Welsh "Stay at Home" Lockdown Walk 1: A Sunday Afternoon Stroll By the River Dee 25th October 2020

A Sunday Afternoon Stroll By the River Dee.

Looking towards Queensferry from the Saltney Ferry Footbridge.

Looking towards Saltney/Chester from the Saltney Ferry Footbridge.

There is a Grey heron there somewhere.

This is as far as I can legally go under the latest Welsh "Stay at Home" Covid-19 restrictions.

Moel Famau from the Mold Junction Road Bridge.

Distance: 4.8 miles. Climb: 105'.

Time: 1 hour 48 minutes. On the move waking average: 3.0 m.p.h. Overall walk average: 2.7 m.p.h.

This is the first of my Welsh  "Stay at Home" Lockdown Walks that I will do in the seventeen day lockdown period.  It is was my first Sunday afternoon walk since I started atttending Waverton Evangelical Fellowship in the nineteen eighties. after watching the WEF online YouTube Service this morning, I decided to take advantage of the forecast dry afternoon to stretch my legs a little.

At Saltney Riverside, I met a local nature enthusiast, Sam Riley, who identified one or two local patches worth exploring once things are back to normal.

It wouldn't be a solo local walk post, if I didn't complain or grumble about something.  Not today the cyclists, although I didn't see one turn back at the Wales / England Border (this also applied to walkers as well),  but several off-road motor cyclists using the Salney Ferry Footbridge forcibng their way past you and then racing along the Wales Coast Path. Three bikes, one adult (probably the father) with a small child (pillion in front of him) and two very young boys on their smaller bikes. Illegal off-roaders - putting others at risk, on a shared use for walkers and cyclists.

The most amusing thing I saw today was a couple walking their very large dog, it started with it amusing me that Charlie (the dog) seemed to go about fifty yards in front,stop and sit down to wait for its owners. Shortly I saw one of the owners, picking up the message Charlie had left behind, started to wipe the dog's bottom. When I commented "That's above the call of duty", the reply was "I was just removing a slug" that had fixed itself where it wasn't wanted.  I had forgotten how far dog owners will go for their "best friend"!

Birds seen or heard today included: Moorhen, Black billed magpie, Common gull, Lesser black back gull, Herring gull, Black-headed gull, Grey heron, Moorhen, Mallard, Long-tailed tit, European robin, Carrion crow, Great cormorant and Pink footed goose.

An enjoyable walk, that no doubt will be repeated over the next two weeks.

Two more Short Walks Before Welsh 17 Day Lockdown Friday 3rd October 2020

Talacre, Point of Ayr and The Warren. 

Tuesday 20th October 2020.

Looking towards Prestatyn - not many tourists today.

Approaching Point of Ayr Lighthouse.

Looking westward towards the Point of Ayr Lighthouse.

Distance: 5.0 miles. Climb: 100'.
Time: 2 hours 30 minutes. On the move walking average: 2.5 m.ph. Overall walk average: 2.0 m.p.h.

Group: Martyn.

Probably the best day of the week weatherwise, but with cool breeze. The tide was well out, so birdwatching wasn't at it best, although the bitds seen or head today included: House csparrow, Common blackbird, Black headed gull, Jackdaw, Carrion Crow, Rook, Shelduck, Little egret, Woodpigeon, Pied wagtail. Mallard, European robin, Comon chaffinch, Oystercatcher, Canada goose and Great cormorant.

When I set off just ater 09-00, very few people were around, although after visiting the bird hide at Point of Ayr dog walkers started to appear.

It was noticeably quiet walking through the caravan site, I saw only one person and one car parked by a caravan.

Even the beach was quiet, although a few dog walkers were seen as I approached the lighthouse, and two men were trying to take advantage of the wind on their carts attached to a hang gliding type sail.

Overall an enjoyable walk, but too early to go for a pint.

Flint Castle and Shoreline.

 Friday 23rd October 2020.

Flint Castle from the Flint Marsh Promenade.

Flint Dock - once used to ship out lead from Halkyn Mountain and coal from he Flintmine.

The only boat beached near the entrance to Flint Dock.

Looking west towards Bagillt.

Looking eastward towards Flint Castle from the High Tide Cuastal Path.

Distance: 2.4 miles. Climb: 102'.

Time: 2 hours 15 minutes. On the move walking average: 2.5 bm.p.h. Overall walk average: 2.0 m.p.h.

