Saturday 23 November 2024 - Around Beaumaris

Today's plan to do a parkrun on Anglesey was thwarted by Storm Bert. Waking to the sound of a strong wind and lashing rain, we soon abandoned the thought of going to Newborough for a parkrun that turned out to be cancelled. 

Instead, after a very leisurely breakfast, we set off on a 8km circuit from Henllys, starting at the magnificent tree outside our house, and soon passing a shrine built by Franciscan monks in the 1950s, when the site was home to a Friary.

It was wet and windy, and a battle to keep the camera dry.

Today's views were limited.  No sign of the nearby snow clad peaks. Red squirrels live here, perhaps making themselves scarce today as a large bird of prey was patrolling overhead. 

Beaumaris was soon reached, together with a post box from which to send a card to David, whose wife Janet passed away on Thursday. Janet, a university contemporary of mine, was a lovely kind, caring person who didn't deserve to be taken by an aggressive cancer at such a young age. Our thoughts are with her family.

After the shelter provided by the town, a walk along the pier, on slippery boards in the strong wind, was quite a challenge, especially for the 'yoga brigade'.

A break for coffees and hot chocolates at the Pier Bistro, was most welcome. 

A short section of the Wales Coast Path then delivered us with the wind at our backs to a minor road to the golf course that backs on to Henllys. No golfers were in evidence today.

Here's our 8km route.

That took us just a couple of hours, the rest of the day being spent 'on holiday'. Jigsaw, pool, sauna, reading  - I finished 'Kala' by Colin Walsh - recommended - etc.

Friday 22 November 2024 - Aber Falls

This is Walk Number 3 in Alex Kendall's Snowdonia North Cicerone guide. Sue and I are familiar with the two hour (6km) walk from the Aber Falls car park (£5), having done it on 22 September 2022. This time we were joined by our good friends, Richard and Jenny. 

We drove through a couple of violent sleet/snow showers to reach the car park by lunchtime.

After noshing lunch in our respective vehicles, we set off away from the falls, to a steep path from which there were fine views over the Menai Strait to Anglesey and Puffin Island. 

Beyond a sharp climb the path leveled out and we gained good views towards the snow and cloud covered Carneddau summits. It would be pretty rough up there today.

Once over the crest, the falls came into view. This is an excellent way of approaching them, with fine views and a good path throughout. 

We passed a minor waterfall then turned a corner to be greeted by the 37 metre high deluge that is Aber Falls.

The cameras came out. We had donned waterproofs for a rucksack free walk, and were pleased to have avoided any further wintry showers.

The dead sheep and wild swimmers we encountered last time we were here were long gone, to be replaced by some students with a bright light who were testing some interesting photographic skills. 

There were lots of folk out today - it was good to see so many enjoying themselves.

Anyway, we descended to a bridge across the river where Jenny took the next picture and I took a picture in each direction before we headed down the wheelchair friendly path back to the cars.

Here's our 6.7km route  taking just a couple of hours.

Then we took a short drive to Henllys, near Beaumaris, our base for the weekend in luxury accommodation.

And here's one of Sue's pictures.

Wednesday 20 November 2024 - Around Dunham

This afternoon we had the pleasure of catching up with Bianca and Ernst, with whom we enjoyed a 6km stroll from their house to Altrincham, via Seamons Bridge, the canal towpath, Little Heath Farm by the Axe and Cleaver pub, then Dunham golf course and Dunham New Park.

Late afternoon sun made for a dazzling stroll along the towpath from Seamons Bridge to the next bridge along the canal.

Swans glided past, much to the surprise of Bianca and Ernst. But they do live here!

Some of these pictures have been provided by Bianca and Ernst. My camera has seen far too much use recently!

We stopped at the Little Heath Farm shop, then passed the Axe and Cleaver to reach the school building that was erected in 1759.

Across the road, St Mark's church, with its delicate spire.

Winter greens

Apparently an old oak tree like this one can be home to up to 1000 different species.

Eventually we joined the main road near St Margarets, where Sue is one of the regular bellringers.

Then we strolled into Altrincham and enjoyed refreshments at So Marrakech.

So ended a most enjoyable 'blue sky' day.

Wednesday 20 November 2024 - Little Leigh

Just Sue and I turned up for this short walk around Little Leigh - Walk number 18 in Jen Darling's 'Walks in West Cheshire and Wirral' book. It was a new route for us, though we had walked some of the paths before.

After a half hour journey from Timperley, we parked outside house number 39 by Clatterwick Lane (What 3 Words: subject.tidal.missions) and took the narrow footpath that goes down the driveway and past the house. A sprinkling of snow remained on some of the fields, but not on this one, where Sue practiced her horse whispering skills.

Thankfully the ground was fairly solid with frost, otherwise there may have been some muddy paths to contend with.

After a while a brief period of relief from the bright, low sun found us on a pleasant path heading down to the Trent and Mersey Canal. Autumn colours and the sounds of tits and robins enhanced our pleasure.

We met a man on his own, and narrowly avoided being caught up in a crocodile of ramblers, before heading along the somewhat muddy canal towpath for nearly 3 kilometres. A cormorant flew over, as we joined the canal.

Bridges numbered 206 and 204 are painted white, and there are some impressive mileposts.

We both indulged in numerous snaps of the late autumn colours, taking our chance before the last of the leaves fall. Bear with us...

Bridge number 204

Eventually we reached the Saltersford Tunnel. This is one of the earliest canal tunnels, taking only one narrow boat at a time, with no path for horses, so in the early days boatmen would have had to leg it through the tunnel.

Wood carvings next to the tunnel entrance

Our path led over the top of the tunnel, crossing the canal where it emerges, whence we strolled uphill to the village of Barnton. After a short period of tarmac, during which we enjoyed a flask of coffee and birdsong from a chaffinch and a family of sparrows, the walk concluded over several fields, thankfully not as boggy as they might have been, passing a colony of starlings, to reach Clatterwick Lane and a short walk to the car.

En route, Sue's pony whispering nearly cost her an arm! 

Several plants are still in flower, and blackberries are still aavailable.

Hogweed

Here's our route - 8.5km with 70 metres ascent. A lovely way to spend a sunny morning. We were home by lunchtime.

Thanks go to Sue for some of the pictures in this posting.