6th March 2025: Bangor-on-Dee

The sun was shining, hardly a cloud in the sky, and with a forecast of temperatures in the mid-teens it was hardly surprising to find Meadow Lea teeming with cyclists. Mostly CER members but supplemented by a group from the local CTC. It was particularly good to see Ivan, back home safely after his recent Spanish 'adventure'.

I'd heard that Dave H wouldn't be there this week. As it happened he did turn up but clearly not dressed for cycling. As expected the others turned to me. Had I got a ride? Fortunately, I had come prepared with a ride to Bangor-on-Dee. The Royal Oak is right next to the old bridge and river and a lovely spot on a sunny day. The wind was also a factor with a strong southerly wind in our faces on the way down but behind us for the return.

Six riders (Andy B, George, Mike D, Jim, Ray and myself) set off towards Guilden Sutton and turned right into School Lane.  We crossed the A41 and over into Hoole Lane heading for Dee Lane and the river. We crossed the river by the 14^th century Old Dee Bridge, passed through Eccleston before turning left onto the Rossett road. This can be quite a busy and fast road so I avoided some of it by turning down the Straight Mile, rejoining it in Pulford. We turned left just before reaching Rossett then took the country lanes to take us up to Hoseley Lane.

At Borras Head we went straight on and down to the new roundabout near Wrexham Industrial Estate. We crossed this and found our way onto the little lane that skirts round the edge of the estate. At the far side we got onto another new and busy road but quickly found the old road which would take us up to the traffic lights at Cross Lanes.

Lunch was beckoning and from the lights it’s not far down the A525 to the Royal Oak at Bangor-on-Dee. Despite the pub being virtually empty service was quite slow but when it came, the food was good. After lunch I thought we should have a group photo (we hadn't had one for some time) and what better backdrop than the old Dee bridge. However, we crossed the road to find the banks of the river piled high with debris, presumably washed down after the winter storms. It spoiled the view of the bridge somewhat but I managed to hide most of it behind the wall.

I had been right about the wind. We had battled all the way down into a head wind. Now as we left Bangor-on- Dee we could feel the wind coming in from the side. After passing through Worthenbury we turned north and now the wind was behind us. Our pace increased and we were soon passing through Shocklach to reach Farndon. Andy B left us here and the rest carried on towards Aldford. We passed through Saighton and Waverton before crossing the A51 to return to Meadow Lea, having completed 42 miles.

TC 

See route map and/or gpx file download

26th October 2023: Bangor on Dee (mod)

Last time I led a ride from Meadow Lea no less than 18 members turned up. Today there was the same number there and the place was buzzing. I had thought of leading a ride and had started to plan one before leaving but the outward route was coming out in excess of 26 miles. Thinking that would be a bit much, I abandoned the idea and hoped that someone else would have a route. They didn't. I could see Dave studying his map but eventually he gave up and came over to ask me if I had any ideas. It occurred to me that there were possibilities for shortening the route so I volunteered and as a result here I am writing up the report. To be fair Dave did say that he would help to write it up but after his eventful day (you'll have to read on now) I said I would do it all.

Eight riders (Andy B, Andy W, Dave H, David M, George, Jim, Ray and myself) set off towards Guilden Sutton although we knew that Andy W would be leaving us early. In the village we turned right and as we cycled along School Lane Ken passed us on his way home and soon disappeared in the distance. We carried on across the A41 and over into Hoole Lane crossing over the railway and then the canal before reaching the traffic lights at Boughton. As the lights turned green Ken turned up from the left. He had obviously taken the 'scenic route' but he joined us for a short time as we turned down Dee Lane and headed for the river.

As we cycled along the river it was noticeably swollen following the previous week's Storm Babet although the path at the edge was now visible. It hadn't been when I passed there on Tuesday. We crossed the river by the Old Dee Bridge, built in the 14th century to replace the old Roman bridge and still carrying traffic today. We turned left to pass the college at which point Ken cycled off into the distance and Andy W left us too. Seven of us continued at a more leisurely pace passing through Eccleston and turning left onto the Rossett road. This can be quite a busy and fast road so I avoided some of it by turning down the Straight Mile, rejoining it in Pulford. I had intended to turn right when we reached Lavister but a local dog walker told is that the road was flooded. After a bit of quick thinking we took the next left instead. George thought it might be closed but it turned out not to be. We turned right onto the country lanes to take us up to Hoseley Lane, having avoided the long drag up Gresford Hill.

We were now back on my original route and at Borras Head we went straight on and down to the new roundabout near Wrexham Industrial Estate. We crossed this and found our way onto the little lane that skirts round the edge of the estate. At the far side we got onto another new and busy road but quickly found the old road which would take us up to the traffic lights at Cross Lanes.