Group: Martyn.

The forecast for today wasn't very good, with showers around until about 10-00. In fact the showers turned out to be steady rain until just before 11-00.

As soon as it stopped raining, I siezed the opportinity and headed first towards Flint Marsh along the promenade, a pleasdant there and back before exploring the Flint Shoreline along the Wales Coast Path , west of the castle.

Lots of dog walkers on this section, so I decided to use the high tide route on my return journey.

Birds seen or heard today included: Black headed gull, Common gull, Herring gull, Lesser black back gull, Shelduck, Common redshank, Eurasian curlew, Mallard, Common blackbird, Common chaffinch, Jackdaw, Carrion crow. Oystercatcher and a Common buzzard near Halkyn.

An enjoyable walk, all that was left was to head for the Brit for a takeaway.

The Britannia Inn was quite busy, with many of the tables reserved. Thankfully I did get a tablein the conservatory, where I enjoyed my pint of Lees bitter as I took in the superb view of the Dee Estuary, now bathed in sunshine.

Ed's Welsh Wanders - Parc Mawr woods, St Celynin church, Maen Penddau and the reservoir Thursday 22nd October 2020

Parc Mawr woods, St Celynin church, Maen Penddau and the Reservoir

Today's pre lockdown 5 mile loop with Lorraine.

Lovely to get out with someone for the last time for 2 weeks.

Cave at Parc Marw

Autumnal view across Conwy valley

St Celynins Well

Maen Penddau

Carneddau Ponies

A Rhosemor, Sychdyn and Northop Round Wednesday 21st October 2020

A Rhosemor, Sychdyn and Northop Round.

Moel Famau in the distance.

Looking back at the fallen tree, and the easy escape route to get under on one side.

No way through here - but there was a way around it through the trees on the left side.

Autumnal colours.

Looking back towards Northop from the path leading to Soughton Farm.

Acorns galore.

a Common pheasant successfully escapes.

Distance: 9.6 m.p.h. Climb: 662'

Time: 4 hours 48 minutes. On the move walking average: 2.4 m.p.h. Overall walk average: 2.0 m.p.h.

Group: Martyn.

Overall a rather overcast day with dampness in the air, particularly towards the end of the walk.

It is quite some time since I have done this walk, although I did remember we had problems finding a stile into Coed Bryn-ethin. Thankfully I remembered that stile was much further to the right than we expected.

The only other problem encountered was on the section from Quarry Farm to Big Wood. It is always boggy in places, but today there was the added hazard  of trees across the path. Thankfully other walkers had created a path around the worst blockage.

I made pretty good progress and arrived at Northop just after 12-00, where once more I took advantage of a bench in the churchyard, while had my lunch.

The first part after lunch was the same as the description as far as Soughton Farm and then it was a matter of taking the path towards Mynachlog to join the minor road back to the start.

It was supposed to be a Beech Mast year, so far I haven't seen much about. However there does seem to be a glut acorns everywhere. Lots of Grey squirrels seen in each wood as well.

There seemed to be pheasants everywhere - a consequence of Covid-19 restrictions limiting shoots in Wales?

Birds seen or heard today included: Jackdaw, Common blackbird, Collared dove, Blue tit, Great tit, Pied wagtal, Wood nuthatch, Redwing, great spotted woodpecker, Fieldfare, Common buzzard, Woodpigeon, Carrion crow, European robin, House sparrow and Rook.

Perhaps the surprise bird of the day was at end when I started to put my gear into the car boot when an over friendly chicken decided to explore my boot.

Overall an enjoyable walk, topped with an excellent pint of Lees bitter at the Britannia Inn at Halkyn.

Harris Hikers Chester Branch - An Aldford - Churton Round Wednesday 21st October 2020

An Aldford - Churton Round.

At the start.

Now, where is number 7?

Pumping in or pumping out?

How many groups?

Lunch "in stile"

A house with an important message.

The message made clear.

Decorative paintwork on the Duke's cottages.

Geese? What geese?

There they are.

Distance: 7.5 miles / 12kms, Climb: Not a lot.

