23rd July 2015: Llanasa (mod)

John, Steve Tan, Dave Heath, Dave Matthews, Liz and Martin, and Mike turned up at The Gallery tea room.  We had time to catch up with Liz and Martin's latest cycle adventures, and chatted about le Tour. The amazing stage 14 win of the Wirral rider Steve Cummings was prominent in our discussion. Mike, Steve and myself agreed to head toward Llanasa or Gwaenysgor.  The rest of the group 'did a Dave Matthews', including Dave Matthews!  Mike's knowledge of the Welsh lanes made him the natural choice to lead, so I offered to write up the ride.  We were soon happily spinning moderately through Northop, and bracing ourselves for the brief but dangerous A55 link in order to climb up to Halkyn village.  Mike had a deviation somewhere around Berthengam and Axton, which he had done following Ivan.  It must be nice to have faith in Ivan's route finding.  To be fair, it was narrow, quiet and sheltered: just what we like!  We also ran into a lovely young lady and a lad who had taken a rescue dog out for a walk and got lost!  The chocolate young Labrador puppy with them was delightful, nearly knocking Steve off his bike in its enthusiasm.  

The Red Lion was under new management again, and the owner didn't seem keen on sweaty lycra being seated in the dining room, but we ignored this. The food and service were fine.  Mike was 'playing dad' on our return via Trelawnyd and Babell, thinking that we might get lost.  He eventually peeled off into the wind in order to return to his posh residence in Rhos-on- Sea.  Evidently, his good lady finds Rhos very different from Newcastle, as their neighbours often wear clothes and stay in on a Saturday night.  We diligently followed Mike's proposed route to Hawarden, although 'Rocket Robin Hood' Steve Tan did miss a turn, no doubt at a great rate of knots, whilst I was watering a hedge! We continued past Soughton Hall to Alltami.  We missed the main roads and busy Ewloe roundabout by skirting the northeast edge of Buckley and heading for the B5125 to Hawarden via Burntwood Pentre.  Forty something miles in good weather, with great views and convivial company.                 

DH

26th February 2015: Llanasa (leisurely)

It was 10:00 when I arrived at The Gallery Coffee Shop in the rain to find John busily repairing a puncture at the back of the café.  Next to arrive was Brian Mac still suffering from a virus and planning an easy day with the idea of a downhill ride to Chester.  Next up was Dave H with the news that although Jim had planned a ride to Llanasa other commitments meant he was unlikely to make it today.  Notwithstanding that, Llanasa sounded a good choice.  Dave confirmed that the Red Lion was under new management with good reports, and we could ride out without venturing over the tops and come back with the wind behind us.  By this time Clive and Ivan had appeared and decided to join us.  John meanwhile was still out the back struggling with his third inner tube of the day; after which he gave up muttering something about the tyre bead!

So with only four of us riding today we set off into the wind heading directly for Northop and the short section of the A55 by the Motel.  At this point Clive and Ivan decided they had had enough of my snail pace and decided to head off on their own with the intention that we would meet up for lunch.  Dave and I continued on past the Britannia Inn until the turn off to Pentre Halkyn, which Dave insisted, was better than going straight ahead on the flat.  Half way up Dave stopped and announced that he didn’t think this was the right way.  Too true, but having climbed so far we continued further upwards to the next turning (as it turned out our highest point of the morning) and then descended a narrow lane to where we should have been.  By now the rain had stopped and the weather was improving as we made our way steadily through Brynford, Pantasaph and Whitford to Lanasa.

The Red Lion didn’t look too busy but there were two familiar bikes outside and a warm welcome inside from Clive, Ivan and the relief manager who charmed us all.  Only one cask ale available but a wide choice of main meals plus free puddings on a Thursday.  No complaints on the food side then and we all chose bread and butter pudding to finish.  Dave and Liz please note.

For the return journey the plan was to head south through Trelawnyd, crossing the A55 and then onto the Babell road to return via Windmill and Northop.  Clive and Ivan agreed to stay with us until the A55 pointing out the best crossing (not clear on the map) and then doing their own thing.  With the wind behind us, as predicted, the return journey was much easier than the outward leg.  By 15:00 the sun was out and the views across the Dee and the Cheshire plain were stunning causing us to stop and take in the vista.  Before long we were over Windmill and dropping down through the winding lanes to Northop and back to Hawarden.

In all we had clocked 40 miles and 3,727 ft of ascent for a great day out albeit at a leisurely pace.