Lunch was beckoning and from the lights its not far down the A525 to the Royal Oak at Bangor-on-Dee but as we arrived there were only five of us. Jim and Dave were missing. Apparently they had got stuck when the lights changed to red but they knew where we were going and they knew the way. We quickly got sat down, ordered our drinks and got chatting and it wasn't until our drinks arrived that we realised that Jim and Dave still hadn't turned up. Bangor-on-Dee isn't the best place to get a phone signal and it took some time before Andy managed to get hold of Dave. Just as he did so Jim arrived on his own and the story came out. As Dave had braked whilst coming down the hill he had suffered rim failure. His bike wasn't going anywhere and as a consequence neither was Dave. So we had to leave Dave to try to find some way of getting back to Chester while we got on with our lunch. While we ate Andy explained the mechanism of rim failure (something most of us weren't aware of) and before we finished we got the news that Dave had befriended a builder working at a nearby house who had offered to take him and his bike back to Meadow Lea. He just had to wait a few hours until the job was finished!

Photo by Andy B

So just six of us now setting off for the ride back. This was along familiar lanes through Worthenbury and Shocklach to Farndon. We lost David here. As I turned towards Farndon he preferred to carry on up the B road, a stretch of road that I don't like. From Farndon it was up to Aldford and then Bruera. As we approached the hill up to Saighton I heard a van come up behind us. I waved it past but instead of passing it pulled alongside me I heard a familiar voice urging me to pedal harder. It was Dave with his new-found builder friend. It didn't seem right that he would now be getting back before us but it was good to know that he was OK.

It was a short run from Saighton to Waverton and just a few miles more to cross the A51 and head back to Meadow Lea. An eventful ride but everyone home in one piece having done 42 miles, either by bike or bike/van.

See route map and/or gpx file download

TC

8th December 2022: Bangor on Dee (mod)

Despite Alan going to the trouble of preparing a route, and Steve Hughes checking it out on his bike, neither were going to be at The Gallery Tea Rooms. Alan has Covid, and for some unfathomable reason, Megan Hughes preferred having Steve in one piece rather than enjoying his insurance payout. The ice and cold forecast was indeed concerning, but we had a very good turnout on the day. The group consisted of Ray, Steve Haywood, Mold Andy, Mike Gilbert, Clive, Ken and myself. With the Lone Ranger and Tonto of the back alleys of Queensferry and beyond unavailable, we decided on a simple route to Bangor on Dee.  This decision was made easier, by the fact that Ken had arrived on his bike from Rossett without ice issues, so we could retrace his route towards Holt with some confidence. We left with more than a passing thought for Spiros, and a word or two with Alison, who I know appreciates our support.

We would never have attempted Bilberry Wood in these conditions without Ken's assurances. As it was, only the central metal drain grid on the walkway over the A55 gave any particular cause for concern. It was good to see relative newcomer, Ray, turning out so regularly in winter conditions. It was also pleasant to share a rare unified ride with Clive and Ken onboard.  It was cold, but nice and bright as we proceeded via Higher Kinnerton, Dodleston,and Lavister, before reaching Holt. Clive peeled off at this point. I'm not sure if he was getting cold at our gentle pace, or perhaps he fancied a coffee and chat with Helen at Cleopatra's!

We proceeded around the outskirts of Wrexham Industrial Estate on the B5130 before a left down Talwryn Road, and passing the familiar Maelor Creamery. There was the usual short stretch on the main road before heading for the old bridge over the river to the High Street at Bangor on Dee. I was wary of the shiny looking stone setts on the bridge, but we all arrived safely at the back of The Royal Oak. Last time we passed here we were not sure if it was open, or serving food, so we carried on to Overton. Today the cold and short daylight meant that alternative was not on the agenda. I think Ken broke in through the back door like a gunslinger in a western, because the doors were open, without being unlocked, and Ken had disappeared inside to track down the guy with a black Stetson.

We settled down on a couple of tables, Andy cannily grabbing a seat next to the radiator. Food and drink soon appeared as we talked about the difficulty pubs are currently facing and how we were lucky to find one open on a midweek lunchtime.  Before long we had to take our leave and pose for our group picture – a passing cyclist was kind enough to take the photo for us, and then we were on our way.

Photo by Mike G

Ken used his local knowledge to guide us back through the western edges of Wrexham Industrial Estate to emerge near the bottom of Marford Hill and on to Rossett.  We left Ken as we passed by his house and rejoined our outward route at Higher Kinnerton. Crossing Mold Road was challenging due to really blinding December sunshine, but we climbed back up to Bilberry Wood, said goodbye to Andy, and descended back to the car park in Hawarden.

Our expectations at the start of the day were poor, but we ended up with an excellent ride in sunny cold conditions, a good lunch stop, and 36 miles covered. This write up is a joint effort by Dave and Steve Ha – you may guess who wrote which bit!

See route map and/or gpx file download

DH/SHa

18th July 2019: Kinnerton (leisure)

‘Unusual incident on cycle ride’

No it wasn’t Dave setting off without forgetting something, but more of that later!  The three of us, Dave H, Trevor and myself for various reasons were only up for a short ride on Thursday and decided to take the back lanes round Lower Mountain and Golley down to Rossett and then back to Chester, which would be about 30 miles from Guilden Sutton.

