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When? Started: 1993 Who? Started with staff and friends from U H S, Chester. Organiser: Martyn Harris We walk every Wednesday and Saturdays, New Years day and May Day. How many walk? Walks take place as long as there are at least 2 wanting to walk on that day. More walk on a Wednesday than on a Saturday. Most ever: 29. Current group size walking: 2-10 in mid-week and 2-4 on Saturday. Where do we walk? Saturday: Anywhere in North and Mid-Wales, Peak District, Shropshire and the Long Mynd and as far North as the Trough of Bowland. Thursday: Anywhere within about 40 miles of Chester. Type of walk: Distance: 6 – 14 miles (but usually under 10 miles). Climb: up to 4000’ (but usually very much less!). People involved on walks in 2020:- Martyn Harris, Fran Murphy, Sue and Michel Pelissier, Mike Dodd, David Savage, Wendy Peers, Celia de Mengle, Wendy and Ian Peers, Roger Smith, Paul Collinson, Ed Meads, Nigel and Elaine Taylor, Celia de Mengle, Sue Pearson.

Saturday 1 August 2015

Around the Great Orme 1st August 2015

A Raven and a couple of Herrimg gulls trying to get in the picture.
Not a bird that I would expect to see by the Llandudno West Shore Boating Lake.
Typical pose by at least one Great Cormorant on the West side of the Great Orme.
A superior goat on the West side of the Great Orme.
You wouldn't dare come near us here!
Goats on the cliffs on the North west of the Great Orme on the sea side of the road.
"What are you looking at?
Another goat in a seemingly impossible position on the North west cliffs of the Great Orme, this time on the South side of the road.
Our approach to the top of the Great Orme - weather improving!
Spot Roger!
Five in a row and one got away!
Goldfinches - all juveniles I think.
Them West side of the Great Orme, looking South East towards Deganwy.
Panorama  looking Westward towards Conwy Mountain around towards Anglesey.
Walk stats: Distance: 9.9 miles. Climb: 1261'.
Time: 4 hours 58 minutes. On the move walking average: 2.5 m.p.h. Overall walk average: 2.0 m.p.h.
Group: Martyn and Roger.
We arrive at the west shore on Llandudno with rain in the air, but not enough to demand the donning our waterproofs! After about half an our Roger gave in and put on his waterproof jacket, but it was never enough for me to give in after all I could still see without wiping my glasses ever 10 yards or so!
Views along the coastal toll road on the West side of the Great Orme was never on the good side, but all them way we saw the feral mountain goats in ever more precarious positions on the cliff sides.
 Much to our surprise we saw lots of people heading towards us along the road from Llandudno and some we saw later on on the the top of the Great Orme.
 We arrived at Happy Valley just after 11-30, but as the weather wasn't great, we opted to have lunch in one of the shelters at the top end of the valley, more important we could take advantage of DRY benches too!
 After lunch we headed up the Happy Valley, frequently stopping to enjoy youngsters enjoying themselves descending down the dry slopes in what looked like large rubber tyre inner tubes!
 Once on the Great Orme plateau, our aim was to try to find "free trade loaf" depicted on the information board at the toll gate earlier. We did spot it and tentatively suggested that these stones could be described as being loaf-like. It was only confirmed later when our Internet search brought up pictures of the said rock feature.
 The weather after lunch was much better and I was in danger of having to put on my sunhat!
 We encountered a man we thought was a local, but turned out to be from Anglesey and spoke with an accent that Roger could just about follow, but Roger's valley's accent wasn't so easily interpreted by this man from Ynys Mon!
 We arrived back at the car having had a good walk, a little longer than expected if we took in to account the way our legs were feeling!
 Birds seen or heard today included: Jackdaw, Carrion crow, Raven, Herring gull, Black-headed gull, Great cormorant, Oystercatcher, Great black-backed gull, Fulmar, Meadow pipit, Stonechat, Goldfinch and Common kestrel.
 After walk drinks were enjoyed at the Blue Bell at Halkyn, where AM cider went down well, I think Roger enjoyed his orange squash!

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