Date walked: 15th August 2015

Distance: around 14 miles

Map used: OS Explorer 264: Vale of Clwyd and OS Explorer 265 Clwydian Range

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I had stayed last night at Gwesty Glyndawr. I won’t be staying there again. I thought the safest breakfast was a bacon butty, which was fine.

It was a fresh morning, windy and sunny: invigorating. Just what I needed. A spit of sand stretched out into the distance, sandwiched between the grey shingle beach and the grey sea and sky.

For about three miles the path shares a cycle way, separated from a large caravan park by the railway line.

A most suitable location for a caravan park IMHO

Way off shore, dozens of wind turbines were making their modest contribution to the National Grid, no doubt causing havoc to marine bird life in the process.

Yes, I know that I have been kinder about the off-shore ones but the cost!

There is only so much fun you can have on a beach (discuss) so the caravan park dwellers have Kinghtly’s Famous Fun Park on hand in case no one can face another game of sandy cricket or football.

I think I’d rather catch crabs

I didn’t really take in what this massive sign addressing cyclists was about; I presumed it was some kind of safety thing.

You have to admire the idea

Over to the left of me was the Kinmel Dunes Nature Reserve. I opted to walk on top of the path wall for a while in hope of seeing some nature but was disappointed.

Yes people and grass are both nature but you know what I mean

Approaching Rhyl, the path takes a dramatic twist inland, borrowing the Pont y Ddraig…..

Kinda funky for Wales

…. to cross over the River Clwyd……

….and then re-assuming its promenade character into Rhyl.

I’m sure this needed to be so wide to accommodate the hoards of holiday makers

A few hopeful fishermen had turned their back on the sea in hope of luck in fresher waters.

Not that I saw any catches landed, but then you seldom do.

I’m sure that Rhyl has its good points but it wasn’t selling them very well.

The gulls were making the most of the paddling pool, though….

Maybe it was intended to be a big bird bath?

…..and on the beach, the ever-optimistic detectorists were waving their wands over the empty beach, hoping to create some magic.

You never know…..

It was difficult to believe that this was the height of the summer holidays. According to the map I passed the Sun Centre without noticing.

As summer weather goes, this wasn’t bad

This may seem bleak but I was perfectly happy to be marching along, enjoying the sound of the waves breaking onto the concrete-stepped defences.

Plenty of seating room

I passed a little group of striking turnstones (I think).

” I really can’t be arsed this morning”

Not much further along, a warning sign with plastic bouquets attached were a reminder that coasts can be dangerous places.

I’m embarrassed to say that I did not stop to read the dedications

I don’t know if I had been sent into a trance by the the sound of the sea but it seems that I passed by Prestatyn without taking any pictures; the next thing I recoded was walking through the Gronant dunes.

First time I have had sand beneath my feet today.

The path reaches the shore and as the tide was out I thought I would take the firmer surface of the beach. Here death was presented in several forms.

A seal.

Thankfully, beyond smelly

An oddly shaped balloon.

Dragon?

And a gull.

Three were lots of gulls on Presthaven Sands, just standing around as gulls do.

Waiting for Godot?

I found myself on the seaward side of a marsh that was just too squishy and lush to contemplate crossing to get back to the shore and although the map might have encouraged me just to carry on, I took Falstaff’s advice and doubled back to the beach.

weather’s picking up

I was rewarded with more death.

This has become quite familiar during the course of the walk

I could see from sight and from my map that the beach would offer a secure surface again so had a pleasant mile, beckoned on by the Point of Ayr lighthouse. As I approached a couple of riders were trying unsuccessfully to get their animals to go into the sea. All they were prepared to do was paddle.

The horses knew about the undercurrents

Suddenly this felt like a very significant moment in this two-and-a bit year project. This was the last open sea on my path (and the most northerly point of mainland Wales); I was about to enter the Dee Estuary and the lighthouse was a very clear marker of this turning point.

Could do with painting

As if to emphasise this change of direction, a tall way-marking post pointed the route off the beach.

After the curious little settlement of Talacre, the sea was now replaced by the marshes of the Point of Ayr Nature reserve.

The topography of the estuary dictated a brief sharp right turn, skirting two sides of the gas terminal.

I love a good gas terminal

Not sure why this was here

Passing through a path of scrubby woodland, my attention was caught by a monkey which had been hung very deliberately from a branch of a tree.

The monkey only has one ball but it is a big one

The path follows the railway line that I had been walking by on or off for several days before taking an underpass….

… and then heading across a field towards the village of Ffynnongroyw. It had been a long day and I did not want to miss my pub, so my anxiety rose a little as I walked down the main street passing several watering holes. The Linegar Inn was the very last building, just set back from the A548.

It was round 4 when I arrived. My room was facing a courtyard at the back; I loved it.

And the wifi worked!

Contemporary, spacious, comfortable and the large bathroom had a bath. Time for a cup of tea, a leisurely soak and  a snooze before supper. Perfect.

Later: although I was very happy with my room, the main part of the pub was just awful. Bare floors, a massive TV dominating the room, nasty musak playing and it had no real beer. I was shocked. I was glad that it was still relatively warm outside so I had my (perfectly nice) burger at a table outside with a couple of glasses of Chardonnay. How can people get things so wrong?