Tal-y-Fan From Conwy 14th September 2022

A restored memorial stone to a faithful dog.

"Are we on the path?"

St. Celyin's Church.

A sheltered spot for a "coffee stop" after visiting the church

Inside St. Celyin's Church.

Dewi (one of the farmers) and helpers rounding up sheep.

Ponies on the northern slopes f Tal-y-Fan.

At least one person made it to the top of Tal-y-Fan!

Leaving our lunch spot.

It must be a Standing Stone.

The well known burial chamber south of Tal-y-Fan.

Inside Rowen's Presbyterian Chapel

One of the ornate flowers decorating the ceiling of Rowen's Presbyterian  Chapel.

Walk stats:

Distance: 7.0 miles. Climb: 2090'

Time: 5 hours 34 minutes. On the move walking averag: 1.6 m.p.h. Overal walk average 1.3 m.p.h. It looks like we were really slow today, butwe did spend a lot of time in churches!

Temperature: 17.5 Celsius at the start. 11.5 Celsius on the top of Tal-y-Fan. 12.6 Celsius at lunch sheltering behind a wall.

Beaufort Wind Force: Max 3 (11 m.p.h.) - aentle breeze on top of Tal-y-Fan,

Group: Martyn, Fran (driver for two weeks running), Mike and Ed.

We set off from Rowen, wondering hat to expect, Tal-y-Fan was already decked in mist/ cloud, 

As far as St., Celynin's Church, we had sunny intervals, so we were optimistic that we would get good views from Tal-y-Fan. This was unfounded optimism, and the nearer we got to the top of Tal-y-Fan, the worst the rain/cloud and breeze got.

No views from the top and we didn't linger long by the"trig point".

We descended as rtapidly as we were able to our lunch spot sheltering on the south side of the wall near the stile and cross path.

I chose the traditional path (more expose to the wind) on the north side of the wall, the others made their way on the npathed south side of the wall hoping it would be a littl more sheltered.

After lunch it was all down hill, a grassy path at first, but we had the dreaded steep and unpleasant tarmac road to bnegotiate down to Rowen.

On the way down, we caught up we with a couple from Wetherby, who like us were vexpecting better weather than we got.

As we arrived back in Rowen, the Presbyterian Chapel was ope, so we took a look inside.

Overall a good and enjoyable walk, despite the weather not being at its best!

Birds seen or heard today included: Barn swallow, Carrion crow, Stonecat and Meadow pipit.

After walk drinks were enjoyed at the Tal-y-Cafn where two brews from thBank Top Brewery, Bolton were sampled.

 

A Shotton to Chester Round 10th September 2022

The promise to plant trees for every child in Flinshire - next to Shotton Lower Level Station.

Moel Famau from the Dragon Bridge over the bridge over he A494.

The only colorful waymarker on the Millenium Greenway.

A lovely sign as we left Blacon Station.

Blacon Crem loks good from the Greenway.

Standing guard as we start along the canal towpath.

Small fish in the canal near the canal basin.

Narrow boats on the canal near Telford's Warehouse.

The view from our picnic bench opposite Telford's Warehouse.

A Commo buzzard on the pylon north eas of Brewer's Hall.

At th start of the Wales Coastal Path.

I think I have been here before!

Walk stats:

Distance 14.7 milies. Climb: 203'.

Time: 5 hours 36 minutes. On the move walking average: 3.0 m.p.h. Overall walk average: 2.6 m.p.h.

Temperature: 20.6 Celsius at the start. 20.2 Celsius in the shade at lunch. Max - 24.6 elsius - mid afternoon on the Wales Coastal Path.

Group: Martyn and Ed.

We were both arriving at Shotton using public transport and surprisngly my bus allowed ne to arrive at Shotton Station just as Ed's train pulled in.

This wasn't exctly an exciting walk, and considering the distance, I wonder why I ever agreed to to do the walk, having said this walk was "doable, especially a I ended up with a blister on my foot!

The most surprising aspect of the walk today was the number of cyclist we saw, all following the advice given at Blacon Station - not one  a "lycra looney"!

We set of about 09-45 with a good pace hat we we at our planned lunch spot just after mid-day.

As we vapproached the canal basin, we were pleased to see lots of small fish near the surface in the canal as we went under a road bridge.

Lunch was taken using a canal side picnic bench in the shade, opposite Telford's Warehouse. (we resisted the temptation to visit the said hostelery!

As we had lunch, I was saddwned to get a text, informing me that my cousin, David Nickless, the eldest in the family died yesterday.

After lunch the return route took usalong the Wales Coastal Path from tThe Cop on Sealand Road all the way back to Shotton.

Birds seen or heard today included: Common blackbird, Woodpigeon, Raven, Carrion crow, Lapwing, Great cormorant, Black headed gull, Mallard, Grey heron and Cetti warbler.

We arrived back at Shotton Station, just in time for Ed to catch the 15-5 train as it was late, but I don't think he had any intention of catching it as we headed to The Central Hotel for some liquid refrshment.

Ed caught the 16-04 train and I caughtthe 16-20  bus home.

 

Above Helsby and Frodsham 7th September 2022

The path onto Helsby Hill from s the Helsby Quarry Car Park.

The climb up Woodhouse Hill.

Two varieties of Rowan berries on Woodhouse Hill.

Evidence of a round house on Woodhouse Hill.

The view of the Memorial on Frodham Hill from my lunch spot.

DS pointing out what you can see across the Mersey from our lunch spot.

i'm glad we aren't walking up Moel Famau today.!

On the Sandstone Trail across Frodsham Hill.

At the trig point on Helsby Hill.

At the trig point on Helsby Hill.

The view from Helsby Hill.

Walk stats: 

Distance: 8.2miles. Climb: 1371'.

ime: 4 hours 50 minutes. On the move walking average: 2.0 m.p.h. Overall walk s average: 1.7 m.p.h.

Temperture: Max - 22.4 Celsius. At lunch in the shade - 20.1 Celsius.

Beaufort Wind Force: 0 - 2. Mainly calm and occasionally a very pleasant light breeze.

Group: Martyn, Ed, Fran, Nigel and David S.

We set off, expecting to get rain at some time of the day, but thankfully all of the weather forecasts that we looked at got it wrong.

It was pleasanty warm for most o the walk, but occasionally it felt quite humid.

e attempted to take the main path across Woodhouse Hill, but was closed as workers were doing some tree management near the path. We managed to take a side track around them, and joined the main path near the remains of a round house.

Lunch was taken o the top of Frodsham Hil, where we had good views across the Mersey as we took advantage of the many benches available.

We could just about make out Moel Famau on the skyline, but it lookes as though it was getting a bit of the wet stuff.

After lunch we started along, probably one of the best parts of the Sandstone Trail as it contoured around the hill with some rock faces adjacent.

Towards the end we extended the walk slightly by climbing to the trig point on Helsby Hill, the first time that I have visited it.

We arrived back at the car, having had a good walk, and there was little enthusiasm to exolore the Nature Reserve below the car park a the start of ur walk.

Instead, most of us headed to the White Lion at Alvenley for refreshments.  A Robinson's pub, not my favourite brewer .After the first pint tried was returned as being undtrinkable, it was quickly replaced by on that was "Cumbria Way" and the rejected brew taken off. We sat outside and heard thunder in the distance and DS sent us a text that Chester hadn't faired as good as us.

Birds seen or heard today included: European robin, Moorhen, Wood nuthatch and Common buzzard.

AS we approached Chester and the Overleigh Roundabout we had thunder and lightening and a torrential rain that made it hard to see through the windscreen.

At home, I didn't get too wet transferring my gear from Ed's car to the open front door of my house, but it was only across the 3' pavement!

 

A Bersham, Nant Mill and Minera Quarry Round 3rd September 2022

St.Mary's Church, Bersham.

Ed emerging from the first part of Plas Power Wood.

Do they know something we don't?

It must be Gnome Trail.

Not just gnomes, even the Queen is here.

We missed the sign at the other end of the path.

A local informed us that there were 147 at sthe lst count!

A good sign to see on any footpath.

Crossing a footbridge constructed by Denbighshire County Council in 1948.

Foals and mares at Ty Hir Farm.

Minera Quarry seen from the south side.

The northern skyline seen from near our lunch spot on Esclusham Mountain / Minera Mountain Road.

Jacob Sheep grazing in fields near Minera Lead Mine Heritage Centre.

Sculpure / art work in Big Wood near the Clywedog Trail between The Nant and Bersham.

The man made waterfall on the Afon Clywedog near Bersham.

Water pipes at the Bersham Iron Works Heritage Museum.

Water pipes identical to those made at Bersham for the Mayor Paris (Perrier).

Walk stats: 

Distance: 11.6 miles. Climb: 1545.

Tme: 5 hours 56 minutes. On the move walking average: 2.3 m.p.h. Overall walk average: 1.9 m.p.h.

Temperature: 21.2 Celsius at the start. 19.2 Celsius at lunch near the on Esclusham Mountain / Minera Mountain Road.

Beaufrt Wind Force: 0 - 3 Mainly calm and occasionally gusting to a light breeze and a gentle 11.2 m.p.h. breeze near Ty Hir Farm.

Group: Martyn and Ed.

This was a walk that Ed said he wanted to do, particularly in the Clywedog Valley between Bersham and the Minera Lead Mine Centre.

In order to make the walk around 10 miles he devised an extension around the Minera Quarries.  Path finding around the southern side of the quarries wasn't easy and even when on them underfoot was that easy. I was glad to be wearing my 3-4 season walking boots and not just walking shoes.

On the way through Plas Power Wood, two women approached uus and as they went past, Ed said " they have been for a wild water swim"- was probably right as we soon came to a spot on the Afon Clywdog that was deep enough to at least bathe in.

The most surprising part of today's walk was the number of gnomes in the woods from The Nant towards The Smelt. The more we saw the more it made us smile. We didn't count them, but a local dog walker we spoke to informed us that the last time she counted them it was 147!

After lunch we decided to avoid any more of the difficult to locate paths around the edge of the quarries and tok a more direct route back to the Mineral Lead Mine Centre.

We didn't see many real walkers on our route today, but plenty of families were at Nant Mill and lots of dog walkers using the path from Nant Mill to Bersham, 

At the end of the walk I encouraged Ed to extend the walk a little to visit the Bersham Iron Works Museum to see the "Perrier" Water Pipes - don't thin he was impressed!

Birs seen or heard today included: European robin, Common blackbird, Winter wren, Barn swallow, Meadow pipit, Common buzzard, Chiffchaff and Red grouse.

Overall a good walk, muggy at times, but at least it didn't rain.

Titanic Plum Porter was enjoyed at the Pant yr Ochain on the way home.