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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.

Thursday 7 April 2016

Berwyn Halt, the Horseshoe Falls and Around Vivod Estate 7th April 2016

The Horseshoe Falls from the Llantyslio Green Path.
One of the local residents in a tree by the Horseshoe Falls.
Inside St. Collen's Church
A kiln that none of us had seen before from the tow path heading towards Llangollen.
Plas Newydd, Llangollen.
On the long climb to the Vivod Road.
Our lunch spot, now with a blue marker, just in case David isn't on the walk next time.
The Llantysilio Range and Eglwyseg Escarpment from the Vivod Road
"Where's Mum?"
Some of the smallest lambs that we have seen this year.
On the Chain Bridge.
The River Dee looking towards Llangollen from the Chain Bridge.
Walk stats: Distance: 8.7 miles. Climb: 1336'.
Time: 4 hours 57 minutes. On the move walking average: 2.2 m.p.h. Overall walk average: 1.7 m.p.h.
Group: Martyn, Roger, Annie, David S and Wendy.
Just as we arrived at the Llantysilio Green car park (now pay and display), it had almost stopped raining, so we set off hoping that would be the worst that we would get. The wind was on the cool side, and I was glad I had decided to wear my Winter gear and not put on my shorts!
 The River Dee was in spate, and looked great to canoe down, and as we arrived back at the car we met a young couple that had done just that, using the canal to get back to the car park.
  As we set off towards Llantysilio Church we had good views of a pair of Kestrels and later on by the river we saw two pairs of Mandarin, one of which landed in a tree on the island near the falls.
As we started at Llantysilio Green, we did the canal section at the start of the walk and ended going up the bridleway to the Vivod Road instead of gently descending it. As we climbed it became more exposed and the cool wind didn't invite us to stop for lunch. However David found a small quarry that gave us a little shelter from the wind, and we found a marker that we enable us to find the place agin in the future.
 In Llangollen, we did go in St Collen's Church, but we didn't put the lights on, but the elaborately carved hammer-beam roof could still be seen.
 After lunch we were soon on the tarmac road and remained on as we headed round the Vivod Estate.
It was on this section of the road that we had our best views of the Llantysilio Mountains, Eglwyseg Escarpement and Dinas Bran above Llangollen.
 The final part of the walk allowed us to cross the restored Chain Bridge which gave us superb views of the River Dee in both directions.
Overall a good walk on a day when some would have preferred to stay at home and then regretted it!
 Birds seen or heard today included: Common blackbird, Chaffinch, Common kestrel, Manderin duck, Mallard, European robin, Woodpigeon, Common buzzard, Carrion crow, Rook, Raven, Great tit, Blue tit, Wood nuthatch and Grey wagtail.
 After walk drinks were enjoyed at the Chain Bridge Hotel, where Stonehouse's Sunlander went down well.

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