About Me

My photo
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.

Sunday 19 March 2017

A Ceiriog Trail - Pontricket-Tregeiriog-Pont-y-Melbion 18th March 2017

Looking West from Pontricket towards Tregeiriog at the start of the walk.
One of eleven stiles - this one not easy if you have legs shorter than Mike!
Looking West towards Tregeiriog.
Looking South towards the village of Tregeiriog.
At the cairn  East of Rhyd Caledwynt.
Heading along the Upper Ceriog Trail to Ty-du.
Looking across the Teirw valley from Ty'n-y-pistill.
A young lamb hiding in the trees.
A delightful path contouring around the hillside on the way to Pont-y-Melbion.
Back at Pontricket - looking East.
Walk stats: Distance: 8.5 miles. Climb: 1700'. 
Time: 5 hours 17 minutes. On the move walking average: 2.1 m.p.h. Overall walk average: 1.6 m.p.h.
Group: Martyn and Mike.
I switched the walk from the Peak District as the forecast for the Ceiriog Valley gave us a chance of a walk without getting to wet. It would also enable me to see how many stiles we would have to cross and whether they were easy or not.
The first part of the walk had several awkward stiles, so will probably not feature again. The main part of the walk did have a couple of awkward stiles as well.
 We set off from the Pontricket lay-by in warm sunshine, congratulating ourselves that we had switched walks. However we did get light rain accompanied by strong wind, but at least it wasn't strong enough to require waterproof trousers to warn.
 The open moorland was pretty exposed and this was where we had the worst of the weather, offering us no suitable shelter spots for lunch. However we did hear Skylarks singing, Lapwings displaying and several Eurasian curlew calling too.
 Lunch was delayed until nearly 13-30, the first opportunity we found where we could sit with alittle protection from the wind (the rain had stopped by now).
 Sections of the walk from Ty'n-y-pistill were delightful, with superb views along the Teirw Valley  with Craig y Gelli and Craig y Pandy on the North side.
 We arrived back at the car, having had a good walk, more challenging than we had expected. Probably in future the extension to Tregeiriog will be missed out, making th walk a little shorter.
 Birds seen or heard today included: Common blackbird, Common pheasant, Common buzzard, Common chaffinch, Blue tit, Gtreat tit, Skylark, Dipper, Eurasian curlew, Chiffchaff, Black-billed magpie,Woodpigeon, Dipper, Pied wagtail, Pied wagtail, Jackdaw, Wood nuthatch, European robin and possibly a Goldcrest calling from the top of a the trees..
 After walk drinks were enjoyed at the Pant-yr-Ochain, where Purple Moose's Snowdonia Ale went down well, even if the price did not!

No comments: