www.pdwc.org Vol: 27 Issue 6 12 May 2013 LLANGOLLEN Coaches leave Llangollen at 5.30pm FUTURE WALKS Coach Walks 8.30am start : 5.30pm return Sunday 9 June Glenridding via Pooley Bridge A: Graham Hogg B+: Colin Manning B: Chris Cook C: Derek Lowe 8.00am start : 5.30 return Sunday 7 July Y Bala A: Dave Colbert B+: Barry Mather B: Required C: Roy Smith Thursday Car Walks 10.30am start Thursday 13 June Mellor Brook B Walk with Philip Brunskill Meet at GR641312 Thursday 11 July Abbey Village B Walk with Dennis Barnish Meet on Dole Lane Sunday Car Walks 10.30am start Sunday 26 May Chipping B Walk with Dorothy Dobson Meet at the car park This is a lovely 9 mile / 14.5km walk with no very steep hills but undulating from start to finish. From Chipping car park (toilets) we go along the main street taking a lane on the left to head through fields to Knot Hill. Then we go over the ford to pass Higher Greystoneley and on to Fair Oak House. From here, as we head to New Laund Hill, the views are stunning! Now we make our way west to Tunstall Ing, then south to Dinkling Green Farm and go past Park Gate and Birchin Lee on our way back to Chipping. Sunday 23 June Crook O’Lune B Walk with Sheila Marsh Meet at the car park This 7½ mile / 12km mostly easy walk has one significant climb and descent. It is largely in fields and lanes with good views over the Lune Valley, but it can be muddy in places. Starting from the car park the walk goes past Halton Park to Lower Highfield, Middle Highfield and on to Far Highfield. It then passes through the village of Aughton to reach the River Lune where it follows the river’s meandering course back to the car park. Sunday 23 June Samlesbury C Walk with Derek Lowe Meet by the Myerscough Arms This is a 6¼ miles / 10km circular walk from THE MYERSCOUGH ARMS via Mercyfield Wood climbing 400ft / 122m Parking is in front of the Myerscough Arms just off the A59 at Samlesbury. The walk commences from The Myerscough down a farm track leading off down the left hand side of the pub to Rigby Fold where we pass down the right hand side of the house. Field paths lead us to a valley where we cross Bezza Brook and climb up to Pickerings Farm and past Wilcock Brook Farm until we come to Jackson's Bank Road. We follow this to Night- field Gate Farm then we head around Mercyfield Wood and down and up through the wood to Burr Green, Lower Studhurst and on to Pewter House Fold and Bowfields from where we return to Rigby Fold and back to The Myerscough. I have booked the Weather. Have a Good Day Please note – Walk details must be in one week before each coach excursion. Today’s Walks Today’s starting point: Llangollen Eglwyseg & Maesyrychen Mountain with Dave Colbert Grade. A Distance 13½ miles / 22km Climbing 3450 ft / 1050m Starting from the centre of Llangollen we cross the Afon Dyfrdwy and storm the hill fort of Castell Dinas Bran. A trail that purports to follow the dyke built by some ancient bloke called Offa then takes us north below the tremendous limestone rampart of Creigiau Eglwyseg (the Dales has nothing on this scale) to Plas yn Eglwyseg, where the long climb to Bwlch Oernant (Horseshoe Pass) begins; beware of bikers at the summit. At 1,893ft / 577m, Moel y Gamelin is the highest point on Maesyrychen Mountain, itself the highest of the Bryniau Clwyd. The leisurely descent to Rhewl precedes a short climb to Llandynan to avoid too much tarmac bashing. We then return to Llangollen along the canal towpath from Berwyn, although for a fee you could catch a steam train. Mwynhau!! Castle and Canal with Val Walmsley Grade B+ Distance 13 miles / 21km Climbing 1070ft / 326m . We leave Llangollen along the canal and by the River Dee as far as Valle Crucis Abbey (Valley of the Cross) near to Elisegs Pillar, a 9th century medieval cross. We then join the Clwydian Way southwards to Castell Dinas Bran. This medieval castle sits on the site of an Iron Age hill fort with good views from the mound. From here we head down to join Offa's Dyke Path in a south easterly direction on a panoramic walk and through Trevor Hall Wood to Trevor where we cross the River Dee with a view of the aqueduct above and to the left. When we reach Froncysyllte we cross the canal and return on the dramatic Pont Cysyllte aqueduct 1000 feet long and 126 feet above the Dee. We join the Llangollen Canal tow path to return to the starting point and a look round the town . If we are to have a full programme of walks at Bala we still need a leader for the B walk. Castell Dina s Bran with Roy Smith Grade B Distance 8½ miles / 13.7km Climbing 900ft / 274m +350ft / 107m We start our walk today from Llangollen, which has a worldwide reputation as a centre of Welsh culture and music. The Llangollen canal provides us with our first picturesque setting for the walk. Leaving the canal behind we make our way to the Horseshoe Falls (really a weir), on the River Dee. From here we move uphill through field and country tracks, to arrive at the picturesque remains of Valle Crucis Abbey. We now carry on uphill through woodland, slowly making our way east. As we follow country lanes we have splendid views of Eglwyseg Mountain and Ruabon Mountain. Our direction is now south through open fields and country tracks, which form part of the Offa’s Dyke Path. Shortly we will be able to see the remains of Castell Dinas Bran, on the distant hill top. When we arrive at the foot of the hill, those not wishing to do the climb (350 feet) can avoid it, and make their way directly back to Llangollen. For the rest of us the final climbing of the day is up to the castle remains. From the top it is a zig zag path back downhill to Llangollen and refreshments. To the End of the World with Derek Lowe Grade C Distance 6 miles / 9.7km Climbing 356ft / 111m We start our walk by heading for the Shropshire Union Canal. We leave the canal at the Motor Museum and begin a gentle climb to overlook the remains of the Valle Crucis Abbey. We continue our gentle climb through the woods to Tan-y-fron. lt is a narrow road until we reach Ty-Newydd where a short road walk brings us to field paths which we follow to the Offa's Dyke Path and World's End Panorama. We will have lunch around this area where there are good views of the remains of Castell Dinas Bran on the hilltop in front of us. After lunch we continue to Tan-y-Castell to take a footpath which leads us around the foot of the hill and, after a short climb, we descend to Llangollen. Once again I have booked the weather. Have a nice day! Please help to keep the coaches clean by removing muddy boots. Please check that you have all your belongings and take newspapers etc. away with you. Thank you. .