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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 Cwm. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Cwm. Show all posts

Friday, 8 November 2024

7th November 2024: Cwm (mod+)

 Its rare to see 21 CER riders in one place apart from our Christmas Meal. So arranged on a banqueting table (see photo) the three groups plotted different routes and options whilst enjoying coffee teacakes or in Matts case someone’s birthday cake and ice cream !


A healthy group of 8 briskers set off for a “Club du Cinglès Hope Mountain”. The mod group were contemplating a “Tour du Hope Mountain” leaving Alan, Steves T & Hu plus Kevin to go west into the nice weather.

 Alans plan was to climb and then stay high before dropping down to the coast for the short dash home. A busy route through Hawarden in the rush hour (if such a thing exists with WFH) led to the old A5 road where the roads became noticeably quieter. We rode through Northop and then paralleling the A55, before starting our trek up to the Halkyn Mountain. Alan took us up what can only be described as a farm track. Apparently a favoured route of Ivans, it takes you off the main road through a farm with an equally excited sheepdog and his owner, then pops you out just below Halkyn village.

 The road is deceptive from Halkyn through Pentre Halkyn onto the Windmills it rises and falls. Fortunately for us today we had a tail wind on this slightly uphill section. Using quiet lanes we crossed the A55 then descended into Cwm. When we say descended it was just that !14% downhill for about half a mile. “We are coming back this way” announced Alan……..you could hear a pin drop!

Refreshed with a variety of hot sandwiches at the Blue Lion, we stopped for the obligatory photo and then set off up the hill. Alan can be seen in the photograph, powering up the 14% with effortless ease, whilst the rest of us suffered in silence.

 The road meandered down to Trelawnyd where we discovered the previously flattering tail wind was now a head wind. With Kevin and Alan specks in the distance, Steve T and I realised our state of the nation discussion should cease and we should put our cycling heads back on!

 At Holywell I remembered a lovely descent through the woods by Greenfield Valley. The last time I climbed this route was in the spring with CER. Dave Heath was telling me something memorable, I’ve forgotten what it was LOL. So, after creating bow waves of leaves we plunged into Greenfield. A short section of the busy “bottom” road took us to Bagillt where we could re-join the cycleway.

 At Flint our ride leader Alan set off for home and shortly after Kevin carried on to Graham Weighs in Shotton, en route to his home in Chester. Steve T and I took Paper Mill lane which pulled all the way back up to Northop Hall.

 Hawarden was just a ten minute breeze under our wheels. I recorded an enjoyable 44 miles with 3,232 feet of climbing, so a punchy little route.

 As always thanks for leading Alan and to Kevin and Steve T for the company.

 Steve Hu 

See route map and/or gpx file download



Sunday, 8 May 2016

5th May 2016: Cwm (mod)

Spring has arrived at last and after the thorough soaking of the previous Thursday I was eager to get on the bike in some dry, warm weather giving my knees their first airing of the year.  I was one of twelve who gathered at the Gallery cafe.  Dave and Liz P, just back from foreign parts, decided to do their own thing, which left ten of us split neatly into two rides.  The "brisk" boys were soon away leaving a "moderate" four, plus yours truly, to head west at a more measured pace.  Steve T, Dave H, Jim, Mike G and your reporter were heading for the Blue Lion at Cwm.  Like many country pubs this one has been open and closed at various times in recent years.  However, while walking in the area recently I had called in and was assured it would be open on a Thursday.
Cattle rustling

Photographs by Michael Gilbert

Passing through Elwoe we trundled steadily along familiar lanes, through Northop Hall, Northop and after the pulse raising 100 yards along the A55 started our first climb of the day on the B5123 to Pentre Halkyn.  Taking the second left in the village to avoid the heavy stuff going to the quarry we resumed our climbing up on to Holywell Common.  Always good views here they were especially good today, in the fine clear weather, we could see well up the Lancashire coast.  Cycling through Holywell Golf Club, common land where golfers, cars, cyclists, dog walkers and the ever present sheep appeared to be living in harmony on this splendid day, we began the long descent into Pantasaph, Gorsedd and then Whitford.  Here we picked up National Cycle Route 5 but not for long. After a demanding little climb, on a lane festooned with mud left by farm vehicles, we turned away from NCR 5 and crossing the A5026 we skirted Llyn Helyg, hidden in the trees, and were soon descending into Cwm.
Halkyn Mountain
We arrived just as the pub was opening, which is 1pm on a Thursday.  We were in no hurry.  We lounged on the decking at the rear of the pub and were treated to a lovely view across the Vale of Clwyd, along the coast and with the snow tipped peaks of Snowdonia in the distance.  We all chose a simple sandwich for lunch: a wise choice.  Mine host and hostess friendly but rather it would appear overwhelmed by a dozen customers turning up together.  We waited half an hour for our sandwiches; those who had gone for the hot meal option were still staring dolefully at empty tablemats when we left.
Leaving Cwm we turned right onto Cwm Road heading towards Rhuallt.  This we agreed was a ride worth taking as we bowled along the side of the hill with, to our right, splendid views of the Vale resplendent in the spring sunshine.  You can't have too much of a good thing and reaching Rhuallt we decided to continue to enjoy the views by going along the B5429, through Tremeirchion to eventually reach Bodfari.  
Here the other honorary Welshman, Mike left us to venture further west to his home and we four turned east along the A543.  Although an A road experience tells me it is usually quiet in the middle part of the day and so it proved.  We covered the 12 miles to Mold at a tidy pace, as this is the only low level crossing of the Clwydian Hills in this area. After a welcome refreshment break at the Theatre Clwyd cafe I left the remaining three, at Northop, to make their way back to our starting point.
An enjoyable day.  The pace was steady, the conversation lively and wide ranging taking in such topics as European Patent and Trade Mark law and the demise of rural bus services.  The Welsh countryside did not disappoint.  50 miles covered and a few hills climbed.
G W 

