19th October 2023: Street Dinas (mod)

The news and weather forecasts had been full of warnings about Storm Babet which would bring heavy rain and high winds, so the eleven CER riders gathered at Maggies in Holt (Cleopatra’s still having not re-opened and looking not likely to do so in the foreseeable future) were all contemplating shortish rides to avoid the worst of the weather. Neil was to lead a ‘mod+’ foursome and Dave M was, as usual, going to do his own thing, so that left Dave H, George, Ever Ready Ray, Andy B, Mike G and Steve T for a ride down to The Greyhound at Street Dinas. Clive had phone Steve T earlier and had said that he might join us if his planned sailing trip was cancelled due to the forecast bad weather.

It was warm and dry as we set off west of the River Dee, heading for Bangor-on-Dee. As we got down the appropriately named Lower Lane, we found several opportunities to splash through mud and wash our bike wheels as the road was flooded in several places. However, we reached Bangor without incident and went on to Overton. From there, we headed towards St. Martins until we reached Shellbrook Hill, where we followed Pant Lane heading for Dudleston.

It turned out the Pant Lane was suitably named, as the local farmer had been cutting the hedges and Andy picked up a rear puncture, which led to a delay while the offending thorn was removed and a new inner tube mounted. Taking care to go slowly past a lone horse and rider, we missed the turn to Dudleston, but quickly found and alternative route which took us back to the B5069.

Soon after we got back on to the road to St. Martins, Clive appeared having cycled from Waverton to join us. So, seven of us arrived at The Greyhound where we were given a warm welcome and shown to the table I’d booked the day before. Drinks and food were ordered and arrived quickly. A discussion about alternative starting points to Chirk for the rides during the winter led to one or two ideas but no firm conclusion.

Soon after leaving the pub, we were hit by a heavy shower as we approached Dudleston Heath. Fortunately, it didn’t last very long and we soon dried out as we headed north eastwards towards Holly Bush. We entered Worthenbury by the back way and then passed through Shocklach, heading for Farndon and Holt. For once, the traditional sprint from Shocklach to the A534 junction didn’t materialise, but DH did put on a short 18 mph spurt as we approached the junction. Extra energy due to his full-sized scampi and chips at lunch time?

We arrived back in Holt in warm sunshine with no sign of high winds or heavy rain. It seems that Storm Babet had not yet reached the north west of England, so our fears of the morning had not been realised, apart from the brief shower mentioned earlier. An enjoyable 35 mile jaunt to one of our favoured lunch stops.

ST

See route map and/or gpx file download

Photo by Mike G

9th November 2017: Street Dinas, St Martins (mod)

A total of 15 Easy Riders crowded around the table at Cleopatra’s, the largest turnout for some time, though Macca and David M were not out for a club ride.  I had in mind a route to The Greyhound at Street Dinas, just outside St Martins, which seemed to find favour.  We were slow to get started and I wasn’t sure how many would be joining the moderate group, so I set off and waited across the bridge in Farndon to see who had followed me: Dave H, Keith, George, Bob and Ray, plus Dave & Liz P.  Good to see this pair out on the tandem again, and though they didn’t follow our route, we did meet up again at our pub stop.

A forecast of a dry day, was betrayed initially as we left Holt by rain. The route took us out through Threapwood and Penley, then around Dudleston Heath.  Too many rough, potholed and muddy lanes were traversed, but at least the rain had ceased. We arrived at The Greyhound luckily just before a large party of 15 placed their orders. The Greyhound is a favourite of ours, with good value food and drink: George was almost overwhelmed by a massive baked potato, and the ‘light bite’ fish and chips were a plateful.

The return took us direct to Overton and on via Holly Bush to Worthenbury and then a return by our outward route. As George, Bob and Keith made their way back to Holt, the rest of us enjoyed the comforts of Lewis’ in Fardon.  A good November outing with 39 miles covered and a fine dry afternoon with some blue skies.