All appeared to be going well as we started dropping down past Shordley when we came across a chap in the middle of the road waving us down. He was carrying a petrol powered blower, and proceeded to ask us to carry our bikes as he hadn’t finished blowing the thorns off the road from the cutter up ahead. Naturally we were pleasantly surprised, even astonished at such consideration for ourselves, especially as we had had a couple of occasions to remonstrate with fellow road users earlier. A considerate farmer - now that is unusual. It was about this time that Dave realised that he had left his drink bottle in the café, which was now a considerable distance away, uphill. Fortunately drinks bottles are cheap so we agreed to continue downwards.

We took the old main road back towards town then swung back towards Kinnerton for lunch. Arriving at the pub, Dave realised that his car keys were also with the bottle, which we confirmed with a quick phone call. Plan B was put into action and after lunch, which was decidedly un-appealing, we set off up Kinnerton Old Road and back to Hawarden. Arriving back at the café we had reached our planned 30 miles, but at least the return was mainly downhill. With a pleasant tail wind we soon returned to Guilden Sutton having done 42 miles - we could have gone with the moderates but it wouldn’t have been as much fun!

JD

4th May 2017: Higher Kinnerton (mod)

A day of forecast sunshine had brought out a crowd of new and prospective members to the Meadow Lea café. There were the non-riders: Dave & Liz P; the “doing their own thing”: John W and Bryan; the riders: George, Macca, Clive, Keith, Dave H, Andy W, Tom, Paul, Jim, Trevor, David M and myself; and the prospective members: Anne, out for a short taster and Linda, wishing to try a ride. Unusually, I was the only one with a planned ride and so a large group of 14 set off from the café heading for Higher Kinnerton.

We cycled through Waverton and Tattenhall to Churton, by when 4 of the group had turned off on their own planned shorter routes.  A little later Tom and Paul took off wanting to stretch their legs further.  So a more manageable group of 8 passed through Farndon, Pulford and Doddleston to arrive at the Royal Oak after 24 miles.  We had tried calling the pub to book a table, but no-one answered, so it was with some relief we discovered that it was open, it was serving food, and it could accommodate 8 cyclists.

Photos by Macca

We were efficiently seated in their dining room, and served reasonably priced light bites at around £7-£8 a head. I believe this is a new venue for CER, being too close to our starting points to have been used before, but it proved a good choice. As usual the conversations ranged far and wide, but then dwelt on a new topic for us – pharmacology – including the benefits of an emergency aspirin.

Leaving the pub, we headed towards Hope before striking north on good lanes to then turn towards Buckley just before the A55.  We made a right at the Parrot Pub, through Ewloe on an exceptionally rough surface besides St David’s Park, on to Northop Hall and then down the steep and long roads into Connah’s Quay. Here we said goodbye to George and then crossed the Dee by Hawarden Bridge, and returned by the Greenway, gradually losing riders as they took their own routes home.

Most of us sped by someone standing on a ladder, but Macca had the curiosity to talk to them. He reports: On the Greenway near Saughall one of the Sustrans Millenium mile posts was being carefully painted to highlight the various features on the story displayed.  Macca stopped to speak to the painter, to find that Ann from Stafford is a Sustrans volunteer who is painting these mileposts in N Wales and the NW.  Each post takes her 3 days and she started 9 posts ago near Bangor – there are 1000 in the UK, so she will be at it for some time. Most posts are still the original boring matt black.  By painting them various colours, the stories which are depicted on each post by one of 4 original artists can be revealed.

After 50 miles of riding only Linda, Dave H, Keith and myself arrived back at Meadow Lea café at about 3.45pm.  I was hoping for coffee and cake, but was told that the machines were off and they were clearing up.  It was disappointing to find that a café which should be open till 4pm stops serving well before.  Anyway, this doesn’t detract from a good ride, and new pub and lots of sunshine.

SH

4th December 2008: Mold

“Are you mad” interjected my wife as I checked my bike over on Wednesday evening “the forecast is for blizzards and heavy snow tonight and tomorrow.” Well it wasn’t the first weather forecast to be spectacularly wrong but I soon discovered it was right about the strong winds as I battled my way to the Gallery Coffee Shop in Hawarden. Then given the poor conditions outside it took some effort to forsake the warmth of the café and head up to Northop Hall and Northop. The lanes round here proved to be quite treacherous, not due to snow, but to a thick layer of leaf mush and mud. From Soughton we headed south intending to make for Gwernaffield-y-Waun and the hills south west of Mold but as we got closer the sky dimmed and the black clouds obscured the hill tops. Discretion suggested a retreat to Mold followed by a fast ride to Penyffordd with the wind behind us. Keeping just ahead of the rain we made it to the Royal Oak at Higher Kinnerton for lunch and then back to Chester. This was not the ride we had planned but given the conditions it gave a pleasant feeling of satisfaction.
Distance from Chester and back 32 miles.
BW