Overall walk average: 2.4 m.p.h. / 4 km/h
Group: Sue, Michel, Fran. David. Nigel. Celia. Wendy.
Although the weather forecast was not wonderful, we were lucky enough not to have a single drop of rain and most of us walked in short sleeves. We meandered along the Dee to Churton and the only real mud was on the path through the wood as we left the Dee to head for Churton.
Lunch was taken just after noon at a junction where some found a stile to perch on and others propped themselves by a gate post.
A gentle amble which was missing a little sunshine to show off the lovely autumn trees.
Birds seen: heron, geese, long-tailed tits, gold finches and lots of LBJs…

One or two even managed to have a pint in the Grosvenor Arms at Aldford.

Ed's Local Conwy Lockdown Wander in the Carneddau Saturday 17th October 2020

Marvelous Mountains in Conwy - the Carneddau.

Distance: A the 14 Miler (mainly in the mist) from Bwlch Y Dduafaen car park with Alex.

Time: 8 hours 30 minutes. Climb: 2000'.
Route:
Drum, Foel Fras, Carnedd Gwenllian, Foel Grach, Carnedd Llewellyn, Foel Grach, Carnedd Gwenllian, Foel Fras, Drum, Carnedd Ddelw.
All within Conwy (just)

One of many Carneddau wild ponies.

Foel Fras. 

Carnedd Gwenllian.

Foel Grach mountain shelter.

Carnedd Llewellyn.

Drum.

Carnedd Ddelw. 

Final a view over Llanfaifechan.

Wepre Park, Ewloe Castle and Northop Hall Saturday 17th October 2020

Wepre Park, Ewloe Castle and Northop Hall.

Almost a waterfall, but in reality, just the outflow from a retaining pool.

Part of the delightful track through Wepre wood.

Ewloe Castle.

A bit more of Ewloe Castle

And more again.

The entrance sign to Broadoak Wood.

A section of the dismantled railway track path through Broadoak Wood.

I hoped this photo would show Autumnal colours are beginning to show, but I'm not sure it does.

Distance: 7.9 miles. Climb: 517'.

Time: 4 hours 30 minutes. On the move walking average: 2.3 m.p.h. Overall walk average: 1.7 m.p.h.

Group: Martyn.

I arrived at Wepre Park quite early, and as yet only a few dog walkers seemed to be around.

I was ready to set off at 09-00, hoping to get to Ewloe Castle before most people. Thankfully I did get the castle to myself, but surrounding trees means that you never seem able to get  full picture of the castle.

I decided to head from the casle , north westward, hoping to join up wth the dismantled railway track through Broadoak Wood. I thought it wuld be easy, but the route meant meandering through the housing estate north of Wepre Lane, very unfamiliar ground for me and it took me longer than expectesd even with a GPS and a map! I felt a sense of triumph as I went throgh the gate at the entrance of Broadoak Wood and I was back on familiar territory (although I had never walked along the dismantled railway in this direction before).

I was glad to leave Wepre Park and the myriad of dogs and dog walkers behind.

I arrived at Northop Hall just after 11-00, a bit too early for lunch in the meerial garden opposte St. Mary's Church.

I ended up having lunch, sitting on a stone wall a little ewest of the entrance to Northop Hall Country Hotel (closed at present).

I exected to see a very few people at this spot and only a few locals to be passing in cars. I was wrong on both accounts, and before I could take a sip of my lunchtime soup, a local stopped and ended up talking to me for twenty minutes. At least I found out a new bench had been put in a few hundred yards west of where I was sitting, and heard about other local walks that he had done.

By now I had done nearly six miles, so I decided to return to Wepre Park using Flintshire's Short Wepre Walk 10 from Castle Hill Farm. This involved mainly field paths and tracks, the middiest of whic I had experienced before. It didn't disappoint today, it was just as muddy. The bonus however was seeing a Red admiral butterfly on the wing. After that the route and route description was easy to follow, a little overgrown in places just after crossing a wonky stile and one bit of the sunken track that looked like a potential liquid mud boot filler, but thankfully other walkers had made a slightly higher path around the problem.

It was easy to know you were back in Wepre Park, the quiet of the countryside changed to happy voices and lots of children everywhere (most, but not all had "owners", but it wa good to see teenagers exploring on their own.

I arrived back at the car to find the car par pretty full and people milling everywhere. Saturday is not the best day to exlore Wepre Park if you want a quiet stroll through the woods.

Birds seen or heard today included: Grey wagtail, Wood nuthatch, Black billed magpie, European robin, Eurasian jay (at least 6),  Common blackbird, Black headed gull, Common gull, Jackdaw, Carrion crow, Raven, Gerring gull and Dunnock.