28th January 2010: No Mans Heath

With a dry day initially in prospect, although accompanied by a stiff NW cold wind, Brian, Dave, Dave and Liz (on their tandem), and myself set out from Holt down the Shocklach Road towards Threapwood.  The sun started shining for once!  A quick left and right on the Malpas to Bangor road took us through Threapwood, Sarn and Tallarn Green.  The plan was to head NE toward High Wych and make for the Wheatsheaf at No Man’s Heath.  This was the lunch stop a week earlier and once the group knew that a bangers and mash lunch was in prospect, there was no stopping them.  After a minor diversion to Lane End Farm: to see the farmyard and pond (I am sure there was not a  “No Through Road” sign!) we took in a short stretch of the Whitchurch/Wrexham A525 before swinging left along lanes to High Wych.  The name should have been a giveaway and the climb out and up onto the Whitchurch Malpas B road kept us warm.  Ignoring the Road Closed signs we went in and out of Malpas to No Mans Heath, via a series of further hills and valleys, until the Wheatsheaf came into view, just as the weather threatened rain.  After a full house of bangers and mash and with slight rain in the air, the return journey was back towards Malpas as far as Ebnal Lane then to Tilston.  Brian and Dave peeled off down Wetreins Lane back to their cars at Farndon whilst Dave and Liz and myself headed for Chester via Barton, Coddington and Churton.  A 26 mile loop from Farndon plus the 28 mile Farndon to Mollington loop made a worthwhile 56 miles and no rain!
CA