Hope Mountain deluxe

 Another vague idea I had stored away for years but never bothered to do. Lockdown offered an opportunity, so at the crack of dawn I took the mountain bike to Hope and then executed the plan: a quadruple ascent, with different ascent/descent routes throughout. The first course was around the shoulder to Tir y fron, the northern ascent, which then takes a very steep lane to the bridleway north of Waun y Llyn: a tough start. Down towards Coed Talon, then I cut left to gain climb number two: up to Horeb from the Llanfynydd road: just as steep as the TyF climb. From the Waun y Llyn trig, straight down the Mountain Road and back to the starting point! Climb number three takes Porch Lane from Caergwrle, arguably the toughest of them all. Some snow and ice on this made life tricky, but I emerged unscathed on the bottom road. This was even icier, but the conditions were a help for the connecting path over the fields which leads to the 'top road'. I went straight across, below the crags, on the paths to descend the tunnel of pain to Llanfynydd. Through the village, then up climb number four to Pen Rhiw. This completed the set, and the full tour, particularly as I then descended via Bryn Yorkin back to Caergwrle and then the Mold road to my bike.

Borders 50

My lockdown philosophy has evolved slightly to create memories which positively embrace the extremely limited confines: to see the restrictions as an opportunity to do things you would never usually do, and to explore the immediate region in immense detail. This can work well - witness last year's virtual marathon and a number of other initiatives. I had a day off today, so decided to make it memorable with a pre-planned solo ultra, in effect a double road marathon from the front door taking in a giant 50 mile/81km loop of my border region. I carried nothing but a bank card, a boiled sweet and half a sandwich, depending on the only two village shops I was likely to pass for sustenance. It was cold and frosty as I set off at first light, plodding at a gentle pace through Bretton and Saltney to Chester, along the Dee Banks through Boughton and out on the misty, frozen lanes towards Saighton. These were all quiet and pleasant, a special atmosphere in the dank mist. I was comfortable and enjoying myself, although sadly the lanes were flooded at Bruera, and wet feet make you considerably less comfortable. I then headed inexorably east to the Tattenhall road, weaving north past the ice cream factory and heading to Beeston. I had hoped the castle would be a useful marker/target, but in the mist I couldn't see it - even when I was on the road below it. From here, I headed south along the road that traverses the eastern side of the Peckforton hills. Then came the route's only flaw - a short section along the Nantwich-Wrexham road. Not much fun, but it was short-lived and I soon notched up marathon distance in a plodding 3.40 or so. It was all going well, but it became imperative that the shop in Tilston was open - I was totally dependent on it, carrying no water and just a bank card and mask! It was open, so I headed in for food and drink which I ate on the road out to Shocklach. I carried on at a reasonable, but slow pace until notching up the 50k (very likely a genuine PB at 4.37). The pace dropped a little for the long, twisting lanes back into Wales at Worthenbury, possibly new territory for me, thereby achieving a lockdown aim of finding new places close to home. The lowpoint of the day came next, with a long haul to Bangor, which was a bit of a struggle. But there was a shop in Bangor, and after a cheese and onion sarnie I perked up across the wonderful old Dee bridge and steep climb to Cross Lanes. An unpleasant and lengthy haul through the Wrexham industrial estate, and finally I gained 'home ground' on the Borras road to Marford, with the usual lovely views over the Cheshire plain to the Peckforton Hills - very satisfying to look across and see my route through that countryside. Down to Rossett, then along Stringers Lane for an extra victory lap round HK to notch up 50 miles/80k in 8:13, a good working day. I dubbed it the Borders Ultra: a neo-classic!

Clwydian run and ride

A period of stunning weather, and a new lockdown without end. All very frustrating, but with no chance of getting to Snowdonia the Clwydians was the best option today - high pressure after heavy snowfall, rare enough to warrant a special effort. So I cycled to Mold from the front door, all within the rules, and left the bike at the Buckley roundabout. From here, a weaving route gains the steep road up to the Owain Glyndwr, the quickest way into the hills from Mold. The conditions were enchanting, and got better with the height gained - snow draped trees, several inches blanketing the roads. The sky was deep blue, totally cloudless, with no wind as I ploughed up Moel Findeg. Some of the best Clwydian views I've ever had, so I continued through Maeshafn down to Llanferres and up Moel Famau from the bottom car park. With road access banned due to the lockdown, and conditions acting as a further deterrent, I had the route up Moel Famau to myself in the most stunning conditions - very thick snow, all trees draped, deep drifts higher up, and nobody at all at the summit. Another lockdown memory that will stay with me: a unique, magical set of circumstances, with the low sun dropping slowly over a crystal white Berwyn. I have been up Moel Famau at least a thousand times but can not recall a better view. My descent took me down to Pantymwyn, then down the legendary (and very icy) weary willy into Mold town centre. The snow disappeared as I dropped lower and lower on my bike ride home. 

Hope Mountain semi-whiteout

Snow falling, and light fading, but it was all too mild in HK. So I headed out for an impromptu run to Hope to check on conditions. They looked superb, with thick snow blanketing the mountain and heavy snow falling. The mist was lowering, the atmosphere superb, so I decided to head straight up through very obscure, very steep paths through the woods (finding some short-lived icy scrambling, a little-known possibility on certain, secret parts of Hope Mountain) emerging at the archery centre and then ploughing across a field that was unknown to me. In thick mist and heavy snow it was almost like being in the Cairngorms for a while! I emerged at the middle road, then took the connecting path to the top road and even deeper snow. It was falling heavily again, and continued for most of the descent until the familiar sleet resumed as I dropped down to HK with little light left.