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Retired, work part-time or shifts, enjoy being out in the countryside? Then cycle the lanes and byways of Cheshire and surrounding areas with Chester Easy Riders: you won't get left behind.
Chester Easy Riders is an independent cycling club affiliated to Cycling UK. We cycle every Thursday throughout the year with moderate and brisk day rides of 40 to 80 miles.

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Showing posts with label Cilcain. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Cilcain. Show all posts

Friday, 24 January 2014

23rd January 2014: Cilcain

Ray led out Dave H and Brian (who agreed to do the write-up) from The Gallery through Northop, over Halkyn Mountain and down to Lixwm.   The village was said to have been given it’s unusual name by miners who moved to the area from Derbyshire; in their dialect "likesome", or "licksome", was an adjective meaning "pleasant”.  At 3˚C temperature and 22 mph westerlies today, "pleasant” was not how I would describe the area. After a brief sprint along the A541 Mold road, we turned south into the hills for Cilcain, It was only a short ride to the White Horse Inn at Cilcain arriving at the pub for opening time, where we were able to relax over a pint and a cuppa and a choice of hot food and babs.  And superb ginger sponge and custard.

Photographs by Brian MacDonald

Over lunch, Brian tried his David Bailey skills – the results are attached.  Beer & Lunch was served quickly, unlike last week.  The Smithy House opposite dates from 1572 and the lintel was a log that had solidified like marble.

After an hour in front of the log fire, we reluctantly continued south to Llanarmon, before joining the Corwen road at Rhydtalog for the very fast descent down to Penyffordd.  We turned back north through Bilberry Wood, across the footbridge over the A55 for the final run back to Hawarden, where Dave H left us.  Gallery afternoon tea completed, Ray and I continued with the wind behind us down to the Queensferry Bridge, where we went our separate ways.  Well, we may not have covered many miles but with the wind against us on the way out we deserved some treats!  A round trip from Hawarden of 34 miles on a dry and sunny winter’s day.
BMac

Saturday, 2 April 2011

31st March 2011: Cilcain

I leave home this morning for the ride out to Hawarden with a lovely 40 mile circuit planned out over Bwlch Penbarras, through the Vale of Clwyd and returning over Moel Arthur.  Half a mile down the road with a gale force head wind to contend with it was quickly apparent that something less strenuous was called for.  The struggle up the river Dee path was difficult enough but over Ferry Lane Bridge it was dismount or be blown over the railings.  The gusting wind continued past the AirBus Factory where with head down I could only manage 5 mph!  Thank goodness things got easier on the climb up to Hawarden where the woodland and houses provided some protection.
Considering the weather conditions the turnout at the Gallery Tea Shop was pretty good with Clive, Dave M, Ivan, Ray S, Andy and Brian Mac all present.  Seven of us altogether but only five doing the ride as both Andy and Dave M had already had enough.  We decided that a shorter than normal ride was more appropriate to the conditions perhaps with a longer than normal lunch stop to discuss the email I had circulated with some pressing CER issues.
I led out along Bilberry Wood, across the footbridge over the A55 and down to Penyffordd.  The wind was still gusting quite hard but it wasn’t to bad on the sheltered roads although we were pleased to leave the open section on the A5118 to enjoy the lanes up to Nercwys.  Time was already getting on as we crested the short two-chevron climb before Gwernymynydd: this was hard work and we had only covered a few miles.  As a form of consolation however the sun was now shining, the sky had cleared and we were treated to great views across the valley as we contoured round above Mold.  Rather than the direct route from here to Cilcain, today I thought we would try the ford across the Alyn to emerge on the Loggerheads to Cilcain road at Maes-y-groes.  Not having done this before I wasn’t sure what to expect: the zigzag descent down to the ford was both steep and rough but the ford itself was only a few inches deep today so there was no need to use the footbridge.
Once back on the lanes it was only a short ride to the White Horse Inn at Cilcain where we were able to relax over a pint or two of ale and a choice of hot food and babs.  Unusually for CER today’s discussion was more akin to an AGM as we discussed ride start times, the Tuesday ride proposal, splitting the larger Thursday groups, the need for more ride leaders, finance and the circulation of mobile phone numbers.  It wasn’t all business though and a lively conversation with an 80 year old at the next table, who described her cycling exploits, added to the enjoyment of the day.
The return journey started with a long enjoyable descent down to the A541, followed by the climb up Moel-y-crio where we turned right to Rhosesmor.  From here we opted for the Alltami/Buckley route back to Hawarden to arrive in plenty of time for tea and a choice of Greek cakes/deserts.  Well, we may not have covered many miles but with the wind against us on the way out we deserved some treats!  A round trip from Hawarden of 30 miles.

