hyrddyn.

"When is it my turn?"

Walking along the Clwydian Way.

Coed Hyrddyn (Velvet Hill) and the Llantysilio Mountains from the Clwydian Way.

Valle Crucis Abbey from the Clwydian Way.

The path around the Eastern side of Coed Hyrddyn.

Walk stats: Distance: 9.1 miles. Climb: 1483'.

Time: 5 hours 7 minutes. On the move walking average: 2.3 m.p.h. Overall walk average: 1.8 m.p.h.

Group: Martyn, Jim, Phil, David S., Roger, Sue and Dave P.

This turned out to be a better day than forecast weather wise. It was much warmer and Sunnier than expected and we only had brief encounters with a cool wind and that was mainly as we ha lunch!

 We started by heading for Llantysilio Church, hoping that the Snowdrops would still be in flower, alas they weren't but the bright yellow Daffodils did their best to compensate.

 The river was still quite high and there was still much evidence of tree trunks and debris trapped on the Horseshoe Falls.

 Following the gentle stroll along the towpath in to langollen, we had our first climb of the day as we headed for Bryniau-bach and Bryniau-mawr on he way to Berwyn Halt.

 Lunch was taken at Llantysilio Green, where we took advantage of available the pic-nic  tables, even though we couldn't find one that was sheltered from the at times quite strong wind.

 Having completed five miles at lunch, three of the group decided that was far enough for them and set off for home. The rest of us decided to head for Valle Crucis Abbey via Coed Hyrddyn and explore part of the Clwydian way before returning to the cars.

 Some of the views today were superb, especially along the Dee Valley, parts of Trevor Rocks and the Eglwyseg Escarpments and the Llantysilio Mountains.

 No Snowdrops, but Celandine were out and blossom was appearing on some of the trees.

 Birds seen or heard today included: Blue tit, Great tit, Common blackbird, Dunnock, Mallard, a pair of Goosander, a pair of Mandarin, Grey wagtail, Common buzzard, Common pheasant, Common chaffinch, Wood nuthatch, Woodpigeon, Black-billed magpie, Eurasian jay, Carrion crow and Jackdaw.

 Overall a very enjoyable walk. After walk drinks were enjoyed at the Pant-yr-Ochain at Gresford. Castle Rock's Stout and Purple Moose's Snowdonia Ale both went down well..

A Coastal Walk from Llanfairfechan 11th March 2017

Lapwing and Little egret North of Glan mor Elias.

Sounds of Spring by the Sea shore.

Looking back towards Llanfairfechan.

Waiting for the photographer to catch up.

Brent geese and Wigeon East of the Afon Aber outflow at high tide.

Brent geese East of the Afon Aber outflow at high tide.

On the way back and it's only just after mid-day!

Looking towards Tal-y-fan.

Lapwing on the shore.

Who's that in the lead again?

Walk stats: Distance: 10.0 miles. Climb: 120'.

Time: 4 hours 53 minutes. On the move walking average: 2.6 m.p.h. Overall walk average: 2.0 m.p.h.

Group: Martyn, Mike and Ed.

Another day that promised to be good weather wise, so I decide it was time to itch my Paramo gear and put my shorts on. It was the right decision as once we had been walking for a short time it felt quite warm. We didn't get much Sun, but we had no rain and very little wind.

 Bird numbers were a little disappointing, but at least there were more Brent geese (at least 39) than we have seen in previous years and we heard several Skylarks singing in the area around  the Glan-y-mor Elias Nature Reserve.

 Mike set the early pace and we were having lunch at the Aber-Ogwen car park and pic-nic site at 11-30 and on the return journey before mid-day.

 On the last couple of miles on return journey we were accompanied by a walker that was on his way to Chester along the Coastal Path and staying overnight at Llanfairfechan.

 We arrived back at the cars, just after 14-00, our earliest finish on a full walk for many years, even time to call in at the Blue Bell Inn at Halkyn on the way home.

 Birds seen or heard today included: Turnstone, Mallard, Mute swan, Greylag goose, Brent goose, Lapwing, Wigen, Shelduck, Eurasian curew, Common redshank, Oystercatcher, Little egret, Common blackbird, Blue tit, Great tit, Goldfinch and European robin.

 After walk drinks were enjoyed at the Blue Bell Inn at Halkyn, where Sheppy's Cider went down well, obviously a very popular as it ran out while we were there.

 Overall a very enjoyable walk and hopefully they will have resurfaced the car park by our next visit, it must have the greatest number of pot holes per square metre in the whole of North Wales! If not the most, pretty close.

Moore Nature Reserve and Appleton Reservoir 9th March 2017

The Manchester Ship Canal fro the bridge at Walton.

What am I?

A Great crested grebe on Appleton Reservoir.

A pair of Great crested grebes on Appleton Reservoir.

Our lunch spot at the South east ernd of Appleton Reservoir.

One of the residents at The Horse Farm.

Walk stats: Distance: 9.5 miles. Climb: 360' and no stiles.

Time: 4 hours 19 minutes. On the move walking average: 2.5 m.p.h. Overall walk average: 2.1 m.p.h.

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

Moore Nature Reserve was a very popular place today and on arriving we were luck to get the last available parking space.

 The weather was good, mainly sunny and warm, although occasionally we felt a cool breeze, but no where near that suggested on the forecasts.

 We set off around the Western end of the reserve along a section that we hadn't explored before, calling in at the hide overlooking Lapwing Lake on the way. along the section of the Runcorn and Latchford Canal we saw many birders looking for the reported sighting of a Lesser spotted woodpecker -  we didn't see it either!

 As we passed each lake we called in at the hides, There weren't that many birds on the lakes and most of the gulls had deserted Birchwood Pool.