SH

9th March 2017: Street Dinas / St Martins (mod)

A sunny spring-like day was forecast and although it was sunny there was a cool wind blowing early on. This prompted several of us to wear too many layers for the day’s ride. The sunny weather produced a good turnout and despite Jim and me arriving early, Cleopatra's was already busy when we entered. Dave H had planned a ride to Loppington but had phoned the pub only to find that it was closed for refurbishment until Easter. Maybe one for later in the year. I had one planned that would take us to the Greyhound Inn at Street Dinas near St. Martins, and thought it would be prudent to phone and check that it was open. It was and they would be able to accommodate us.

There were twelve moderate riders at the café. Mike G set off to do his own thing and the rest of us set off across the 14th century bridge over the Dee into Farndon. Dave P & Liz on the tandem decided they would find their own way to the Greyhound (but later we heard they turned round and headed home) and Bryan left us at Crewe-by-Farndon having ridden down to Cleopatra’s. This left eight of us. The regulars, Andy W, Dave H, George, Jim, Keith, Steve and myself were joined by Rob riding with us for the first time. As we carried on through Shochlach and Talwrn Green it soon became apparent that the cool wind was not going to be sufficient to stop us getting overheated and several times we stopped so that riders could shed a layer or two. We continued through Horseman’s Green & Penley and ignored several ‘road closed’ as we skirted past Ellesmere getting through the closed road with ease. Then we turned back up towards St Martins, arriving at the Greyhound Inn with 22 miles on the clock.

We were greeted with a warm welcome and with our drinks in hand we settled at our table to study the menus. When the landlady arrived to take our orders there were the inevitable questions. ‘What do you get with ham & eggs’? Eggs & ham of course.  Andy’s was the best though. ‘What’s the difference between large fish & chips and a small fish & chips’? Size obviously matters to Andy. (In case you are wondering the definitive answer is £3.50). The service was excellent and our food soon appeared – and soon disappeared. Before we knew it, it was time to get back on our bikes.

We intended to follow the main road into Overton but were warned that this road too was closed. However with several places that we could make a detour we set off anyway. Again we got through the closed section easily with the added benefit that the road closure meant that we got most of the way to Overton with the road to ourselves. We then carried on through Holly Bush and Worthenbury before re-joining our outbound route. As we retraced our route back through Shochlach, Jim and I fell behind but everyone knew the way back from there so didn’t need my lead any more. At Crewe-by-Farndon we turned left to take the short cut back to Farndon. As we crossed back over the bridge to Holt we expected to find the others already tucking in to cakes at Cleopatra's but there was no sign of them. Nor were they back in the car park. Surely they could not have got lost! No. They had found their way back to Farndon and were trying out the recently opened café there before completing what had been a very pleasant 39-mile round trip.

TC

1st December 2016: Street Dinas (mod)

According to my radio, this was the first day of meteological winter.  It certainly was wintry, just the same as the last few days had been, cold dry and often sunny. Dave H and I were sitting in Cleopatra’s in Holt, preparing to join a ride with the fast boys, when Dave P arrived with Liz, making a welcome return on the tandem.  After not much consideration Dave H & I chickened out of a longer ride and decided to join the tandem for an outing to The Greyhound at Street Dinas, just north of St Martins.

We travelled out southwards along the western side of the Dee, and sped into Bangor on Dee, bumping into John M on the bridge; he had dropped out from the brisk group still suffering for his recent bug.  Our attempts to persuade him to join us failed and we continued on through Overton. Dropping into the steep valley of Shell Brook, we took a minor road to avoid the steep hill, and climbed up more gently, through some ice, to pass the church in Dudleston, where Dave H & I remembered encountering a funeral earlier in the year. I wonder how much our memory of routes depends on who we were with and what happened.

The Greyhound was just around the corner, and we appreciated their large fire and friendly welcome.  Unfortunately the food wasn’t quite up to scratch in this usually excellent pub. Over lunch the conversation extended over many serious topics from youth training and employment to recent political events across the world.

