South Stack and Around Holyhead Mountain 24th June 2023.

The small bay north west of Soldiers Point  the start of our walk.

Looking southwest towards Holyhead Mountain in cloud / mist.

I think there is a Lifeboat out there!

That's definatelu a Lifeboat.

Rescue nearly done.

Common spotted orchid.

Distant views still not very clear.

North stack in the "mist".

On guard at the "explosives" store.

South Stack in the "mist".

A few Guillemots on the cliffs at South Stack.

Blue skies above Holyhead Mountain.

Essention work being done, but what does mark - a well?

An Irish Ferry leaves Holyhead.

An Irish Ferry leaves Holyhead.

Walk stats: 8.1 miles. Climb: 1316’.
Time: 4 hours 52 minutes. On the move walking average: 2.1 m.p.h. Overall walk average: 1.7 m.p.h.
Temperature - 17.8 Celsius at the start. Max - 24.7 Celsius. Minimum – 15.6 Celsius.
Wind Force: Max – 5 (a 22 m.p.h. Fresh Breeze).
Group: Martyn and Ed.
This wasn’t the best day for trying to see birds or trying to take their photo. Cloud /mist accompanied us throughout most of the day and the strong wind made it difficult keeping your binoculars or camera steady.
The top of Holyhead Mountain was decked in cloud / mist, although we could still hear that some people were climbing the rock face, even though we didn’t see them until much later in the afternoon.
There were lots of people at South Stack, most trying to spot a Puffin, but some were visiting the Lighthouse. The disappointment today was that there was no live filming of the Puffins that you usually see in Ellin’s Tower.
Lunch was taken at South Stack, where two bench seats provided good vantage points once the mist started to lift a little and we could see the sea!
The return route from Ellin’s Tower took us via the impressive cafe and visitor centre where we were grateful to take advantage of the facilities.
The inland route back to the start involved a little more road walking than we would have liked but at least most of the cars passed us leaving at least a metre between us.
Birds seen or heard today included: Stonechat, Jackdaw, Red billed chough, Great cormorant, Herring gull, Common blackbird, Meadow pipit and Great black backed gull, Guillemot, Black billed magpie, House sparrow, Barn Swallow, Oysteratcher, Common pheasant and maybe a Puffin.
Overall an enjoyable walk, helped by the wind that kept us cool despite the forecast being >85% humidity. The wind despite being pretty strong all day, never felt cold and in the main was a bonus.

 

Holyhead Breakwater Country Park and South stack 8th June 2019

Recue practise in the bay.

The first of the many orchids seen today.

Standing stones near Plas,Meilw.

Our first view of the sea near South Stacks Cliff Nature Reserve.

South Stack Lighthouse from the South Stacks Cliff Nature Reserve.

A Common kestrel hunting on the coast near our lunch spot.

Skylark still heard singing above the noise of the wind over The Range.

A different orchid in the South Stacks Cliff Nature Reserve.

Hut circles / ancient settlement near South Stacks.

south Stack Lighthouse from the cliffs near Ellin's Tower.

Guillemots on cliffs at South Stack

The coast looking North towards North Stack.

Another orchid near the coastal path on Holy Island.

On the coastal path on the North side of Holyhead Mountain.

Holyhead Harbour in the distance.

It looks like the barrel of a gun, but is really part of a gun?

A different sort of feeding station.

Walk stats: Distance: 10.5 miles. Climb: 1438'.

Time: 6 hours 4 minutes. On the move walking average: 2.1 m.p.h. Overall walk average: 1.7 m.p.h.

Group: Martyn, Mike and Jim.

The forecast for today wasn't good, staring with heavy rain, but improving to light rain showers later in the day. Wind gust of 18 m.p.h. were also likely.

Thankfully we did decide to risk it and as we arrived at the Holyhead Breakwater Country Park it stopped raining.

 We set off in full waterproof gear in anticipation that we would soon be walking in the rain. That was our mistake, it was overcast all morning, but didn't rain enough to warrant wearing waterproofs to jeep us dry.

  We decided to have lunch, sheltering from the breeze in a small gully on the coast on the West side of The Range. While we had lunch we were entertaineed by three Red-billed choughs and a Common kestrel hunting nearby.

 On The Range we also heard several Skylarks singing

 we came across many flowers, and  saw many orchids, probably three different species.

 Other flowers included: Sea daisy, Thrift, Field scabius, Tormentil, Foxglove, