The early bird catches the worm, and the even earlier bird catches the sunrise!

My alarm came bursting into life enthusiastically at 4:15, forcing me to drag myself out of bed with a somewhat unmatched vigour, but a gradual feeling of optimism for the morning ahead. I creeped into the bathroom to get dressed, so as not to wake my already stirring partner, then tip-toed downstairs to make a large and very strong flask of coffee!

As part of the Heather and Hillforts Challenge Week, I agreed to lead an early morning walk to the top of Moel Famau to watch the sunrise. The beginning of the week had seen a lot of cloud cover and some rain, so it was a little dubious as to whether or not we would get to see the sunrise at all! However, as I drove towards Moel Famau I could see stars through the clear patches of sky, and my optimism grew.

We all met at Moel Famau top car park at 5:30am, slightly bleary eyed, but raring to go – 14 walkers and 2 staff in all. As we began our ascent along the Offa’s Dyke Path, we could see the sleepy vale of Clwyd stretched out along the West side of the Clwydian Range, the bright lights of Ruthin and Denbigh imposing into the night sky.
The morning was surprisingly warm, and the darkness was already fading, so the pace was set at a march. I was with the front (trying to keep up!) and Rhun Jones, Senior Countryside Warden, was bringing up the rear.

Clouds to the West of the mountain looked like they might threaten the morning highlight, but thankfully, as we got towards the top and we could see to the East, we saw that there was still clear sky hanging on. The pace slowed a little on the final steep section before the top, and then finally the summit! We made it in very good time, so we all had a chance to catch our breath and crack open our flasks – the lights of Chester and Liverpool lighting up the land to the East.

The emerging dawn was already beginning to reflect a warm orange onto the clouds, and the colours gradually became brighter as the light began to creep across the sky towards us, bringing beautiful purples, reds and yellows. Everybody had their cameras on hand and were snapping away to try to capture the perfect shot. And then came the sun, scrambling over the countryside to bring the new day, and a special day for one of our walkers who was celebrating her birthday!

So, after posing for a group shot in the morning sunshine, we set off back down the mountain, all the colours of the sunrise fading away into the day. We had been really lucky with the weather, and we all felt bright and awake and pleased we'd made the effort. We got back to the car park at 7:45am and said our goodbyes, many of us heading off to work for the day, and a lucky few off back to bed.

What a way to start the day!