 Lunch was take part way round Appleton Reservoir, where we took advantage of a stone wall on which to sit as we enjoyed our lunch in the sunshine, watching a nearby angler patiently waiting to catch a fish.

 One or two sections were a little on the muddy side, but otherwise conditions underfoot were pretty good.

 Birds seen or heard today included: Wood nuthatch, Blue tit, Common blackbird, Great tit, Long-tailed tit, Great cormorant, Great crested grebe, Tufted duck, Common buzzard, Moorhen, Common coot, Mallard, Wigeon, European robin, Black-billed magpie, Eurasian jay, Carrion crow, Black-headed gull, Woodpigeon, Great spotted woodpecker and Green woodpecker.

 Overall a very enjoyable walk on a day when I should have been wearing shorts rather than my Winter Paramo gear!

 After walk drinks were enjoyed at the Netherton Hall in Frodsham, where once again the Lees bitter was excellent.

Rivington, White Coppice and Healey Nab 4th March 2017

Looking South East towards Winter Hill and Rivington Pike.

Looking North west across Anglezarke Reservoir.

On one of the much improved paths on the South east side of Anglezarke Reservoir.

Anglezarke Reservoir. and Rivington Pike in the distance.

Waiting for someone who lacked the dexterity to take a short cut and had to return to flooded and muddy footpath.

Just to prove that it was too warm to wear my Paramo jacket!

What are they?

Now we know!.

Walk stats: Distance: 10.3 miles. Climb: 950'.

Time: 5 hours 19 minutes. On the move walking average: 2.5 m..h. Overall walk average: 1.9 m.p.h.

Group: Martyn, Mike, John and Elaine.

Today turned out to be an excellent day for walking, plenty of bright sunshine, no rain but very occasionally accompanied by a cool breeze. Nevertheless it was warm enough for me to walk all day without putting on my Paramo jacket or fleece!

 Soon into the walk the strap on my rucksack broke and it was only at lunch time that I was able to improvise a strap using two handkerchiefs and a couple of safety pins.

 After White Coppice we encountered our first problem where we wished we were wearing wellington boots rather than walking boots as we sank almost to our ankles. Little did we know then that worse was to come, so now I have two pairs of muddy boots to wash - another job for Monday!

 Lunch was taken a little later than planned as two of the group took the path on the West and the other two the path on the East through the wood to Healey Nab. Eventually Elaine remembered the right number and we made contact with John using my the phone on my GPS. I must remember to transfer all of the numbers of the walking group from my main mobile.

 The view from Grey Heights was pretty good, with Blackpool Tower clearly seen in the distance.

 Birds seen or heard today were few, but included: Wood nuthatch, Blue tit, Great tit, European robin, Common blackbird, Herring gull, Black-headed gull, Moorhen, Great cormorant, Carrion crow, Mallard and Canada goose.

 Overall a very enjoyable walk, made all the better as our friends from Bolton joined us for the first time for a while.

 After walk drinks were enjoyed at the Netherton Hall, Frodsham where the Lees bitter was in fine fettle.

Pen-y-Pigyn, Llangar Church and More 2nd March 2017

But what happened to Roger?

Waterfall  on the Afon  Pen-y-Pigyn as it tumbles through Coed Pen-y-Pigyn.

Panorama looking across The Dee Valley from Pen-y-Pigyn.

Moel Famau in the distance.

At the Pen-y-Pigyn commemorative cairn.

The River Dee and Pont Corwen.

Gone fishing!

Snowdrops on the river bank.

The ford to Gwercus, but not today!

At Llangar Church.

Lunch time in the Sun at Llangar Church.

The River Dee, looking East towards Corwen from Pont Corwen.

Looking South west towards Pont Corwen.

Walk stats: Distance: 6.8 miles. Climb: 886'.

Time: 4 hours 13 minutes. On the move walking average: 2.1 m.p.h. Overall walk average: 1.6 m.p.h.

Group: Martyn, Sue and Michel, Wendy and Jim.

The weather turned out to be pretty good for walking after the first few spots of rain as we arrived at Corwen. At times we were accompanied by a coolish wind, but in the main it was pleasantly warm and sunny.

 The main climb of the day was at the start as we headed out of Corwen to Pen-y-Pigyn, but the view from the Pen-y-Pigyn commemorative  cairn was superb and well worth the effort.

 On the descent along forest tracks towards Cynwyd, we had our first views of snow on the Berwyns, but thankfully not at our level.

 The river was very full and flowing at a good pace and the riverside fields were pretty saturated, but still passable without getting wet feet.

 Lunch was taken at Llangar Church, but on this occasion we didn't need to take shelter in the lychgate and instead sat in the Sun with views towards the river or enjoying the warm of the Sun on our face.

 After returning to Pont Corwen we decided to chance the riverside path on the West side of the River Dee, hoping that it wouldn't be flooded as we approached Corwen.

 Our only difficulty, well for me, was a short steep climb on wet grass/mud just after a footbridge as we climbed away from the river.

 As we climbed out of the valley Michel found a container with most of the writing on it in a language that we didn't understand, except that it was white, dry, strong and exported and had something to do with Siberia! It turned out to be a form of smokeless tobacco processed in Sweden!

 On reaching the road, we decided that we would leave Caer Derwyn for another day and head for refreshments at the Grouse Inn at Carrog.

 Birds seen or heard today included: Blue tit, Great tit, Goldfinch, Greenfich, Common blackbird, Woodpigeon, Mallard, Herring gull, Jackdaw, Rook, Common pheasant, Carrion crow, Grey heron, Canada goose, Greylag goose and Common buzzard.

 Overall a very enjoyable walk, capped with a good pint of J.W. Lees Bitter at the Grouse Inn.