Date Walked: 12th April 2015
Distance: 16 miles
Map used: OS Explorer 263: Anglesey East
I had with me The Wales Coast Path by Chris Goddard and Katherine Evans
A bag was being transferred between accommodations by Anglesey Walking Holidays. They charged me £16 a day to transfer one bag (their minimum charge)
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I had stayed last night with my cousin Sally in Benllech, sleeping heavily Under The Influence on a bed suspended in mid-air and reached by a bunk bed type ladder. It was small miracle that I did not injure myself peeing in the middle of the night. Sally provided us all with the perfect breakfast – a bacon butty and I was on the road by 10am with a pack of hand-made sandwiches. The forecast was not good.
The beach was deserted on this grey morning. The rain kept off for the first mile or so of narrow cliff-top path, which was liberally dotted with benches to enjoy the views.
By the time I had rounded Penrhyn point and was overlooking Traeth Bychan (caravan park alert) it had began to spit.
By the far side of the brief beach walk the heavy clouds were depositing rain with greater commitment.
I must apologise here for the poor quality of some of the images that follow. Whether I had altered a setting in my fumbling the camera in and out of my jacket, or whether it was water on the lens I don’t know but some are rubbish. Which is a shame as the house at the far side of the beach had an extraordinary garden.
A damp plod along more cliff-top path gave me sight of Moelfre and its off-the-peg designed Lifeboat station.
Moelfre seemed like a pleasant village but in the rain I didn’t give its facilities much attention. I took a snap of a boat out to sea and commiserated with a fellow photographer about the poor light.
Off the headland, Ynys Moelfre looked like the kind of island you can’t imagine ever wanting to visit.
For some a visit to the area has resulted in death. The steam clipper Royal Charter was wrecked off the coast in October 1859 with the loss of 454 lives – the highest death toll of any wreck on the Welsh Coast. A memorial to those who lost their lives sits above the path. Not far from here another monument celebrates a heroic rescue by lifeboatmen of a crew of 8 of a small steamer (the Hindlea) shipwrecked in 1959.
It seemed rather fitting in this sombre mood to pass a static caravan site as I approached the beach of Traeth Lligwy.
This beach (also, sensibly, deserted) has an old breakwater arching across it, no doubt to the irritation of beach karters.
Above the beach, a large painting of it on (apparently) a very stormy day has been erected. I thought it rather wonderful, though feared that in a gale it might just get blown away.
Up until now the rain had come and gone but it suddenly set in and I retreated to the toilets by the car park to get the waterproof trousers on.
Urinals are something that I hadn’t given much thought to up to this time. With my huge intellect they had never reached the top of my mental tree. However, seeing a poem cheerily winding its way around the ceramic lining it occurred to me that this could be a great photographic project (of limited interest admittedly but it would be ART). More anon.
Half way along the beach the very short Nant-y-Perfedd discharges into the Lligwy Bay, which I thought worthy of wetting the camera for.
Trudging along in the rain, the finer points of the path eluded me, but the sight of Traeth yr Ora brought the camera out from my increasingly damp jacket.
There followed a soggy mile or so inland from the inlet of Dulas Bay to reach the A5025 at The Pilot Boat inn.
My reasons for not stopping at lunchtime are many and varied but today I couldn’t face the thought of getting wet things off and then back on, so I forewent the pleasures of the playbus for more splashing about outside.
The path takes a route across quite marshy land at the side of the bay, my boots were beginning to fail to withstand the saturated terrain.
Half way along the north side of the bay the path heads inland for a bit; from looking at the map it would appear that the occupants of the estate of Llysdulas do not favour sightseers. A short trek along a quiet road towards Dulas took me past St Gwenllwyfro’s Church…
…..its porch (sadly the door was locked) offering temporary respite from the rain and a break to eat my sarnies.
I have to admit that the next 5 miles or so is a bit of a blur. I was getting a bit water preoccupied. I don’t like getting my feet wet and getting wet boots dry overnight is usually impossible. And somehow the rain seemed to me seeping in through all the openings in my waterproofs. I wasn’t what you might call miserable, but I did begin to feel like this was hard work.
I whipped the camera out for a view of Ynys Dulas…
….and then again a couple of miles later as I approached Point Lynas….
…. but mostly I was just intent on getting to Amlwch and looking forward to a change of clothes, so the last couple of miles were wasted on me.
I was very glad when Amlwch harbour came into view; I was tired now, as well as wet.
