10th July 2025: Holt

 After an absence of a couple of months, due to family commitments and swollen knee ligaments, I turned up at the Gladstone Library on a beautiful July morning.  Alan and Dave M were already there sitting in the warm sunshine on a couple of handily placed benches.  “We can’t get in” announced Alan.  A lady with an officious looking chain and badge around her neck had apparently explained that it was Founders Day today and was “invitation only” we were not invited.  However, she helpfully suggested that the Gallery Café was recently reopened.  Alan went off to investigate and after a while came to find us with the good news.  Under new management the old place has received some remodelling and a lick of paint.  It was busy.  In attendance were Dave M; Clive; Chris; Kevin; Keith; Alan; Andy, Trevor and yours truly.  After the usual good natured meleé we decided to split into two groups.  The “faster” four would go West and the “moderate” four would go East.  Dave M, the lone ranger, was doing his own thing in preparation for an up and coming Coast to Coast ride.  Well done that man.

And so it was that led by Trevor: Keith, Andy B and myself set off on a circuitous route heading to Maggies in Holt.  Leaving Hawarden we pass Tinkersdale Cottage and run alongside Bilberry Wood to cross the A55 on the footbridge.  Bowling along, chatting as we go, we cycle down Lower Mountain Road.  Crossing Kinnerton Road we dogleg around Shordley Manor and Shordley Hall to pick up Dark Lane and Higher Lane to reach the outskirts of Llay.  Crossing above the A483 we turn immediately left and follow a familiar lane into Marford.  Exiting on Hoseley Lane we drop down Daisy Bank and follow Borras Road into Holt.

15+ miles covered in the sunshine we are ready for lunch.  It was the usual warm welcome at Maggies.  Most customers were sitting outside enjoying the day but we were looking for shade and stayed indoors where Keith kept us entertained with his latest exploits as a newbie gardener including single handily eradicating a colony of wood bees.  A man who goes where others fear to venture.  Well his sons at least.

Lingering no longer we remount and crossing the river Dee head north to Churton.  Turn right down Spring Lane I cry “it’s a great surface and there is never any traffic”.  Wrong on both counts.  We get to Coddington and pick up Dog Lane to Chowley and crossing the A41 enter Tattenhall.  It is then the usual route through Hargrave and Waverton to cross the A51 into Guilden Sutton.  Here our loyal band of brothers fragment.  Trevor heads for home and Keith for his car.  Andy and I access the Greenway and avoiding the dogs and children make good time to cross the Dee at Connah’s Quay.  Andy heads for Mold and for me my lift was waiting on Docks Way.   

My thanks to my clubmates for their companionship on a very enjoyable day’s riding.  A good route and a sensible pace to wisely factor in the temperatures nudging the high 20’s by mid-afternoon.  43.8 miles covered at an average of 10.5 mph and surprisingly 1,682 ft of ascent.  I would guess that Trevor and Keith had done something similar.  Andy as ever had done considerably more.  The man’s a legend.

GW