Llan Ramblers back on Wales Coast Path

Llangollen Ramblers were out on the Wales Coast Path again last week.  

Having reached Aberdyfi, they’re now nearing the halfway point, with Pembrokeshire and the South Coast yet to come – over the next seven years.

* On the Wales Coast path near Tywyn.

* Enjoying a picnic near Tywyn.

Gwalia Gallery to hold its autumn display

Gwalia Gallery in Oak Street, Llangollen, which specialises in selling handmade studio ceramics, is making work to celebrate autumn.

This will be on display from Wednesday to Sunday, October 16-20.

Gallery owner Charmain Poole says all work is unique and for sale.

Some of examples of the work on show ...

Hays Travel acquires all Thomas Cook stores

The Official Receiver and Special Managers from KPMG have announced this morning (Wednesday) that an agreement has been reached with Hays Travel Limited to acquire Thomas Cook’s entire UK retail estate.

The agreement will see Hays Travel acquire a total of 555 stores around the UK, providing re-employment opportunities for a significant number of former employees of Thomas Cook’s retail operations who were made redundant following the appointment of the Official Receiver as liquidator on 23 September 2019.

Hays Travel is the country’s largest independent travel agent. The company also runs the Hays Travel Independence Group, a consortium of independent travel agents, in addition to operating a subsidiary business, Just Go Travel, which trades under the Hays Travel brand predominantly across the North West of England.

Following the appointment of the Official Receiver last month, Hays Travel have already recruited 421 former Thomas Cook personnel and have further offers outstanding to former employees.

David Chapman, Official Receiver, said: “I am pleased to announce we have reached an agreement with Hays Travel to acquire Thomas Cook’s entire UK retail estate, comprising 555 stores across the country. This represents an important step in the liquidation process, as we seek to realise the company’s assets."

Barclays 'safeguards' Llan branch for two years

Llangollen is one of a hundred branches across Britain which Barclays says it is protecting against closure for the next two years, according to a report in the Denbighshire Free Press.

For the full story, see: https://www.denbighshirefreepress.co.uk/news/17953600.branches-barclays-will-keep-least-october-2021/?fbclid=IwAR03oppdcH73vEDvYByZYuzIqnsSybcBPzXsNx5lFJuTQ5tXYjCPtsnYAiw

Lib Dems choose Clwyd South candidate

* Chris Twells, Lib Dem candidate for Clwyd South.

Welsh Liberal Democrat members have selected Chris Twells as their candidate for Clwyd South ahead of the next general election.

He has ten years’ experience as a political campaigner and has helped the Liberal Democrats win elections on both sides of Offa’s Dyke.

Mr Twells, 28, was born in St Asaph and brought up in Flintshire. He attended the Alun School in Mold before going on to study law at the University of York.

He said: “I am delighted to be standing to represent Corwen, Llangollen, Chirk and the many other vibrant communities around Wrexham and the Dee Valley.

“After more than 30 years with a Labour MP, lots of residents are telling our canvassers that it’s time for a change in Clwyd South. The Liberal Democrats are enjoying our highest opinion poll ratings for almost a decade and our fantastic new leader, Jo Swinson, is the public's most popular choice to be Prime Minister."

He added: “A No Deal Brexit would be a disaster for our economy here in North East Wales and I am proud that a Liberal Democrat government would stop Brexit as its first priority.

“The Conservatives want to force through a No Deal Brexit and Jeremy Corbyn’s policy on Brexit seems to change every week. Only the Liberal Democrats have been consistent: if we form the next government we will stop Brexit on day one.

“The voters of Clwyd South were sensible enough to reject Boris Johnson when he first stood for Parliament here in 1997. If everyone who wants to stop Brexit votes for the Liberal Democrats this time we can remove him as our Prime Minister.”

Let's have your hazelnuts, says county

Denbighshire County Council’s Countryside Service is collecting and donating hazelnuts as part of Snowdonia National Park’s Hedgerow Scheme.

The scheme promotes natural borders and encourages hedgerow planting which provides a habitat for wildlife and supports biodiversity.

Snowdonia National Park operates a nursery growing hedge plants to donate to farmers and landowners to encourage the replanting of hedges.

Anyone wishing to donate can do so at the Tourist Information Centre in Llangollen, Canolfan Ni Corwen Loggerheads Country Park or the Countryside Service office at Brickfield Pond in Rhyl.

