WIRRAL RAMBLERS SUNDAY 7th JANUARY 2007 MOUNTAIN (HOLYWELL)

A WALK Starting in we walk to Big Wood via Soughton Farm and on to Ram Wood via Black Brook. Passing through we cross the and continue to Hendre. Field paths take us to Moel-y-crio and Rhes-y-cae from where we reach Halkyn Mountain. After crossing Holywell Common to we descend to Holywell over Pen-y-Ball. DISTANCE: 28km (17½ miles) 20 POINTS ASCENT 400m (1300ft) B PLUS WALK Starting from Holywell the route follows paths and tracks to Ball Top, across the A55 to , Holywell Common and Halkyn Quarry to Halkyn Mountain. The second part of the walk involves some road walking through Rhes-y-cae, , and back to the A55 where we rejoin the outward route back to the coach. (Some sections of the route will be boggy). DISTANCE: 20km (12½ miles) 15½ POINTS ASCENT m (1500ft)

B MINUS WALK We start at Holywell and walk up to Brynford, crossing the A55 to take the path by the church on to Halkyn Common. We walk south with views of the Dee and Wirral on the left and the range on the right. Passing several quarries we pass our highest point, the trig point at Billins (c.290m.). We then meander down through fields to re-cross the A55 up onto the lower adjacent ridge, again with Dee views. We return to Holywell by lanes, fields and the Wat’s Dyke Way (a slight ‘up at the end!). 1point for mud. DISTANCE: 15.3km (9½ miles) 13½ POINTS ASCENT 365m (1200ft)

14th January – Blackstone Edge (Hollingworth Lake); 21st January – Mow Cop Trail (Mow Cop); 28th January – Staveley to Bowness (Bowness); 4th February – River Dane (Cat & Fiddle). C WALK Going south from Holywell on the Pennant Way we climb up to Pen-y-Bryn Top. Turning northwest we go to Pantasaph via the Jubilee Monument and Pen-y-Ball trig point. Leaving the Pennant Way and going north over the A5026 and Mertyn Crew we now head northeast over the A548 and railway line to rejoin the Pennant Way along the Marsh Embankment. After a mile we re-cross the railway and road to head southwesterly along Holywell Stream and Industrial Heritage that is Greenfield Valley to return to the coach. DISTANCE: 14.5km (9 miles) 11 POINTS ASCENT 305m (1000ft) D WALK From Holywell we go down through the woods to Coed Strand; then turn westwards. Following paths across the fields, we pass Stokyn Hall and Mertyn Hall , before heading down to the shore. Turning eastwards we follow the shoreline to Greenfield and back up to Holywell. DISTANCE: 10km (6 miles) 7 POINTS ASCENT 155m (500ft)

Please keep behind your leader at all times On minor roads & lanes please keep in single file, close to the right hand side, where possible WALKS SHOULD NOT COACH WILL RETURN TO THE COACH BEFORE NO COACH STOP DEPART AT 5.00pm 3.30pm NO SMOKING ON THE COACH, THANK YOU. BOOTS MUST NOT BE WORN ON THE COACH AFTER WALKS, THANK YOU. PLEASE DO NOT LEAVE YOUR RUBBISH ON THE COACH, TAKE IT HOME, THANK YOU. IF YOU LEAVE ANYTHING ON THE COACH PLEASE RING GEOFF ASHCROFT 625 2162

THE NEXT MEETING AT THE CLUBHOUSE WILL BE HELD ON THURSDAY 11TH JANUARY 2007 LONDON TO KATMANDU – MARY O’NEILL STEWARDS – RUTH LOWE, DAVE CONNOLLY, JEAN BAKER

Forthcoming Sunday rambles: