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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 29 June 2017

A Cilcain, Coed Du and Gronfoel Round 29th June 2017

On a new to us path between quarries.
The Trim Rock Quarry.
An unusual tree sign.
An unusual lunch spot.
A Melton Mowbary pie - but to be shared!
Some have already escaped from the dreaded by-way that leads South east from Siamber Wen.
looking across the fields towards Moel Evan.
Walk stats: Distance: 5.7 miles. Climb: 761'.
Time: 3hours 43 minutes. On the move walking average: 2.1 m.p.h. Overall walk average: 1.5 m.p.h.
Group: Martyn, Sue and Michel, Phil, Jim and David S.
We arrived at the parking place West of Cilcain with a distinct dampness in the air, so we all donned our waterproofs right from the start. Although we had them on for the whole of the walk, it wasn't much more than dampness and the absence of any wind meant that we never felt cold.
 The nearby tops of the Clwydian Hills were all in low cloud, so we decided the full walk going round Moel Plas-yw would not be a good option.
 Consequently we decided to shorten the walk and took the option of exploring  a section of path that started South of the Trim Rock Quarry and then went North along its Eastern side to join the path that we usually take from Nant Alyn.
 Choosing a lunch spot was always going to be a problem today with everywhere being wet after the continuous rain of the last few days.
  Unexpectedly we came across a few stones under trees along the track that we were able to take advantage of, as well as shelter from the dampness. We weren't the first to have had lunch at this spot as they had left sweet wrappers behind - they are no longer there!
 Later on we saw some youngsters on their D of E that weren't exactly sure where they were on the map. we pointed out where they were on their maps and left them heading for Moel Famau via Cilcain.
 As we were leaving we saw them again, but this time one of their teachers had caught up with them.
 The uneven by-way leading South west from Siamber Wen is not one of my favourite tracks, but today is was the most obvious one to take on the way back to the car.
 Birds seen or heard today were few and far between, but included: House sparrow, Barn swallow, Woodpigeon, Carrion crow, Common blackbird, Winter wren, Common chaffinch, not forgetting David's Kestrel.
 We arrived back at the car having had an enjoyable walk despite the weather and agreeing that our shorter than usual walk today was the right one for today.
 The only problems we encountered was the many wooden stiles that had very wet slippery wooden steps. Avoiding wet tree roots and one or two limestone rocks  were two other things we needed to step carefully around.
 After walk drinks were enjoyed by some at the Glasfryn at Mold, where Prple Mooses brews Snowdonia Ale and Dark Side of the Moose went down well.
 I was a little disappointed that they had run out of teapots and only brought me a single cup of tea when I was looking forward to one or two more!

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