It was a nice little harbour, too….
…..with fishing boats of various sizes moored quietly to its sides, their owners probably in the pub.
The hills behind Amlwch were once an important source of copper and I passed the Copper Kingdom Centre which looks very good but I wasn’t in the mood.
I was staying in the Dinorben Arms in the centre of the village. A large place, it seemed deserted and a little dated, but the chap behind the desk was welcoming and best of all my bag was sitting there waiting for me.
I felt so much better for a shower and to be in dry clothes. It took a while to work out how and where to hang up my walking gear to dry. My host kindly suggested that I put my boots over a radiator in the corridor which would remain on all night. Drying boots in this way could damage the waterproof lining but I decided to risk this, wishing that I had packed my waterproof socks.
Clean and dry I went out for a wander and was greeted by clear blue skies.
This seemed a little cruel but it did, at least, give me hope for a better day tomorrow. Well, you can only hope.
Amlwch’s main street did not have much to recommend it and having quickly exhausted the sights I returned to my pub for an excellent and generous scampi and chips, a couple of good pints and a bit of telly before bedtime. The forecast wasn’t great.
Some are days I envy. And some not…. But a number of good pics Charles, nontheless. The one of Ynys Dulas quite remarkable, with the tanker (?) in the mist in the background.
I am ensuring only fair to splendid weather for our walks !!!
You just want it nice all the time, don’t you? Wait ’till we are on the side of Snowdon and the rain comes in. Thanks for the pic appreciaition.
Soggy but beautiful – I like moody as you know. I too like the pic of the ship balanced on a needle, and the impressionist garden. I used to go fishing with my dad in Amlwch – it was there I won my only trophy – 3rd place having caught a small flounder – it was a long but beautiful night – and the scampi was good back then too.
Yes, moody is right up your street. I think that’s a fault with the pic – a little too obvious. Hey, I didn’t know that you know Amlwch. I wonder why there of all places. Maybe it wasn’t so much of a hole way back then. I’ve only caught about two fish in my life, and none deserved a trophy. You’ve a good memory for scampi.
have missed these – glad you’re still walking
Yes, plenty of walking- its the writing that I am struggling to keep up with!
Sorry you had such a damp day, Charles. But hey, they make the good ones all the better, eh? 16 miles? Bit long for you isn’t it? Especially a squelchy 16 miler. Some very nice photos too – despite the rain. Why, I can almost smell that urinal. Dave
Thanks.You know what’s it like. One has to “keep buggering on” as my uncle is fond of saying. The next day was much better in all respects. Yes, I know that you think I’m a wus but 16 is too much for me. Actually the urinal was one of the unsmelly ones, as far as I remember.
Love the picture of a Sea Explosion. Never thought of exhibiting pictures that way. Could they become an eye sore, maybe?
Glad you liked it. Yes, I wouldn’t want the coast littered with paintings but on a wet and windy day it raised my spirits.
Have you selected your start/stop points each day as a way to improve your Welsh pronunciation? There’s something very attractive about that impressionist garden snap. Maybe you ought to try more shuddery arms as you take photos. But was it really raining that much or were your wet feet the result of reading the “graffiti” whilst not taking careful aim? Be grateful the place was empty or you might have got yourself arrested for looking around …… But, as usual, your post cheered me up on a Sunday morning so thanks for that. And I’m glad you didn’t take a “centred” pic of St Eleth. The jaunty off-centre one looks much better. Rebellious, maybe?
No matter where I stay my pronunciation will still be rubbish. Yes, I kinda like that wobble. Will try and cultivate the look in future. No it was really raining that hard. No dribbles from me. More urinal pics to follow I’m sure. I shall try and be discreet. Anyway, glad to bring cheer – it’s my main role in life.
Me too: I really like the Ynys Dulas pic
It doesn’t really need the ship ( I didn’t spot it first time), as the island is like some vast elongated warship becalmed.
Is the darkening of the sky as it was, or have you cleverly closed the pic with your magic tricks?
Another discerning reader! I have to admit darkening the skies somewhat with a graduated filter.
Charles – Congratulations!!!! Golden Boots Blogger Award June 2015 Winner. WooHoo!
Thank you. With several winners each month, it may not be the greatest of achievements!
You are too humble! Let me see, how many times have I been a winner… ZERO! (or do you say NIL!) Regards!
Nada? None? Your time will come…….