Around Moel Maenefa and Coed Cwm 21st June 2012

Plas yr Cwn, near Rhuallt.

It's good to be walking across short grass!

A field of blooming Foxgloves as we descended to Rhuallt.

Coed Cwm from the slopes of Moel Maenefa.

Walk stats: Distance: 11.6 miles. Climb: 1487'.

Time: 6 hours 5 minutes. On the move walking average: 2.3 m.p.. Overall walk average: 1.9 m.p.h.

Group: Martyn, Roger, Annie H., Sue and Michel, Phil, Dave J and David S.

If we had listened to the weather forecasters or just looked out of the window at 08-00, we wouldn't have even started this walk!  However if you had looked at weather maps / charts as they showed the course of the rain clouds, then you could have optimistically expected litle or no rain between 11 a.m. and 4 p.m.  In fact we didn't get any significant rain from the start of the walk at 10 a.m. and had a few spots as we walked the last half or mile or so along the road back to the cars.

However it wasn't perfect conditions for walking, as it was very humid, a day when you would have been grateful for a gentle breeze.

This walk included  paths through meadows as they should be, full of flowers, mainly Buttercups and Red and White clover, but still good to see.

We also had encounters with bullocks that rushed across the field to see us up close, closer than some of us really wanted!

Stiles too were not at their best and several were in a dangerous state, and other just difficult to climb, for those whose knees are reluctant to bend as they should!

Lunch spots were difficult to find, and we ended up sitting on the roadside below Coed Cwm, much to the amusement of those that passed by in cars!

View today weren't at their best, although you could see the Great Orme in the distant to the North west and Rhyl to the North east.

Birds seen or heard today included: Barn swallow, House martin, Carrion crow, Jackdaw, Common buzzard, Kestrel, Common pheasant, Woodpigeon, Blackcap, European robin, Greenfinch, Chaffinch, Common blackbird, Song thrush, Winter wren and Yellowhammer.

Glad to be back at the car, just before 4 p.m, as just afterwards as we headed for the Brit, it started to rain quite heavily.

With tired limbs, the Lees bitter at the Britannia Inn  at Halkyn was just what some of need to revive us!