A Short Walk from Parkgate 3rd December 2025

 Moel Famau from the Old Baths, Parkgate.

New seats and picnic table at the Old Baths Car Park, Parkgate.

Getting ready to set off.

On the way to the Wirral Way.

The Wirral Way is quiet today.

Lunch time in Stanney Fields Park

Lunch time is nearly over.

Crossing the bridge.

View of Moel Famau from the Neston - Old Quay Path

The last time we came, this was a very muddy path - no mud now!

Crossing the field from Neston Old Quay to Neston Reedbed.

The delightful Neston Reedbed Path.

You can just about tell it is a Common kestrel

Christmas decorations at the Donkey Stand, Parkgate.

One of the Donkey Stand information board.

One of several Grey herons seen on he marsh off The Parade, Parkgate.

Distance: 5.0 miles. Climb: 272'.

Time: 2 hours 46 minutes. On the move walking average: 2.5 m.p.h.  Overall walk average: 1.8 m.p.h.

Temperature: A cool 6 Celsius at the start, but 8 Celsius from mid-day onwards, and feeling much warmer later on as we walk along The Parade at Parkgate.

Beaufort Wind Force - not measured, but the wind was hardly noticeable.

Group: Martyn, Sue and Michel, Elaine, Nigel, Mike, Fran,, Sue P with Lilly the well behaved spaniel.

Birds seen or heard today include: Common blackbird, Grey heron, Mallard, Teal, Common starling, Black headed gull, Herring gull, Blue tit, Great tit, Carrion crow, Moorhen, Common kestrel and Cetti warbler.

Another good turn out for our monthly short walk, possibly encouraged by Nigel informing us last week, that he would be bringing some of Elaine's excellent mince pies.

We arrived at our lunch spot  in Stanney Fields Park just before mid-day, but no-one objected to having an early lunch. As usual Elaine's mince pies went down well with everyone, especially with one member of the group who forgot to bring any lunch. Thanks again, Elaine.

The surprise of the day, was finding one of the usually muddy paths had been made into a surfaced path, similar to the one behind Neston Reedbed.

We arrived back at cars, having had a really enjoyable walk and already looking forward to the next one.

We all went straight home, which meant that I was able to clean my boots outside in the warm sunshine before the light faded.

A Burton and Parkgate Round 26th November 2025.

Moel Famau from the start of our walk on Station Road, Burton.

Canada geese, Mallard and Teal on Decca Pools.

Hawthorn berries in the hedges next to the King Charles III Coastal Footpath.

Information Board at Denhall Quay.

Denhall Quay.

Not open as we passed by in the morning.

Good views of a Common kestrel until it disturbed by a Carrion crow.

Heading for Neston Reedbed.

The new surfaced path behind Neston Reedbed.

The path leading to Parkgate.

Parkgate.

A Marsh harrier hunting over the marsh at Parkgate.

When is a Pill Box not a Pill Box?

When it is a Bat Box!

Parkgate Bat Box information board.

The Wirral Way.

View from the Wirral Way towards the coast. 

Neston Cutting on the Wirral Way (sewer pipe on the right)

Our lunch spot neat Lees Lane.

At lunch.

Heading towards out exit point at Windle Hill Bridge.

Windle Hill Bridge information board.

Moel Famau from Neston Road, Burton.

Knitting obviously allowed on this post box!

The path off Wood Lane into Burton Wood.

Is this the path through Burton Wood?

Hampstons Well stones.

Hampstons Well, now cared for by the local community.