On our return route we encountered the only difficulties of the day, a sticky mud which jammed itself under my mudguard, operating as a very effective brake. After two stops to clear this, I tried to ignore it, maybe helped by some of the mud shaking free as we passed over the corrugations of Rookery Lane south of Worthenbury – is this the worst surfaced lane in our area?

As we headed back, Dave and Liz suggested we stop for coffee at Lewis’s of Farndon. For those, like me who hadn’t visited before, this is the rather smart, new coffee shop you pass on the right as you head down towards the bridge.  It was a good choice, cosy and well-priced with some tasty looking cakes. As we sipped our drinks we reflected on an excellent winter’s ride: 33 miles of decent riding in good conditions.

SH

31st March 2016: St Martin’s (leis)

Despite a frosty start the forecast was for a dry, warm and sunny day with little or no wind: ideal conditions for cycling. It was no surprise then to find that Cleopatra's was heaving when I got there. I tried to count heads but with people milling about I failed. There must have been at least 18 members present. For various reasons several people wanted a fairly slow ride, or at least slower than the usual moderate rides. So for possibly the first time in CER history three rides were planned. It had been a while since I had completed a ride so I offered to lead a relaxed one that would take us to the Greyhound Inn at Street Dinas (St. Martins). The moderate riders were also heading to the same place but by a different route.

Five of us, Dave P & Liz on the tandem, Dave H, Keith and myself set off across the 14th century bridge over the Dee into Farndon then down through Shocklach, Tallarn Green, Horseman’s Green & Penley. We skirted past Ellesmere before turning back up towards St Martins, arriving at the Greyhound Inn with 22 miles on the clock.

We were greeted with a warm welcome at the Greyhound and were delighted with the 50p cost of a pint of lime & soda - the same as it had been on our previous visit to the Greyhound almost 5 years ago! The blog on that occasion had reported that the food had been disappointing. Not so on this occasion. The service was good too and we were already tucking in to a delicious meal when the moderate group arrived. Our conversation started with a discussion of the morning's route out before moving on to more important topics such as the forthcoming EU in/out vote. No doubt the latter topic will come up many times before referendum in June.

We left the moderates to finish their meal and set off on a more direct route back to Holt. We followed the main road into Overton and then on through Worthenbury just beyond which we joined our outbound route. We retraced our route back through Shocklach but turned off it at Crewe-by-Farndon to take the short cut back to Farndon. A short dash back over the bridge to Holt and we were soon sampling a selection of Cleopatra's cakes having enjoyed a very pleasant 39-mile ride.

TC

31st March 2016: St Martin’s (mod)

A total of 17 CER members assembled at Cleopatra’s on a glorious sunny Spring day and decided to ride off in three groups, which I think is a first for CER.  The medium Group decided to meet up for lunch with the slowees (?) more moderate (?) at Street Dinas (St Martins), past Ellesmere.
Martin led us away, followed by George, Mike, two Steves and myself. We bowled along at 13+ mph in a large clockwise direction south through Shocklach, Penley, Ellesmere and W Frankton before arriving at The Greyhound.  Here the more leisurely (?) group were just finishing lunch and gave us their recommendations.  60p for lime & soda went down well with some.  We considered the good beer and a tasty varied menu should put the Greyhound on Steve Ronay’s list.  St Martins, though rural today, was once at the edge of the Derbyshire coalfield until the last mine closed in 1968; all that remains of that industry is the Miner’s Institute.

Photographs by Brian MacDonald

After lunch, the shorter return was due north through Overton, Bangor on Dee and along the B5130 towards Holt, where Macca hit the wall (metaphorically) as he hadn’t been out for weeks.  Guinness cake + coffee revived him in Cleopatra’s, where the handsome CER members lined up for an advertising group photo for the business. A sunny 46 miles at a moderate 13mph, cafe to cafe.

