Abbey Village

A walk around Abbey Village.

Abbey Village elevation

Abbey Village route

Nothing much worth photographing until a Red Admiral appeared near the end and landed on Gill for a warm sunbathing spot.

Red Admiral hitching a lift

Hollingworth Lake

A traipse around Hollingworth Lake and the moors.

Hollingworth lake route

Quite grey and dismal. The tracks around windy hill getting more rutted and impassable every time we visit, mostly due to the dirt bikers (whizzing about while we were there).

View from Blackstone Edge

Looming clouds over Cowberry Hill

Llangollen

Continuing the snowy theme, a walk around Llangollen in icy weather. The ice makes the mud solid which is welcome, but makes compacted snow extremely slippery on the slopes, which isn't so welcome.

Llangollen elevation

Llangollen route

The snow made the early morning (almost) deserted Castel Dinas Bran more picturesque than usual.

Sunrise through the arch on Castel Dinas Bran

Snowy Clwydian Hills

Castel Dinas Bran in a bit of snow

Sheep safely grazing at the base of the hill (after we'd made our slippery way down)

We took a back route by a stream up to the "Chicken House". It was so cold icicles had been forming over the stream.

Icicles over the stream

Shutlingsloe

A wintry walk to Shutlingsloe (it was going to be The Cloud, but the car park was closed with no indication when it was going to open, something we're increasingly experiencing). Probably worked out for the best because Shutlingsloe had had some snow.

Shutlingsloe elevation

Shutlingsloe route

The weather was extremely windy and cold, we struggled to stay upright going round Shutlingsloe itself.

Sunrise over Shutlingsloe

Snowy shutlingsloe

Snowy Shutlingsloe (not pictured, howling winds)

Scrabbling up the (cheshire) Matterhorn

The route back was through northern trails, instead of the soggy cow fields to the south. Worked out ok, even if we did get a little lost.

Moel Arthur

Getting the year started with a big walk around Moel Arthur and Moel Y Parc, then back via the undulating but much less steep alternative around Moel Arthur's base.

Moel Arthur elevation

Moel Arthur route

Grey and dismal so not much in the way of photos.

Looking back towards Moel Famau

Moel Famau

Moel Famau from Cilcain.

Moel Famau elevation

Moel Famau route

A bit of sunrise broke through the cloud early on. Very misty and cloudy, particularly up on the hills.

Red Sky in Morning, Sheep Still Yawning

Mists in the valleys

Foggy forest near Moel Famau

Foggy forest (No bears, wolves or witches. This time.)

Abbey Village

Abbey Village walk, with the diversion around the broken paths in the woods.

Abbey Village elevation

Abbey Village route

Blowing fierce winds on the moors. A quick lunch next to the reservoir beset on all sides by unruly dogs after our pork pies. Then home to defrost.

Jubilee Tower

Ceiriog

A new walk around Ceiriog, down a bit from Llangollen.

Ceiriog elevation

Ceiriog route

Good job we had a map, gps and guide book. Very few footpath markers or signs anywhere.
Started off chilly, with ice and frozen puddles and a stiff breeze on the hills. Very bright sunshine most of the day.

Sheep Trek

Woods on a hill

Track leading off to somewhere

Big clouds over bracken and fields

Sheep grazing under berries

Delamere Forest

Walk around Delamere Forest. Starting from Yeld Lane because the usual car park is shut before 8am, apparently.

Delamere forest elevation

Delamere forest route

A bit of a chilly start and a little bit of orange dawn. The moss was still and flat as usual.

Stone circle on the hill overlooking Delamere forest

Looking out towards the Peak District

Cloudy skies over Blakemere Moss

Panorama of Blakmere Moss

Moel Arthur

Moel Arthur to Moel y Parc and back.

Moel Arthur elevation

Moel Arthur route

Llangollen

Llangollen and Velvet Hill but taking a bit of a diversion up the side of Eglwyseg.

Llangollen elevation

Llangollen route

View from near Bryn Goleu

Beefy bottoms

View from Castell Dinas Bran

Bales going by the lunch spot