Saturday, 12 September 2015

10th September 2015: Cwm (brisk)

An Indian Summer’s day had riders galore at The Gallery, but Jim and Martin only came for coffee.  Steve had re-cycled a 2012 route and decided to lead a ride to “the 2012 pub find of the year” at Cwm near Dyserth. Bryan started with us to Halkyn, but the hills got to him and he pealed off, leaving Steve, John, Clive, Paul, Tom and myself on a fast ride.   After passing through Babell and past the monastery, Steve announced that the pub only served food from 13:00, so an extra 10 miles were added near Trelogan.  With perfect timing, we rolled up at 13:05.  The jury in my opinion are still out on The Blue Lion, Cwm LL18 5SG tel: 01745 289229. I didn’t think it was that special and Trip Advisor reviews have 44 Excellent but 9 as “Terrible”, so you decide.


Photographs by Brian MacDonald and Clive Albany



The return up over the steep climb that crosses the A55, saw just Steve and Brian going for afternoon tea after a sunny fast CER ride with 3,800 feet of ascent and 48 miles round trip back to the Hawarden Estate Garden Centre for coffee and obscene-coloured cake.  If ever The Gallery is closed, this place on the old main road east of the town is very pleasant with plenty of parking

BMac

Saturday, 10 November 2012

8th November 2012: Cwm

Although overcast and a little windy on the ride out to Hawarden the omens for the day were favourable.  I had come with a route to The Blue Lion Inn at Cwm, having checked the previous evening that they would be open and serving food.  By 10:30 a small band of seven were ready to leave and with no other suggestions the default destination of Cwm was agreed even though no one knew were it was!
With the group comprising Martin, Liz D, Dave H, Ivan and Dave & Liz P, I led out along the B road taking the direct route to Northop.  Within a few minutes Ivan was alongside.  “I’ve left my reading glasses at the café” he says. “I’m going back to get them and I’ll catch you up.  Are you going along the A55?”  “No” I reply, “We’re going straight over the Halkyns”.  “Brave choice” is the comment from someone behind and Ivan decides to collect the glasses on the way back.
In Northop we take the left at The Green and start the climb up to the Blue Bell.  At the top the views across the Wirral to Liverpool are magnificent and I get to wondering what it must have been like for the kids watching their home city being bombed while billeted out to families up here during the war.  Then we continue west across the moorland through Windmill and Brynford to Gorsedd where, aware of the time and the need to get back in daylight, I shorten the route by taking in a short section of the A5151.  The best bit starts as we turn off the main road to take the narrow lane past Llyn Helyg and on to Cwm where on the final descent we are rewarded with a spectacular view across the Vale of Clwyd to Snowdonia.
The Blue Lion proves to be the pub ‘find of the year’.  A warming open fire and an even warmer landlady to greet us.  Marston’s bitter on tap and an excellent choice of food from light snacks to a three course lunch for £10.  This is definitely one for future visits.  A very well run pub that deserves to succeed.

Photograph by Martin Donaldson

All too soon it was 14:00 and time for us to leave.  We dropped down to the Dyserth to Rhuallt road and contoured along the side of the Vale of Clywd stopping to take in the views: not forgetting a photo.  The back lane out of Rhuallt started steeply up to the A55 footbridge and continued upwards thereafter.  Halfway up Dave P gets a call.  It’s from the Landlady of The Blue Lion to say they have found his wallet.  The thought of going back and doing the hills again is just too much, so Dave wisely decides to drive back in his car later in the day after returning home.  We continue on to Babell where I surprise the group by taking the narrow undulating track to Lixwm.  At Pentre the notorious entrance to the farm track is even muddier than the last time I did this section so we take the alternative route to Rhes-y-cae instead, before the climb over Moel-y-crio.  With the hills behind us now we descend quickly to Rhosemor and Northop where with darkness coming on we hurry on towards Hawarden to make it back by 16:30.
What a wonderful day: 43 miles done or 58 for those cycling from Chester.

BW