Distance: 9.1 miles.
Climb: 545’.
Time: 4 hours 25 minutes.
On the moves walking average: 2.7 m.p.h.
Overall walk average; 2.0 m.p.h.
Temperature: 3.2 – 6.2 Celsius.
BWF: Max 9.2 m.p.h. Gentle breeze.
Birds seen or heard included: Common blackbird, Marsh harrier, Hen harrier, Common kestrel, Pied wagtail, Canada goose, European robin Long tailed tit, Carrion crow, Rook, Black billed magpie, Teal, Moorhen and Mallard.
The forecast for today, was relatively good for the morning, but with increasing likelihood of rain after lunch.
In fact, it was much better than the forecast, and the only rain experience was after the walk as we left the Harp Inn at Ness.
On this occasion, we decided to head for Parkgate first, in the hope that we would find the best way through Burton Wood. We found a way through Burton, and left t the correct point, but I wasn’t convinced that it was the path described in the route description that we attempted to follow in the past.
What the walk did do, was enable us to check out parts of the route that we will do on next month’s “Short Walk” and to find a suitable lunch stop in Stanney Fields Park.
The section of the walk from Neston Old Quay past Neston Reedbed is now a well-defined surfaced path, no longer a muddy path that at times wasn’t easy to negotiate.
The walk to Parkgate was done in sunshine, with very little wind. Distant views were good, although the clouds were only just clear of Moel Famau.
Lunch was taken on the Wirral Way, near Lees Lane Ponds car park and picnic site.
Section of the walk, after leaving the Wirral Way had in the past been quite muddy, but today was much better than we expected. In fact, my boots only took ten minutes to clean just after getting home.
We arrived back at the cars, having had a good walk, and before the rain had arrived.
After walk drinks were enjoyed at the Harp Inn at Ness, where Nigel enjoyed the White Rat bitter and I had a pot of tea, large enough, not to require a jug of hot water to top up the pot!

Coed Ceunant and Around Fron Hen 19th November 2025.

On the path to Bwlch Penbarra.

The from the rod s we descended the Coed Ceunant road.

A roadside trees with snow sticking to its branches.

Distant hills decked in snow.

Looking across the Coed Blaenant valley towards Cae-Mawr Farm.

Mike getting round the fallen tree,

The view from my lunch spot.

Lunch time.

Descending the path through Coed Rhiwisg.

We had to cross this field of mangelwurzels.

Going through one of the many new kissing gates.

Offa's Dyke Path south east of Moel Eithinen.

Walking on Offa's Dyke Path.

Nigel's photo of the birthday girl.

Another photo of the birthday girl in the snow.

Nigel checking the route?

When is Hare not a Hare?

When a closer look shows that it's bush!

The6e is plenty of snow on this side of Fron Hen.

Even the north facing wall is coated in snow.

Enjoying the snow.

Distance: 7.6 miles.
Climb: 1657’ Time: 5 hours 4 minutes.
On the moves walking average: 2.1 m.p.h.
Overall walk average; 1.5 m.p.h.
Temperature: Around 4.7 Celsius. Lowest measured was 0.6 Celsius as we contoured around Fron Hen.
BWF: 0-3 Max 12.7 m.p.h. Gentle breeze.
Birds seen or heard included: Common blackbird, Common buzzard, Common chaffinch, European robin Long tiled tit, Carrion crow and Common chaffinch.
We knew that it was going to be cold, but none of us anticipated how much snow we would encounter.
We originally planned to start at Bwlch Penbarra, but the road to the top car park was very icy, so we eventually decided to park at the lower car park.
The nearby hills were covered in snow, giving us superb views as we descended the road
The only problem that we had was at the top of Coed Blaenant, where a tree had fallen across the path, but with care and Mike’s supporting role, we all managed to get past.
We stopped for lunch, just before joining the A494 Ruthin Road. It was Fran’s 27th birthday, so she treated us all to some home-made chocolate cake with quince jelly between the layers.
After lunch, as we left Coed Rhiwisg, heading for the Clwyd Gate, it was pleasing to note that all the stiles had been replaced with kissing gates. Not having to climb over awkward stiles, is always appreciated by the >70 members of the group.
After Clwyd Gate, I suggested that it preferred to miss out Foel Fenlli, and return to the car using path that contoured around the eastern slopes of Fron Hen. No-one objected.
It was on this section that we had to cross six-inch-deep snow with Hare foot prints. At point we were the fist to walk in the snow. There is something special about walking in virgin snow.
Overall, a very enjoyable walk, and one that will be repeated again in the future. After walk drinks were enjoyed at the Glasfryn, where the beer of choice was Purple Moose’s “Cwrw Eryri”.
After dropping me off, the Upton contingent, headed for the Wealstone in Upton, to continue their celebration of Fran’s birthday.