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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.

Friday 14 April 2017

Holywell to Flint Castle 13th April 2017

Holywell High Street on market day.
Admiring the stainless steel depiction of a pastoral staff in the centre of Holywell.
Basingwerk Abbey at Greenfield.
Greenfield Dock.
Looking towards Greenfield from Bagillt Beacon.
Bagillt Beacon.
The A380 wing being taken to Mostyn Dock by barge. 
Seen as it passes the end of Flint Dock.
A Green sandpiper in Flint Dock.
Flint Castle from the West.
One of the more colourful Millenium fingerposts.
Walk stats: Distance: 9.3 miles. Climb: 319'.
Time: 4 hours 30 minutes. On the move walking average: 2.5 m.p.h. Overall walk average: 2.0 m.p.h.
Group: Martyn, Paul, Wendy and David S.
This was almost a perfect day for walking weather wise, not too hot and not too cold, although a cool wind at lunch time did make us shelter behind a bank while we had our lunches.
 All those walking arrived early and we had sufficient cars to allow us to go by car to Holywell rather than waiting on public transport.
 As most of the walk was downhill, this was a very gentle stroll and in the absence over any rain over the last few days, conditions underfoot were pretty good, almost entirely mud free as well as it being a stile free walk to boot!
 There was plenty of birdsong around, both on the descent through the Greenfield Valley and along the coast. The latter is always good, especially as all the way from Greenfield Dock to Flint Castle there are many information points reminding of the industrial heritage of the coast in this part of North Wales.
 Lunch was initially planned for Bagillt Beacon, but when we arrived it was a little too exposed and we eventually found a more sheltered spot about a mile further on.
 At lunch we were serenaded by a couple of Skylarks and watched a fleet of small fishing boats following the incoming tide up river. We didn't see them catch anything!
 As we approached Flint Castle we saw the Airbus barge heading towards Mostyn Dock with its A380 wing. we should have waited at Flint Point as the barge went quite close at the point.
 Paul and Wendy explored Flint Castle as the rest of us extended the walk Eastward as far as Oakenholt Marsh before arriving back at the cars.
 Birds seen or heard today included: Blue tit, Great tit, European robin, Mallard, Grey wagtail, Pied wagtail, Common blackbird, Common coot, Wood nuthatch, Willow warbler, Reed bunting, Green sandpiper, Common redshank, Great cormorant, Little egret, Grey heron, Herring gull and Skylark.
 After walk drinks were enjoyed at the Blue Bell Inn where a brew from Tenby was sampled,  pleasant enough, but not what you would expect for an IPA.

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