Walking

[Hugo]

He wasn't arrested for being an incompetent sailor unfortunately but here's the rest of the headline:-
An incompetent sailor dubbed Captain Calamity has been arrested by police after coastguards were called to rescue him at sea for the 10th time in a month.

A concerned member of the public had called emergency services after seeing Tim Freeman, 24, standing in the surf at Studland, Dorset, struggling to control his 24ft yacht with a rope.

By the time help arrived Mr Freeman had left the area, but he was found soon afterwards and taken into custody in connection with allegedly failing to attend court over an assault charge.

Residents living along the south coast hope his detention will bring some respite to coastguard and lifeboat crews after Mr Freeman’s calamitous solo voyages ended in him being rescued nine times at a cost of more than £20,000

[snowcap]

after your first post i was thinking walnut after your last , no coconut

[Ian]

Those of you that go on the mountain walks know how easy it is to twist an ankle or break a limb in places were the rescue teams are the only way of getting back to safety, how would you feel if they said £30  or we leave you here, If the people who get rescued want to make a donation all well and good

"The most dangerous thing that can happen to you on a mountain in winter is to twist or fracture an ankle". Never forgotten that advice and it's true. But I think what many find annoying is those people who don't make any attempt at sensible preparation. Rescuing someone who's decided to 'go for a stroll' up Snowdon in the depths of winter, wearing only trainers and a T-shirt puts a lot of lives at risk and it's especially thoughtless when they only call for rescue 'because they're lost'.

[hollins]

Yes, the dreaded turned ankle and usually at the end of the day.
Remember what happened to Mr Hollins in 2013. An experienced walker, climber and skier. He had done a tricky climb and was walking back along slippery grass when he broke his ankle badly. There was no way his friends could get him down without the help of the mountain rescue. They were a fantastic team and have received donations from us since. What a wonderful job they all do.

[Hugo]

On Wednesday 5 of us met up to do a walk that we had been looking forward to doing for quite a while.  It wasn’t just because we knew that the walk was going to be a good one but also because we knew that Wayne’s wife Ann was going to prepare a delicious meal for us afterwards.     The walk was on the Llyn Penisula and was a linear one that required two cars and started from St Beuno’s Church at Pistyll and followed the coast to Nant Gwrtheyrn  (the Welsh Language Centre)      For anyone unfamiliar with Nant Gwrtheyrn the road down to it is extremely steep and is a single track road with some passing places and many sharp bends and that is the reason why we drove down there as no one fancied the walk back uphill.
We left one car in the village and drove the other car to St Beuno’s Church in Pistyll where we started the walk.      St Beuno’s Church was founded in 6th century, originally being a place of respite and solitude for Beuno and later being used as a hospice church for those on pilgrimage to Bardsey.     We had a look inside the Church and around the graveyard and  buried in the churchyard is actor Rupert Davies (1916-1976), best known for playing the detective Maigret on television.
It was a sunny day but there was an icy wind blowing off the Irish Sea as we made our way across open farmland  near  the cliff edge and it wasn’t long before we came to a disused quarry where we stopped in a sheltered spot to have some refreshments before tackling the steep descent to the rocky beach below.    After a short break we then started the descent down the cliff face, criss crossing a stream a few times.  It was on the last wooden bridge that Keith had a bad trip on the slippery wooden bridge and fell face first into a ditch,  It looked quite a bad fall from where I was standing above him but thankfully the only thing hurt was his pride.    He did admit that his “extra padding “ may have helped!   
He insisted on carrying on so we continued on along the rocky beach which after about 200 yards  became a pebble beach and was much easier and safer to walk on.   The quarry workings of Nant Gwrtheyrn were at the end of the beach and we soon reached them and had a steep pull up the hillside before we stopped to have a look at an abandoned farm that was set in a beautiful location with stunning views across the Irish Sea.  We were surprised that no one had developed it as there was a lot of potential in the large property.   
We carried on to the village and it was lovely to see it again.    The last time I saw it, the village was in ruins and my wife and I and two friends had walked down the corkscrew track that was described once as the worst in the UK and went to the beach for a swim.  It was an August Bank Holiday and the temperature was  80F  when we walked all the way back up!     Mind you I was 40 +  years younger.
We had a good look around the village and then drove off to pick up the other car and go to Wayne’s for that much anticipated and appreciated meal.

