Date walked: 10th August 2015

Distance: about three miles ( a stroll, I know, but you’ll understand why if you read on)

Map used: OL17 –  Snowdonia

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Having completed my circumnavigation of the Anglesey Coastal Path it was time to return to the mainland. Back in  June I had reached the pier at Bangor.

Today I was arriving back there by train, from which for many miles I had I gazed out over the many static caravan sites that line the north Wales coast with some trepidation.  The train was late getting in and I had an arrangement to meet my friend Ian at Tal-y-Bont at 6pm, so rather than obsessively return to the pier, I took a direct route to the coast, missing out around 1/3 of a mile of the path, for which I hope I am forgiven.

View to the coast from Bangor, photographed by Charles Hawes

Besides, it was half a mile at least from the station to the coast

It was a lovely late afternoon. I was happy to be walking after several hours on the train and gave a mental greeting to the reassuring signs that I was back on the path.

Sign post for the Wales Coast Path, photographed by Charles Hawes

I’ve come to be very fond of these sign posts

I was directed down to Porth Penrhyn, which would have been a nice spot to explore but I needed to get on. At the end of the C19th this was the port used to export slate from Penrhyn Quarry– at the time the largest slate quarry in the world.

Porth penrhyn, bangor, Ph

This was another of those occasions where a landowner has declined to allow walkers access to the coast; in this instance it is whoever owns Penrhyn Park. It isn’t the National trust.

Entrance to the Penrhyn Estate, photographed from The Wales Coast Path by Charles Hawes

I was tempted to walk in and see what would happen

The diversion had its compensations, though, as the route heads south up the very tranquil, fern-filled Cegin Valley. Two train lines once used this once very busy valley, the Penrhyn Quarry Railway first opening in 1798 as the Llandegai Tramway. The very fine Penhryn Bridge that carried this line was built nearly 200 years ago.

The Penrhyn Bridge, Porth Penrhyn, Bangor, photographed from The Wales Coast Path by Charles Hawes

“Heart” these railings

A little way up the valley, another fine bridge has been preserved that crosses the little Afon Cegin.

Bridge over the Afon Cegin, photographed from The wales Coast Path by Charles Hawes

The Valley of the Bridges

The A5 crosses the valley by a road bridge….

Bridge taking A5 over the Cegin valley, photographed from The Wales Coast Path by Charles Hawes

…. and half a mile after that the Cegin Viaduct takes the railway line that I had arrived on before it tunnels underneath Bangor’s outskirts.

The Cegin viaduct, photographed from The Wales Coast Path by Charles Hawes

Not even Lightroom could straighten these converging verticals

The path parts company with the cycle route that it had been sharing with just after yet another bridge …..

Road bridge over the Cegin Valley, photographed from The Wales Coast Path by Charles Hawes

Maybe not as impressive as the viaduct, but pretty good.

…. then climbs round its side to cross it near a ford.

Ford near the Cegin valley, photographed from The Wales Coast Path by Charles Hawes

A footbridge! (but not for me)

Through a gap in the trees I had a glimpse of Snowdonia’s foothills….

view to Snowdonia from the wales Coast path near Bangor, photographed by Charles Hawes

“Such great composition”, I hear you say

…and by the path an example of the fences that are so characteristic of  such slate-rich parts of the country.

Slate fence near Bangor, photographed from The Wales Coast Path by Charles Hawes

Mighty fine fences – but no good for keeping rabbits out.

The path’s route was a little confusing here and I found myself walking through what was clearly intended to become some kind of housing or industrial estate, where all that had been laid out was the road system.

New estate near Bangor, photographed from The Wales Coast Path by Charles Hawes

Another greenfield bites the dust

This whole area was cordoned off by a metal barrier from the A5, leaving it a safe playground for skate-borders.

New estate near Bangor, photographed from The Wales Coast Path by Charles Hawes

An expensive skate board park, courtesy of EU funding

The A5 crossed, another bridge then provided the route over the railway that I had just walked under.

Chester to Holyhead railway, photographed from The Wales Coast Path by Charles Hawes

Apologies for not getting more of the bridge in the shot

Doubling back down a little lane with a couple of properties on it I passed under the line via the Penlan bridge!

The Penlan Bridge, photographed from The Wales Coast Path by Charles Hawes

Probably the least attractive of this bridge-fest afternoon

At the bottom of the lane was a  small industrial estate, at the back of which another fine viaduct takes the railway line across the Afon Ogwen.

Bangor to Tal y bont-27

The path takes the road across this shallow, turbulent river….

The Afon Ogwen, photographed from The Wales Coast Path by Charles Hawes

All the way from some of the greatest peaks of Snowdonia

…. on the far side of which was another reminder of the “feck off” character of the Penrhyn Estate.

Entrance to the Penhryn Estate near Tal-y-Bont, photographed from The Wales Coast Path by Charles Hawes

The notice just making sure that the non english-reading Welsh (there must be dozens of them) do not think that there is a right of way

The road to Tal-y-bont and path takes a right here, a little field providing you with a sheep pic.

And very nicely illiminated it was, too

We, like sheep – and very nicely illuminated it was, too.

100 yards up the road, Ian was waiting for me by, what else, a bridge.

Don't worry, they'll be more bridges tomorrow.

Don’t worry, they’ll be more bridges tomorrow.

Ian and Elizabeth live in the most wonderfully secluded spot in the Clwydian Range AONB (from where Elizabeth writes an excellent blog ) and had very kindly offered to put me up for a couple of nights, so they’ll be no criticisms of my bed or breakfast! Ian extremely generously was also going to bring me back here the next morning – you’ll be introduced the next day when we will take an “official” alternative route from Llanfairfechan to Conwy.

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