Walks and Dates June 2013

Updated 20th June 2013.

Harris Hikers goes Harrisless.
I had the operation on my left hand at  the Countess on Wednesday 19th June. I anticipate that I will be unable to walk for at least 2 weeks and maybe up to 6 weeks.
My recovery schedule starts with a visit to the hand physiotherapist on the 27th June and then have the sutures removed on the 1st July, followed  a visit to   Prof. Harrison's clinic on the 2th July.  I will probably think about walking again after that.
I hope that Thursday's walks will continue in my absence. 
 I will be able to co-ordinate the walk and provide route descriptions, providing someone is able to call round and collect them.
As so few walk on Saturday it looks as though Saturday's walks will cease for the time being, and will resume as soon my hand has recovered enough for me to cope with putting a rucksack on.
Saturday 1st June 2013.  Postponed

Deganwy Castle, Conwy and Morfa Conwy.

Distance: 10-11 miles. Climb: 800'.
Start: Conwy Morfa Car park. Grid ref: SH762787. To get to the car park, leave the A55 at Junction 7, follow signs for the Marina and then Aberconwy Park. (PC also there).
Leave Chester at 08-30 a.m.
This walk combines one walk  from Dave Berry's book "Walks on the North Wales Coast and two walks from his book "Best Coastal walks in North Wales". The Deganwy walk we have done several times before, but never at this time of the year, so hopefully it won't be so muddy underfoot as our usual Winter excursion! The other walks explore the coastal area North of Bodlondeb Wood and are both two new walks on the list. It may also give us the opprtunity to explore the Conwy town walls.

Thursday 6th June 2013.

A Three Churches Walk - Llandyrnog, Llangwyfan and Llangynhafal.

Distance: 10-11 miles. Climb:1200'.
Start: Roadside parking in Nant Glyd, Llandyrnog. Grid ref: SJ 109651. To get to Nant Glyd, at the cross-roads in the centre of Llandyrnog, go down the road towards Llangynhafal (Gladstone Terrace) and Nant Glyd is the first road on the right. Park next to the football field.
Leave Chester at 09-00 a.m.
This walk uses two walks from Dave Berry's book "walks in the Vale of Clwyd." One walk is described as a delightful walk exploring the attractive countryside between the River Clwyd and the lower slopes of the Clwydian Hills. The other walk meanders through  delightful countryside and skirts the edge of th Clwydian Hills.

Saturday 8nd June 2013.

Around Holy Island.

Distance:12-13 miles. Climb:1326'.
Start: Roadside parking opposite PC by the Old Harbour in Holyhead. Just before the turning to South Stack. SH245831.
Leave Chester 8-30 a.m.
This is another walk that has become an annual favourite. Much of the walk is along the Coastal path, but we will probably make a detour to visit the summit of Holyhead Mountain. A good chance of seeing Choughs, Guillimots, Razorbills and even Puffins. Bring binoculars if you can.

Thursday 13th June 2013.

Eglwyseg Escarpment and Trevor Rocks.

Distance:9-10 miles. Climb:1400'.
Start: Off road parking on the Panorama road just East of the monument. Grid ref: SJ247426.
Leave Chester at 09-00 a.m.
This must be one of the best walks in the Llangollen area, especially on a sunny day. a walk that makes you feel like you're  on top of the world with superb views in all directions, including the Dee Valley, Dinas Bran, the Llantysilio Mountains and the Berwyns.

Saturday 15th June 2013.

Rowen, Llanbedre-y-cennin and Caerhun.

Distance: 10-11 miles. Climb:1500'.
Start: roadside parking opposite the post office in Rowen. Grid ref: SH761719.
Leave Chester 08-00 a.m.
This walk combines one walk from Carl Rogers's book "Walkng in the Conwy valley with one walk from Dave Berry's book " Walks Around Betws-y-coed and the Conwy Valley". One walk is described as a walk exploring the attractive undulating countryside between two attractive villages with a possible extension to the top of Moel y Gaer.  The other walk is described as an easy walk, visiting a Medieval church and a the site of a Roman fort. Both Llanbedr-y-cennin and Caerhun are known locations for Hawfinch.  Will we be lucky this time! Bring binoculars, just in case.
Last time we attempted this walk, two of us chickened out of the Caerhun part as the weather wa so bad, hopefully the weather this time will be a little better than on that January day!

Thursday 20th June 2013.

Around Minera Mountain.

Distance: 9-11 miles. Climb: 1000'.
Start: Mineral Lead Mine Centre Car park. grid ref: SJ276509.
Leave Chester at 09-00 a.m.
This wlk is taken from Dave Berry's book "Walks Around Ruabon and Hope Mountain". The walk is described as being quite demanding, especially on the open access moorland. A walk for experienced walkers only - do we count? Can be boggy underfoot! In May 2013, Minera suffered from suffered from a landslide of mud that cut off part of the Mineral Mountain road, hopefully by the time that we do this walk there won't be any problem.

Saturday 22nd June 2013. - Postponed.

Higher Poynton to Furness Vale By way of Lyme Park and the Dipping Stone.

Distance: 12 miles. Climb: 1800'.
Start: Nelson Pit Car park, Higher Poynton. Grid ref: SJ945832.
Leave Chester 08-00 a.m.
This walk is taken from Graham Beech's book " East Cheshire Walks". It is described as a moderate/strenuous walk. I think this reflects the section of the walk that climbs from the Macclesfield canal up to the Bow Stones.  The moorland section can be quite boggy underfoot, but at this time of the year there should be no problems! good views of Kinder, Bleaklow and Shutlingsloe from the highest point near the Bow Stones.
Getting to the start will allow us to experience the new road junction in the centre of Poynton, a cross roads that even with traffic lights was always a place where you knew you would be delayed. Is the new system any better!

Thursday 27th June 2013. 
This walk is still going ahead. Phil has the route descriptions.

Knutsford and Several Peovers.

Distance: 11-12 miles; Climb: 200'.
Start: Long stay car park on Tatton Street, Knutsford. This is a pay and display car park, £3-50 for over 6 hours according to the Knutsford web site. Grid ref: SJ750789.
Leave Chester at 8-45 a.m.
This walk is a little further away than usual, so to ensure that we are walking by 10-00 a.m., I thought it would be better to leave a little earlier than usual.
Annie of course will be able to have a longer than usual lay in this morning!
This walk is taken from Jack Baker and Jack Hanmer's book "Walking in Cheshire". This book was published in 1974 and updated in 1978, so following the directions may prove challenging. They describe the walk as a walk over fairly level, but pleasantly wooded country, although places can be muddy in Winter. This will give Annie another chance to leave home a little later than usual to meet us for a Thursday walk!
The last time that we did this walk in December 2010, everyone said that it was well worth repeating, so it's on the list again.

Saturday 29th June 2013. - Postponed.

The Stipperstone Ridge and Green Hill.

Distance: 9-10 miles. Climb: 1500'.

Start: Stipperstones Car park, East of The Bog, East of the A488, South of Gavels. Grid ref: SO369977.
Leave Chester at 08-00 a.m.
This is another of the walks taken from Steve Goodier's book "Walks in the Shropshire Hills". I know the popularity of this little ridge means that walking here isn't everyone's cup of tea, but when viewed from the Long Mynd it always looks inviting. We haven't completed a walk on the Stipperstones for over 10 years, so I thought it was worth giving it an airing. The Stipperstones walk is only 6 miles, so we will extend the walk Eastward to include Green Hill. Oak Hill and Castle  Ring Fort.