Gordon leading the group through the woods, with Phil and Dave J still not in the picture!
Belted Galloway's, very wary of intruders on their patch!
20 minutes up and ready to set off after lunch!
Two very friendly foals!
Walk stats: Distance:9.1 miles. Climb:1487'.
Time: 4 hours 20 minutes. On the move walking average:2.5 m.p.h. Overall walk average: 2.1 m.p.h.
Group: Martyn, Roger, Gordon, Sue and Michel, Phil, Fran, Sylvia and Dave J. (We had hoped that Richard would have joined us on this walk starting on his doorstep).
This was one of those days, what shall I wear? I don't think anyone really got it right. Temperatures predicted to feel as low as 2 Celsius with showers too, most of ended up overheating and grateful whenever we were exposed to the cooling wind! Thankfully we only had a five minute shower with less than a mile to go, and most of us didn't even stop to put waterproofs on.
This walk has in the past presented us with very muddy boots to clean at the end of the day, but today even the muddy sections were dry! However one or two awkward stiles remained to challenge us. Just before lunch we had a very interesting chat with a local man trying to sort out a hedge that he had reckoned had been neglected for more than 70 years. He explained to us how he could layer the hedge in places, but had to cut other sections down to the ground, and with more light available the hedgerow flowers would be out in force later in the year. Perhaps we need to do the walk again, but not for another year!
During the walk we had been talking about the total number of different birds that we would see during the year, and commented on the fact that we had never heard or seen an owl. Quite ironically as we were going through the wood,Waen dymarch, both Michel and I clearly heard a female Tawny owl calling.
Birds seen or heard today included:Chaffinch, Carrion crow, European robin, Common buzzard, Blue tit, Great tit, Bullfinch, Long-tailed tit, Jackdaw, Jay, Moorhen, Raven, Rook, House sparrow, Blackbird and Tawny owl.
After walk drinks were enjoyed at the Britannia Inn at Halkyn. As ever the Lees bitter was excellent and the locals very welcoming.
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