Those picking or foraging hazelnuts must have the landowner’s permission before doing so, and be aware of wildlife - don’t take everything from one area as wildlife depend on this resource over winter.  

Hazelnut gathering events will take place in Llangollen on Wednesday, October 9 between 10am and 12pm starting from Pengwern Community Centre and in Corwen on Thursday, October 10 between 10am and 12pm starting from the leisure centre car park. Visit the Clwydian Range and Dee Valley AONB’s Facebook page to stay up to date on events and how many hazelnuts have been collected. 

Kia's latest Ceed model has the X factor

* The XCeed, the fourth edition to the Kia Ceed family.

Kia XCeed launch report by Steve Rogers

Just when you thought the family was complete another one comes along. Meet the XCeed, the fourth edition to the Kia Ceed family.

What is it? It is a Ceed hatchback which has gone into the workshop and come out with a change of clothes.

Is it needed? The Kia top brass think so and they are normally right. As one exec said to me: "We don't build cars people don't want."

Eight consecutive years of increased sales sort of backs that up, and it looks like this will be year number nine with 97,000 Kias leaving our showrooms, a pretty remarkable achievement from the company's bargain basement roots of the nineties.

Let's drill into what XCeed is and why it is needed. The X is the clue, it's a crossover or family SUV, whichever name you like best, and they are taking over the car market. 

Kia isn't short of SUVs, it has got Niro and Sportage, but Niro is a hybrid and Sportage a bigger SUV so XCeed has been brought in to plug the gap between Ceed and Sportage. Mazda has done the same with the CX-30 as has Ford with its pumped up Focus.

Kia believe XCeed will take around half the total Ceed range although I would not be surprised if it was higher and this is why. 

The X factor has given it a little more length than the hatchback (85mm) so there is no compromise on cabin space, the boot has room for an extra bag or two, it has the higher driving position which everyone seems to like, and it is better looking than the hatch with a tasty fastback tailgate design.

No one builds cars that don't drive well so let's jump ahead to more important things. On the engine front the choice is 1.0 and 1.4 litre petrols, and a 1.6 litre diesel. My star pick is the 1-litre, a lively, economic three-cylinder which will blow you away with its refinement and performance.

People I talk to are still dubious about this new breed of small engine and there will be doubters over this engine's ability to carry the XCeed but they will be wrong. The 1-litre is an absolute hoot from the second the accelerator is pressed and it can hold its performance right to the red line.

The 1.4 litre petrol is less impressive not because it is inadequate, which it is not, but because it does not have the same performance as some of its top rivals which offer a wider range of power outputs.

It provides the power for the top of the range First Edition which is the most eye catching with its tasteful yellow detailing on the seats and dashboard. It also comes with a striking wide 10.25in multi media screen that dominates the dashboard and flows into an equally impressive 12.3in digital instrument cluster which projects all the driver information you could possibly need.

First Edition also comes with a full suite of safety systems adding blind spot collision warning, speed limit information and forward crash avoidance that includes detecting pedestrians and cyclists.

It also throws in a sports mode selector, not really necessary given the modest power output, but nevertheless adds a spark of fun. First Edition will set you back £28,095 or £29,195 for the seven speed automatic.

Something to please mobile phone users is the ability to connect two mobiles at once, an all too rare benefit in cars of this class.

Kia does not expect many buyers to go for the entry Grade 2 but that is hardly left wanting with the touchscreen shrunk to eight inches for DAB audio selection, Bluetooth and reversing camera, all round electric windows, keyless entry, LED headlights, cruise control with speed limiter and air conditioning. This opens at £20,795 with the one litre engine.

The majority will opt for Grade 3 which uses all of the touchscreen and brings in navigation, heated front seats and steering wheel and electric parking brake among the extras over the entry model.

XCeed will not have it all its own way simply because strong rivals will be gnashing their teeth trying to frighten it off, but it is the new star of the Ceed range with great looks and a generous level of standard kit.

Why bother buying Ceed hatchback? Why indeed.

Key facts

XCeed Grade 2

£23,295

1.0 T-GDI; 118bhp

0-62mph 10.9secs; 115mph

45.6mpg combined

124g/km. 1st year tax £170

Boot: 426-1378 litres