Looking towards Anglesey from llandudno West Shore.
Fulmars taking up nesting sites on the cliffs south east of Gogarth.
Inspeting one of the repairs to the path south east of Gogarth.
Looking over Golgarth houses to ships heading for Ireland.
Limestone pavements on the Great Orme.
Grey seals on the beach near Pigeon's Cave.
More Fulmars on the ledges above Marine Drive.
Walk stats:
Distance: 7.8 miles.Climb: 1572'.
Time: 4 hours 48 minutes. On the move walking average: 2.0 m.p,h. Overall walk average: 1.6 m.p.h.
Temperature: Max 11.2 Celsius (at lunch in Happy Valey). Min 8.2 Celsius as we emerged from Happy Valley on the way to Half Way Station.
Beaufort Wind Force: 1 - 4. Mainly a light breeze, gusting toa moderate breze as we headed south towards the Igam Ogam.
Group: Martyn, Mike and Ed.
The weather was largely overcast with a hint of dampness in the air from time to time.
Today was the first time that we had the opportunity to take the path below the cliffs on the way to Gogarth after the landslips / rock falls a couple of years ago. The protective fencing had been reinforced and bridges created over where the whole path had collapsed and fallen away. A job well done to reinstate the path, enabling us to avoid some of the road on the way to the Monks' Path.
On this occasion we decided to Marine Drive o the road past St. Tudno's Church, hoping to see Grey seals on the sea near Pigeon's Cave.
We were lucky enough see about twenty, mainly on the shingle beach but some were swmming in the sea nearby.
It was good to see good numbers of Fulmars taking up nesting sites on the limestone cliff ledges, but the star birds today was a pair of Eider ducks close to shore as we approached Llandudno.
We were surprised to find that the access paths fro Marine Drive into Happy Valley were both closed and a large section of the park fenced off as work was being done to remove fallen trees.
We took advantage of finding many benches in Happy Valley and were able to choose a couple as suitable lunch time seats. Not much of a view into he valley, but it was a good sheltered spot.
As we emerged onto the Great Orme above the ski slope, we noticed some new footpath marker post and decided to follow them. We initially thought it would lead us to the summit, but in reality it took us to Half Way Station and onto the Copper Mine.
Only Mike visited the trig point on the Great Orme, the rest of us reserved our energy for the descent of the Igam Ogam!
Birds seen or heard today included: Herring gull, Fulmar, Jackdaw, Carrion crow, Raven, House sparrow, Common blabird, European robin, Great cormorant and Eider.
A good walk that always feels longer than it really is, but still worth celebrating with a pint of Lees Bitter at the Blue Bell Inn at Halkyno the way home.
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