Moel Arthur

Moel Arthur to Pennycloddiau and back. This time in the dry so the return track was passable and not a quagmire like last time. Very cloudy to begin with but brightened up a lot on the way back.

The slope on the other side of Moel Arthur is still as steep as ever!

Moel Arthur elevation

Moel Arthur route

The hills were covered in heather and gorse.

Heather and gorse up the slope of Moel Arthur

Heather on the way to the summit, distant grassy hill in the background

The view from the summit was a lot clearer than usual, even with all the cloud.

View from Moel Arthur summit

View from Moel Arthur towards Penycloddiau

360degree panorama from the summit

Various heathers

Heather and Gorse

View from Coed Llangwyfan just before...

Helicopter that buzzed us from over the hill

A helicopter was spraying bracken, flying back and forth across the valley, sometimes flying right overhead.

Heather on Penycloddiau

Heather on Penycloddiau

Heather as far as the eye can see

Even more Heather

Panorama from lunch spot on the side of track back

Heather and Gorse

Heather and Gorse

Wind farm in the distance

Up to my knees in it

Not up to my knees in it (mud that is, see the entry in March)

Helsby Hill

Another walk around Helsby Hill. It's quick to get to and it's nicely shaded from the sun, so we'll probably be coming here quite often in the summer.

Helsby Hill elevation

Helsby Hill route

Not much around this time, but it's interesting to compare the lone tree in a field taken from the same spot as on the 30th May.

Lone tree in field

Big sky over Merseyside

Helsby Hill at lunchtime

Shed and Fence

After innumerable storms our fence was in a very sorry state and was becoming a disgrace. So we got the whole lot replaced, and the shed as well while we were at it.

All neat and tidy (it won't last)

Shed and fence blending beautifully

Fence Panorama

Abbey Village

A walk from Abbey Village and across Darwen Moor.

Abbey Village elevation

Abbey Village route

Very overcast to begin with but breaking into a fine day with lots of sunny spells and big, puffy clouds. Still a bit muddy here and there.

Expanded Grey Wagtail

Trees by Rake Brook Reservoir

Plenty of water going down the overspill

Water flowing on river Roddlesworth

Looming clouds over the moors

Grass and heather on the moors

Sunny hillside on Darwen Moor

Sunny hillside on Darwen Moor

Jubilee Tower

Jubilee Tower

Motorway visible from Darwen Hill

The latest in Horse-based Virtual Reality kit

Some pillock taking pictures

Pex Hill

The weather had been a bit unpredictable so we didn't plan a big day out. It stayed dry for a while so we had a local walk instead, up to Pex Hill and round past J7 on the M62.

Pex Hill route

Quite a few Yellowhammers around. Also a very loud Song Thrush, an obliging Kestrel and fields swarming with Swifts.

Swooping swifts

Song Thrush singing

Kestrel

M62 from a new perspective

Visit by Her Majesty the Queen to Liverpool

On Wednesday 22 June the Queen visited Liverpool and came out onto the balcony of the Town Hall to wave to the crowds.

Delamere

A walk around Delamere Forest, mostly sheltering from the blazing sun.

Delamere elevation

Delamere route

The day started off very misty, which quickly burned off to leave bright sunshine.

Misty trees

Misty trees

Halo around sun behind the broadcast towers

Halo around the sun behind the broadcast towers

A pair of Blackcap were feeding their young (hidden in the undergrowth somewhere).

Male Blackcap

Male Blackcap

Later on we found some Willow Warblers doing the same thing.

Willow Warbler

Willow Warbler

Willow Warbler

Willow Warbler

Willow Warbler