BMacca

21st April 2011: St Martins (mod)

A sunny morning with a pleasant forecast was always going to guarantee a big turnout. Sure enough, by 10:05, ten of us were tucking in at the Bellis Garden Centre Café.
By 10:30, we had sixteen & decided to split into two groups.  The only decision was what to call us.  The “quickies and the dregs” were the politest terms.  Brian led out the dregs, assisted by the sub-committee of Mike with Jim who provided maps and we elected for The Greyhound at St Martins.  It was good to see Dave Heath back after his Op.  Nor was it a surprise that the dregs comprised the bigger group with tandem Dave & Liz, Dave, George in serious training for his E2E and Trevor on his new go-faster Scott.
We felt it fitting with our image that we should ride at a steady 12-13 mph, chatting and enjoying the scenery in classic CER style.  Shocklach, Worthenbury, Cloy and Overton were passed without incident, reaching the pub at 12:15.  The landlady remembered us from our previous visit – a cold, grey, damp winter’s day; in contrast, today we sat outside soaking up the sun.  Is this our summer?  In usual CER style, talk over lunch ranged from the merits of AV to Dave’s skills as a dog whisperer.  The beer was good; the food, not so.  Lime & soda was 50p; beat that.
The return leg through Penley and Threapwood was the usual post-prandial jaunt (guess who did Latin at school).  After Shocklach, the heat must have gotten to Dave & Liz, for having been tail-end-Charlie all day, they suddenly led us back at 16 -18mph.  There was no stopping them.  A warm 38 miles ended a classic EASY ride with tea and cake at Bellis again.
But what shall we call the two groups?
BMac

6th January 2011: Street Dinas & Overton Bridge

a. Street Dinas
A magnificent turnout at Bellis heralded the first ride in the New Year with12 bikes and 13 riders.  The suggestion of a route towards Chirk and a potential lunch stop at the excellent Greyhound at Street Dinas was approved and we set off via the back lanes towards the Wrexham Industrial Estate.  There is no pretty way to get to Cross Lanes so an amble past the WDA sponsored businesses (some now closed!) brought us to Cross Lanes lights.  Going straight across onto the B1530 we bisected the A528 and A525.  At the A528 junction we went straight across into the quiet and occasionally icy Welsh lanes.  Given the numbers riding, we stopped at the top of Bwgan ddu Lane to call the pub and after some hesitancy they welcomed us for lunch at around 13:00.  Turning right out of Bwgan ddu Lane – which roughly translated by Google means “The specter of black (sic)”, we went straight across the B road and through Crabtree Green to come to a halt at the A539 Overton to Ruabon road.  The leading pack of seven had taken a right turn just before the main road and unfortunately the trailing group was too far behind to see the turn and had gone straight on.  Mystified why the second group had not appeared, phone calls were made and Ivan offered to ride off to try to find the group.  After 15-20 minutes, the leading group decided that as the lunch venue as known (and it being only 8 miles away by main roads) we would ride on.  Down through Ruabon, we took the Newbridge road and after slogging up the long slope from the new bridge over the Dee, we headed for Chirk.  Taking the first lane on the left, we ended up near MacDonald’s just off the A5 at Halton.  After 16 miles, the pub was very close now, only 2 miles as the crow flies but double that for these very small winding Welsh Lanes, and for good luck adding in a 20% gradient lane with running water, field debris and ice, no wonder most of us walked up this steep section.  The Greyhound was welcoming and the food was promptly served.  After lunch, we took a meandering sedate ride back through the lanes to Overton and cut right via Hollybush Lane towards Worthenbury for the traditional route back via Shocklach.  Arriving back at Bellis for afternoon repast, we were reunited with the rest of the group.  We had clocked up 41 miles and as the dusk settled three of us took the Churton Road back to Chester.  The route from Bellis was 40 miles making it a 60 mile round trip from Chester.

