Cilcain and Moel Famau Walk Easter 2013

I had a busy Easter weekend visiting family in North Wales. It is lovely to see family (of course) but the highlight was this circular walk to the top of Moel Famau (see photo left).

The car park at Loggerheads Country Park was full so we started the walk at the village of Cilcain. The recent cold weather and heavy snow falls has caught out local farmers and I was startled to come across a field with at least 7 dead  sheep and new born lambs scattered amongst the landscape.

After a long slog we reached the summit of Moel Famau, the highest point of the Clwydian Hills, where the wind was as usual absolutely vicious. The views North, South, East and West were  fantastic. Downhill to Loggerheads was very steep and slippery but I managed to remain upright much to my surprise. The walk along the River Alan and the limescale cliffs from Loggerheads to Cilcain was spectacular.

I was born and brought up in Buckley, which is only a few miles away, and had spent many happy days when I was younger sledging in these hills when it snowed as well as hill walking with the cadets.

At the end of the walk we stopped off at the White Horse Pub in Cilcain and had a beer and said hello to Peter, the father of my fellow North Walian turned East Ender and blogger Ted

Lab12: North & WSPA Fringes

Still catching up from Labour Party Conference. The North Fringe on Monday evening reminded me of a proper traditional Labour Party event. Before Ed came to speak there was an auction and raffle. I didn't win anything, not even the GMB branded Whiskey!

It was also the only event I went to during conference that served bottles of Brown Ale. 

Harriet Harman firstly thanked the region for its massive support for the Labour Party. When Ed came he told us that this was his 10th fringe of the night.
He also said how much he enjoyed the Durham Miners Gala and would return next year. 21 years was too long (since last Labour leader attended). He pledged to build new houses and get young people into work when the next Labour Government is elected.

Next was the World Society for the Protection of Animals (WSPA) Fringe. They had the World's only Parliamentary band MP4 playing. I must admit that I thought they were very good and didn't realise that they were amaters. Hope they are members of the MU!  There was a number of MP's boogying on down including John Healey, Mike Gapes and Caroline Flint. There were others who declined the spotlight.

Top picture is of my fellow Gog (north walian) John Prescott with UNISON Local organiser Joel Bodmer and UNISON SGE member Mike Davy. Afterwards we went to the Midland Hotel bar to yet again put the world to rights.