BW

8th January 2015: Llanasa (mod)

A good-sized group of 10 met at the café, including Bryan, out for a short ride after illness, and Trevor. The moderate group, consisting of Dave and Liz, Steve T, Dave H, George and myself, decided to head for Llanasa in view of the somewhat limited hours of daylight available to us. I had a plan that if we did our usual route but in reverse, the climb up past the quarries would be all downhill but as Dave pointed out we have to gain the height at some point.

We set off for Northop with the tandem and George in the lead and me speaking from the rear: now there’s a novelty!

The lane to Pentre Halkyn led us steeply up to the top road and then downwards towards Babell. A right turn northwards took us over the A55 on the rather muddy farm bridge and then towards Whitford. A sharp left then took us down to the Red Lion for Lunch. Some enjoyed a tasty lamb stew though others went for the gourmet option of fish finger ciabatta!

As usual we spent too much time in conversation and the time was approaching 2 o’clock when we departed for the return journey. The first half-mile was a rather unwelcome steep climb on top of a full belly but we were soon bowling along the lane towards Whitford again. The promised strong westerly afternoon winds only occurred in gusts and were little help as we climbed steadily up to Gorsedd, past the old priory and east to Brynford. In Pentre Halkyn we turned south up to Windmill and the peak of our day’s climbing. Avoiding the narrow muddy lane by the fishing pond in Halkyn Mountain, we passed through Rhosesmoor and then turned left onto the Northop lane. 

This being winter the farmer had been doing some hedge cutting and sure enough, hardly had we reached the lane to Soughton before I felt my valve bumping along the road surface. Luckily Dave P had his ‘master blaster’ pump with him and with a few strokes my tyre was rock hard again. This Lasted until we got to Alltami at which point we decided to take the B road back to Ewloe and Hawarden High Street arriving back at the car park just after 4 pm.

42 stiff, hilly miles, but reasonable dry weather. A good ride for a January day.

JD

2nd August 2012: Llanasa

The team assembled at Spiros in Hawarden at 10:00 am like the cast from the Usual Suspects:

Martin & Liz, Mike M, Ray, Tony, Clive, George, Dave H and Jim.

There was a general atmosphere of disinterest for a long ride so I proposed a shortish trot to Llanasa for lunch and back (about 40 miles) leaving us back in time to catch the cycling at the Pleasuredrome.  All were in favour so we set off at a steady pace for Northop, Halkyn, Whitford and Llanasa.

Service was a bit slow but we didn't mind as it was heaving it down outside and I'd left my helmet on my handlebars!  Dim move, but we all make mistakes! The route back was up that interminable hill towards Trelawnyd, over the A55 and up towards Babell and Windmill. The group split at that point with those eager to see Victoria Pendleton in her lycra leading the way with myself, Dave, George and Mike following at a more sedate pace.  A slight detour from Halkyn Hill allowed us to miss the little narrow lane, at present full of mud so George assured us, and back to Northop, then Hawarden.

40 miles, with 60 for those from Chester, and we still got home for 4 pm.

JD

19th January 2012: LLanasa (brisk)

When we reached Northop the group divided into two with Clive, Dave P, Ray and Martin going on ahead.  We followed the usual route up onto the Halkyns past the Britannia.  At Brynford Ray turned back as he had to visit his father in hospital.  The remainder continued along NCN Route 5 into a stiff westerly wind that made for hard going.  At a fairly early hour we arrived at Llanasa where an open fire in the Red Lion was a welcome sight.  The usual 2 for 1 offer was on offer and the food perfectly acceptable.  A little later the “slower” group joined us.  The route back took us along to Dyserth and then the scenic road around the side of the hill to Rhuallt.  At last we had the wind behind us, but this did not make the long climb up Rhuallt hill seem any easier.  Onto the tops and a straightforward ride back to Hawarden with a brief stop at Windmill to take in the view across the Dee Estuary.  43 miles and 1100 metres of climbing, arriving back at Hawarden by 2:45pm.

MD

19th January 2012: Llanasa (mod)

The four easier Easy Riders (Brian, Dave H, Jim) led by local Boy George went out the usual way towards Prestatyn through Northop.  The fast 100-metre sprint along the A55 to Halkyn village passed without incident.  Then on to Brynford, through Whitford to the Red Lion pub at Llanasa where the three speed merchants (Clive, Ivan and Dave P) were well in to their 2 for £10 meal.

After lunch we skirted Axton, crossed the A55 again & returned via Halkyn Mountain with a threatening downpour fast approaching.  At Northop, George turned off for home, just before the rain arrived.  At Ewloe, Dave H picked up a puncture and with the rain very imminent, Brian left Jim & Dave fixing it.  A hilly 38 miles. 