CA

b. Overton Bridge
Deep in conversation as we progressed south from Crabtree Green the leading group had been out of sight for some time as the following group of six approached the A539.  Not realizing that the lead group had already turned off the lane some half a mile back we expected to see them at the main road: but there was no sight of them.  Which way had they gone: right on the main road or straight on?  Surely they would have waited if they had turned right?  So we headed straight on across the main road onto a lane I had not ridden before.  After a further mile and still no sight of the others I was wondering where this lane led.  Did Clive know of some short cut or was this a dead-end?  The SatMap indicated a dead-end so we stopped and consulted a passing horse rider.  “No it’s not a dead-end but it disintegrates into a potholed rough track which comes back onto this lane.”  So it’s a dead end then!
By now it’s 11:45am so it’s back to the main road and left to Ruabon to try and catch the others, or right to Overton Bridge and the attractions of the Cross Foxes.  By common consent the Cross Foxes had it and we rejoined the main roads and then the back lanes through Erbistock to Overton Bridge.  Once inside we chatted away happily until it was time to leave and then decided on the scenic but short route back rather than the longer Worthenbury/Shocklach alternative.  By 14:45pm we were back at Bellis ready for coffee and cakes having completed a 28 mile round trip or 50 miles in total from Chester and back.
Another great if interesting day with CER.
BW

12th August 2010: Street Dinas & Pontcysyllte Aqueduct

We were meeting today at Bellis’ Garden Centre with rain first thing and a mixed day forecast.  Turning to the map, some of the lanes to the east of Chirk looked quite interesting and worthy of exploration.  Combined with the added bonus of being able to try The Greyhound Inn at Street Dinas I was hooked.  The others soon arrived Clive, Ivan, Mike, Jim and Dave H although sadly Jim wouldn’t be joining us for the ride today.  Ivan had to get back early so my proposed ride of lunch at Street Dinas then the lanes round Chirk before heading north to cross the Pontcysyllte Aqueduct was ideal.  With luck we should be back in time for afternoon tea.
Setting off just after 11.00am we headed south through the lanes down to Bangor on Dee, over the bridge and on through Overton.  With very little traffic on the roads conversation flowed and we made good time on the familiar roads: even the rain held off with just a few spots now and then.
South of Overton we were back on the lanes, a descent to Shell Brook and then the lovely winding lanes requiring extra concentration to keep on the planned route, finally skirting Dudleston to join the main road 100 yards north of the pub at 12.30pm.  Although not the most attractive of places on the outside, the Freehouse sign was most encouraging.  Inside The Greyhound Inn provided everything a cyclist could ask for.  Good ale (Stonehouse Cambrian Gold) and if you are reading this Ray, lime and soda at 50p a pint!  A great choice of food, from which I chose the OAP’s plaice, chips and peas at less than £4.00.  Having had a discussion of prostate cancer on the ride down we quickly dispensed with the cholesterol issue and moved on to reminisce about bread and dripping and Camp Coffee!  No youngsters out today, you will note.  The excellent service (another plus here) meant we were back on the road by 1.30pm.

 Now the interesting bit: lots of unsigned narrow lanes until we reached the top of the descent down to Afon Ceiriog.  Not having done this before I led the way down somewhat cautiously; a narrow, windy, gravel strewn lane (two single chevrons on the map) with the occasional pothole, which seemed to go on and on.  Half way down Ivan flew past before reappearing in a field gateway having failed to make a very sharp right-hand turn.  From here it was plain sailing up to Halton before joining the A5 for a couple of miles to the canal towpath and cycleway.  Crossing the aqueduct was easy today with very few walkers about and we were able to take our time and take in the views while Ivan recorded the ride for posterity.
Photographs by Ivan Davenport

At this point Dave had a puncture and with a band of onlookers used a somewhat unusual technique to remove and replace the whole tyre and inner tube simultaneously.  Say no more: it worked and with two thorns removed we were back on the road to Ruabon.  Onto the lanes again, north to Farmworld, Sontley, Kings Mill (where Ivan skidded on loose gravel) and finally Erlas lane and the road back to Holt.
We arrived back at 4.00pm in plenty of time for afternoon tea having done a very enjoyable round trip of 42 miles from Holt and with 60 miles clocked by the time I arrived home in Chester.  Another great day with Chester Easy Riders.

BW