[Hugo]

Pistyll to Nant Gwrtheyrn walk

[Gwynant]

                We had intended to go from Bull Bay through to Cemaes but my mate forgot his bus pass for the return journey so we left the car in the free car park just below the Bull Bay Hotel and set off, following the route set out in one of the Circular Routes of Anglesey leaflets ("Elaeth") which takes you slightly inland past a ruined windmill and a couple of farms and leads you round to a house named "Castell" which looks across Porth Wen bay to the brickworks. We decided to carry on up onto the headland (Torllwyn") above the brickworks and see the route leading to Cemaes (for another day) and came across the winding gear for the funicular railway which carried the ore and silica down to the kilns below. We then retraced our steps to "Castell" and followed the Coastal Path back to Bull Bay, stopping to watch a fisherman checking his lobster pots, and caught a glimpse a pod of dolphins or porpoises offshore as well as a couple of seals in the sea below the path. As we came back into Bull Bay the path went past a house actually built on the headland on rocks which are in the sea at high tide and then we drove back into Amlwch for a coffee in the spotless Quay Cafe in the square above the harbour. We were going to do the hour-long Eilan walk up on the headland above Point Lynas ("Elian") from Llaneilian as well as we still had time, but it started to rain as we left the cafe so we will do that from Amlwch following the Coastal Path on another day.

[Gwynant]

                      Coastal Path from Porth Wen back to Bull Bay pics.

[Hugo]

Yesterday we ignored the bad weather forecast and set off for Llyn Parc Mawr in Newborough to see the Red Squirrels that were living there.
We parked in the car park and without even leaving the car we were able to see the Red Squirrels nearby.   It was lovely watching them go to the bird feeders and lifting the lids off the feeders to go inside them and have a feed.   Tellytubby was in his element taking photos of the numerous Squirrels that were in the trees nearby and our presence didn't seem to put them off returning to the feeders.
After a while we got into the car and drove down the toll road to the car park by the beach and to our surprise the barriers were down so it was a freebie which made it even better.    It was a wild and windy Newborough beach but we took the road through the forest until we emerged on the beach by Llanddwyn Island.
On the island we took the coastal path on the left hand side and made our way to the little cove past the cottages and enjoyed our refreshments in the sheltered part of the cove.   We were very fortunate with the weather as it was nothing like the forecast predicted so we carried on around the island passing the two lighthouses on the way.   It's a beautiful place to be and it's one I'd recommend to anyone, especially those who have never been there before.     We made our way off the island to the car park and set off for the cafe near the round about in Newborough where Keith treated us to a nice coffee and cake.  Thanks again Keith and for that panorama photo that I've included on here.
 

[Hugo]

Llanddwyn Island  Newborough

[Hugo]

That's part of one of my favourite walks Gwynant.  Bull Bay to Llanbadrig.     Quite strenuous in places but well worth the effort and  at Llanbadrig we usually turn inland  and return on the lane that passes the vineyard.   I remember on one walk having 3 free samples of their wine and then enjoying a coffee and cream scone there.   

[hollins]

Pensarn to Old Colwyn

It was a lovely sunny morning and the sea was calling so we left the newly born lambs behind and drove down from the hills and parked the car at Pensarn beach.
We walked along the cycle/pedestrian path to Old Colwyn. It was a walk we had promised ourselves to do for ages but had not made it before. Despite the traffic noise from the A55 it is an enjoyable and interesting route and it was good to see things from a completely different angle to the normal drive along the dual carriageway.
Most of the path is flat with just a couple of small inclines and you are very close to the train line and the A55 in places.
It is pretty where the River Dulas comes out into the sea at Llanddulas. Then when we turned off the coast path and inland up through the gardens to find the main road in Old Colwyn we thought how attractive and quiet it was up there.
We always joke about how many number 12 buses we see when we go to the Three Towns so this time we were hoping that they would be frequent for us too. Sure enough after waiting a couple of minutes we were on our way back to Pensarn in a very smart bus with heated seats!
Tried the Departure Lounge in Abergele for the first time for a late lunch. It has been nicely decorated inside and the food was hot and fresh.

[hollins]

Pensarn to Old Colwyn part two.

[Hugo]

It was a nice day to do that walk Hollins and there is a nice cafe/ bistro on the way at the Beach Caravan Park.   Too early into your walk to go there but we have had a few walks that have ended there.

[hollins]

Ha! Yes you are right about the cafe Hugo. Mr Hollins was itching to go in there but we had only just set off so I put my foot down!