BMac

19th May 2011: Llanasa

A fine day in prospect and so it was with plenty of sunshine to illuminate the Clwydian range of hills.  At the Gallery café, Jim suggested the Red Lion in Llanasa, so a route was quickly plotted and off went the nine of us (Dave and Liz, George, Dave M, Jim, Dave H, Alan J, Norman and I).  Plotting the usual route to Northop via the back lanes of Ewloe Green, we took it steady up to Halkyn and Pentre Halkyn and across the Brynford golf course.
Fine views of the Dee estuary and the Clwydians were in prospect.  Crossing the A55 at Calcoed we idled through Gorsedd before dipping down through Whitford.  The small lane on the left took us on NCN 5 around the base of the hill with the site on top of the supposed Roman watchtower or lighthouse now replaced by a folly-type tower.  From the top of the tower you can get panoramic views across the water to Liverpool.  At the bottom of this lane behind the hedge hides the “Maen Achwyfaen” Celtic cross that is supposed to be around 1000 years old.  After a brief stop to view this scheduled ancient monument, we “ancient relics” got back on our bikes bound for Llanasa.
What a pretty village this is; and the Red Lion has an elevated position in the village centre. Food and drinks were quickly ordered and we sat outside in the sunshine, and after a decent wait the decent food arrived.  As only 19 miles was under our belt, a longer return journey was soon plotted over the hill towards Trelawnyd.  After a short diversion in the village centre, we were soon down the lanes towards the A55 bridge crossing.  Dave M recognised the lanes as part of the Clwydian Audax route.  So the map reading was back on track.
I wanted to take the pretty lanes at the top of the hill above Tremeirchion since this gives three miles of delightful “flat” countryside to cycle through before turning right on to the road to Babel.  This road dips and rises over 400ft for 5 miles before you arrive at Pentre Halkyn Windmill at 900ft. Dave M suggested that we take the usual run down the back lanes towards Northop but bear right towards Alltami and Buckley and then into Hawarden.  The “Two Daves” set off down the lanes at a pace but were nowhere to be seen at the right turn lane towards Alltami.  George peels off to Northop and the rest of us make our way back via the Buckley suburbia.  Only Jim and I are bike-bound to Chester as the rest reflect on 44 miles of peaceful lanes and pretty Welsh villages.  Norman did extremely well on his first outing so we may see him again!

CA

14th May 2009: Gwaenysgor

Over elevenses at the Gallery Tea Shop in Hawarden we discussed the venue for the day. With a miserable, damp, grey, misty day in prospect where else could we go but the seaside? Well almost: Graham suggested Llanasa with lunch at the Eagle & Child at Gwaenysgor returning over the Halkyns. Mike asked doesn’t any place with a double L in it means big hills? Since there were no other suggestions Gwaenysgor was agreed unanimously and Graham led us off through Ewloe and Northop until, by utilising the edge of a short section of the A55, we emerged by the Britannia Inn at Halkyn. This section was new to me: a route to the coast that didn’t involve the busy coast road or a climb over the Halkyns or Clwydians!
Graham had more treats in store however, and after leaving Whitford we continued along delightful lanes through Tre-Mostyn and Trelogan to Llanasa before the smell of the sea reminded us that we were near the coast. Then to add the final touch to a wonderful morning the smell of wild garlic in abundance greeted us as we approached Gwaenysgor for our lunch stop. The Eagle & Child proved to be more than up to the task of feeding six hungry cyclists: an excellent choice spoilt only by the price of lime and soda which was so far over Ray’s spec that a complaint was lodged with each of the available staff willing to listen. Once lunch was over I gently broached the subject of Brian Lowe’s latest attempt to remove all references to the Chester Easy Riders blog from the C&NWCTC website but with the matter in the hands of the Committee we quickly moved on to corruption in high places and MP’s expenses claims.


Photograph by Bryan Wade

Before starting our return journey proper Graham led us up to the viewpoint overlooking
Prestatyn where, although mist obscured what would otherwise have been a fine view, we nevertheless had a good photo opportunity. Unfortunately time dictated the need to start our return and after retracing the route to Gwaenysgor we were on new lanes through Axton to Babett and then on to Pentre Halkyn, Soughton, Buckley and back to Hawarden where the group split up to make its own way home. For me it was a quick descent to the Ferry Lane bridge returning to Chester at 6.10pm just in time to shower and change before joining the Thameswey Tandem Club Chester rally.
An excellent 60 mile ride on beautiful lanes which just has to be repeated when the weather gets better. Many thanks Graham.
BW