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 Arthur

Moel Arthur to Moel y Parc and back.

Moel Arthur elevation

Moel Arthur route

Moel Arthur

Moel Arthur to Penycloddiau and on round Fron Haul but coming back via Moel y Parc.

Moel Arthur elevation

Moel Arthur route

Last year the hills were carpeted in flowering heather but the drought and heat had left everything dry, brown and withered. The day started cloudy with the top of Moel Arthur covered in fog. This cleared to another hot, dry day.

Moel Arthur in fog

Sheep searching in vain for green grass

Heather being cut on the Moel Llys-y-coed

Moel Arthur

The big walk from Moel Arthur up to Fron-haul. This time coming back via Moel y Parc. Very hot and sunny, glad we started early and remembered the sun cream.

Moel Arthur elevation

Moel Arthur route

Photos...

Moel Arthur

View from south side of Moel Arthur

Lamb

Trees bent by prevailing winds on Moel y Parc

Riot of Dandelions in the Vale of Clwyd

Struggling up the brutal slope of Moel Arthur in blazing sunshine

Heading towards Coed Llangwyfan

Panorama from the side of Fron-haul

Moel Arthur

A walk over Moel Arthur but with a twist, coming back on the eastern side off the beaten-track via Bryn-ffynnon. Still a mud bath everywhere. We're beginning to wonder if the North West is just going to dissolve.

Moel Arthur elevation

Moel Arthur route

We were going to head down to the road heading past Moel Evan but found the route completely blocked by scores of fallen trees all over the paths and tracks.

Brown bracken on the eastern slopes of Penycloddiau

Sheep on the move

Long shadows on the way Aifft

Moel Arthur

After receiving a tip-off that the heather was blooming we headed over to Moel Arthur to see if it was as impressive as last time. We maybe missed the best of it by a week or so but it was still a very impressive display.

Moel Arthur elevation

Moel Arthur route

The sun was a bit too bright and the heather was starting to fade but a polariser and some judicious framing made the most of it.

View up the side of Moel Arthur

Path to Penycloddiau

Heather under a big sky

Heather under a big sky

Heather and cloud

Heather overlooking Vale of Clwyd

Heather overlooking Vale of Clwyd

Parasol mushroom

Pink blooming heather

Mix of heather

Purple heather and yellow grasses

Purple heather

Dor Beetle (wouldn't sit still)

Surrounded

Moel Famau

A walk around Moel Famau, wiggling through the forest, but starting from Moel Arthur. Very steep bit at the start and end, but free parking!

Moel Famau elevation

Moel Famau route

Overcast, showers and blowing an absolute gale on the hills so not many photos.

Sheep lazing on the path up the hill

Moel Arthur

Moel Arthur

A walk from Moel Arthur, taking in a loop around Fron-haul. We did this walk before but after a winter of inactivity and in blazing hot weather. It was extremely tiring. This time on slightly fitter legs it was a challenge but not too painful.

Moel Arthur elevation

Moel Arthur route

Not much in the way of interesting photos.

View from Moel Arthur summit

Sheep grazing on the slope up to Moel Arthur

Unidentified rodent skull