Me and Julie were supposed to meet Julian and Deb in a lay-by near Tyn-y-Ffridd to walk a circuit in the Berwyn's taking in 10 Nuttall's at 9 a.m. We set off at 8 o'clock on a quite mild morning (plus 3 degree's),the first time the temperature has been above freezing at night for a week.The A483 and the A5 were fine,no sign of any ice or snow but as soon as we got on the B4500 and headed up the Ceiriog Valley we noticed the deterioration in condition's,there were some nasty patches of ice and i had to slow down considerably.There was a little bit of grit lying on the road but i think that was from a few night's ago.We got to Llanarmon Dyffryn Ceiriog at 8.40 and headed up the lane beside the Hand Hotel and immediately hit sheet ice,slowing down and in second gear we carried on but as soon as we got to Grid Ref 158 318 the road steepened on the bend and i ground to a halt (0.25 miles from our rendezvous),i made a few attempt's but with wheel's spinning i stated to slide into the ditch so i rolled back down to a flat section.Looking at my map there was another lane near the hotel that lead's to Oswestry so we tried that one.Passing the hotel and then the church the road rose steeply and i decided against it with it too being very icy.Returning to the village i tried phoning Julian,no signal,Julie tried on her 2 phones and still no signal.I drove back along the B4500 and we got a signal in Glyn Ceiriog so i pulled over and phoned Julian.It went to voice mail so left a message and i texted him to say we wouldn't be making it as it was now after 9 o'clock and it would take us 1 hour to get there via Oswestry.I decided to do a walk around Llangollen so set off along the A5 when my phone rang,i pulled over and it was Julian.He told me he had made the car park on equally treacherous road's and realised we weren't going to make it so he was heading back too,so i arranged to meet him in Chirk and to take them on our favourite Froncysyllte walk.Parking near the aqueduct it was 10.20 a.m. by the time we set off.We crossed the canal and headed out of Trevor across field's which were very hard under foot with all the recent frost's we had had.We crossed the A539 and entered the wood near Trevor Hall on the Offa's Dyke foot path.
Leaving the tree's we were now out onto the rock's looking down on the Vale of Llangollen.
We walked down the "Panorama" and paid a visit to the disused limestone quarry,i abseiled here year's ago.
Returning to the road we next paid a visit to Castell Dinas Bran.
We walked down past the school to picked the canal up for our return leg.
We left the canal near Plas-yn-pentre and walked past some lovely looking properties.The Old Mill.
Another old mill on the Dee.
Crossing the river on the old stone bridge we walked up to the canal and across the aqueduct.
Me,Julian and Deb messing around.
Today we walked 10.5 miles with 2,100 feet of ascent.We were so glad we eventually met up with our very good friend's and were able to walk together,even though it wasn't the walk we had planned.
MILEAGE 68.5
ASCENT 14,650
TOPS 20.
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