BW

Saturday, 20 June 2009

18th June 2009: Cilcain

I check my email and Twitter this morning to find that Mike has suggested what appears to be a tough route down to Pontcysyllite Aqueduct and back along the old horseshoe pass. I decide to give it more thought on the way out to Caergwrle where we meet for elevenses. The new pedals feel fine after the trouble experienced last week and before long I join up with Brian for the final few miles. Graham, Jim and Mike soon join us at the Tudor House Café. Brian is enthusiastic about Mike’s suggested route urging us to “go for it”. Then he announces that as he has to be home early today he will leave us at one of the stations and get a train back!
In the light of a pronounced lack of enthusiasm on the part of the others an alternative of Cilcain is eventually seized on and agreed. And so it is we set off across the shoulder of Hope Mountain to Pontybodkin, through Treuddyn and Nercwys following the contours above Mold before descending to the Alyn over the river and up the stiff climb to Cilcain.
The White Horse Inn isn’t exactly buzzing today but the welcome is genuine and as Mike quickly notes the Brakspear’s Hooray Henley bitter must have been provided in my honour: excellent. The filled baps provide the sustenance while we chat and sort out the route back. A nice easy descent takes us down to the A541 where we cross and ascend the Halkyns to Moel-y-crio and then down to Rhosesmor. From here we take the Buckley route but instead of crossing the A55 to Bilberry Wood we take a right towards Hope dropping off Jim and Graham before Mike and I head back to Chester through Kinnerton.
A great day out along beautiful untrafficked lanes with a few hills for good measure.
Distance from Chester and back 50 miles.
BW

Monday, 15 December 2008

16th October 2008: Cilcain

Cool, with heavy rain interspersed with sun and a hilly ride in prospect. Is this off-putting? After tea and toasted teacakes at the Gallery Coffee Shop in Hawarden the leader set off with a tight group of one heading towards Ewloe and then bearing left to go through Burntwood, Buckley and Alltami where the pleasant lanes and scenery began to caress the wheels and the mind. After Soughton things began to improve weather-wise and by Gwernaffield the sun was out, the roads drying and the temperature just about right for the constant trickle of hills, all with lovely views of the Clwyds. This was followed by a warm up on the one in four out of Bont-newydd. The White Horse in Cilcain, recommended by Bryan two weeks ago, was the refuelling stop. I wondered if one needed an appointment but then I found that ringing the bell summoned assistance. After soup, a roll and a lime and soda (£1:60p) it was off to Loggerheads in the sun. Through Loggerheads and right after Cadole to climb to Nercwys where there were clear views over the Cheshire plain to Beeston and the Peckforton hills, and carrying on via Ty-newydd to Leeswood Hall where those enormous ornamental gates on the very narrow lane set one's mind wondering. It was then down into Leeswood and civilisation once more to pick up the A5104 from Pontblyddyn to Penyffordd where the skies started to threaten again - but it was only a threat. It was only left for me to cross the A55 footbridge at Bilberry Wood and to do the last climb up into the starting point at Hawarden. Only 27.5 miles from cafe to cafe but 3000ft of climbing, and it was only 2:35pm. So it was then a dash back home for 3:30pm with 50 miles in.
RH

2nd October 2008: Cilcain

Wet, cold and windy was the forecast, so it probably wasn’t surprising that with elevenses at Caergwrle (promising a hilly ride) the numbers turning up for the ride were somewhat depleted. So it was that at 11.15 am a single solitary rider set off from Tudor House Café in heavy rain to cross the shoulder of Hope Mountain to Pontybodkin. From there it was the back road to Treuddyn and thence to Nercwys contouring along the hills above Mold before turning west to drop down to the Alyn, over the bridge and up to the White Horse at Cilcain for lunch. After a leisurely lunch chatting to the other customers (a couple of walkers from Kelsall) it was time to head north along drying lanes to Moel-y-crio and then on to Rhosesmor and Northop. The final section back to Chester along the River Dee path was made in record time with the wind behind.
Distance from Chester and back 44 miles, hilly.
BW