Pwllheli is the end of the line. Literally. The train goes no further. From now on I’m reliant on buses, but the usually very helpful Traveline Cymru web site lets me down badly. I only manage to get to Pwllheli because I mistakenly catch the wrong bus which happens to be going the right way.
At Pwllheli, the beach is rutted by the enormous tyres of a procession of monster dumper trucks. They’re shifting loads of sand from the harbour mouth to somewhere further up the beach.
Yesterday, the town of Criccieth shone with golden sunshine. Today the morning light is subdued and the air feels heavy, as though the place has been wrapped in layers of cotton gauze.
I was hoping to get a better photograph of the castle that dominates the sea front, but the light remains obstinately dull.
I leave Portmeirion behind and rejoin the Wales Coast Path. It follows a somewhat tortuous route around the perimeter of the village.
The wonderful thing about this area of Wales is the wealth of footpaths and bridleways to choose from. I climb a hill and come to a crossroads with a signpost, and wish I had time to go off and explore other walks. Continue reading
I park my car in Criccieth and catch the train to Penrhyndeudraeth, a name I still can’t pronounce, despite my B&B hostess’ best efforts to teach me.
Sadly there isn’t a path running along the bank of the estuary and so I’m forced to follow the road – the A497 heading westwards – where I soon come across yet another little station at Minffordd.
Llanbedr station really is in the middle of nowhere. It’s a request stop and I’m the only person who leaves the train.
After two days of glorious walking, I guess I shouldn’t complain about a not-so-good day. It starts badly when I park in the wrong place and, even worse, forget to pack my OS map. And then there is the boring trek along a road, under a dull sky…
The next morning the ground is crisp with frost. I could follow the main A493 towards Fairbourne as it hugs the coast. But the traffic is heavy and I decide it’s too dangerous.
The official Wales Coast Path climbs the hill above Llwyngwril, first following a small lane and later farm tracks. In the fields I see farmers on quad bikes. This one is scattering feed while his sheep follow behind.
What a difference the sunshine makes. Last time I was in Tywyn (October last year) the weather was dull and I couldn’t find anything complimentary to say about the place. Today in bright sunlight the resort looks far more appealing.
I was thrilled to be nominated for a 2015 GO Outdoors blog award.
Thank you to everyone who supported me by voting for my coastal walking blog. It was wonderful to see how many people responded and to read all of your lovely comments. Continue reading
I was surprised and pleased to be nominated for a GO Outdoors blog award.
If you feel you can vote for this blog – please go ahead! Continue reading
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Incident number 1305Date: 30.08.26Site: Public footpath alongside of Egglestone Abbey near Barnard Castle. County Durham.Bull with cows and calves (Comment: very large brown cattle with small horns.)2 walkers with dog on a lead. Miley’s Report: “We were walking from woods towards grasslands alongside Egglestone Abbey. This was the only route back to the gate onto […]
Incident number 1303Date: 31.5.26Site: Between Lewes and Hamsey on the river footpath BN7I dog, on a lead, 2 walkers Description: “Chased by cows on footpath, not for the first time here but very scary. Our dog froze in panic making getting away from cows near impossible.We reported it to the council who have replied saying […]
Incident number 1301Date: 24.05.26Site: Roughly this: What3words:Punctuate.Otter.Fronted. Near Over Alderley, Hare Hill permissive path. 1 dog on lead, 3 walkers. RH’s report: “We were just walking and suddenly a group of cattle burst out of a field (from nowhere) and moved around us, not charging but getting quite close, agitated and shifting around restlessly with […]
