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

Mynydd y Gaer

Our first time to Mynydd y Gaer, north Wales. Very much off the beaten track (just finding the start down winding tracks is tricky) and even with a guidebook and GPS it's easy to get lost with very few footpath signs. Lots of interesting autumn sights, though.

Mynydd y Gaer elevation

Mynydd y Gaer route

Very damp start with sopping wet grass and overcast skies. Lots of birds, including Bullfinches, near some abandoned cottages but we didn't have time to get close. Cold Bumble Bee found on some bracken, it eventually woke up, warmed itself up and flew off.

White-tailed Bumble Bee on bracken

Shaggy Pholiota on fallen tree stump

Shaggy Pholiota on fallen tree stump

Shaggy Pholiota on fallen tree stump

Woods by Afon Elwy

Mynydd y Gaer Hill Fort from afar

Gnarled tree by Plas-Uchaf reservoir

Robin's Pincushion (caused by gall wasp Diplolepis rosae)

Common Toadflax

Oak Acorn

Oak Acorn

Oak Acorn

Fallen leaves

Fallen leaves

Parasol Mushroom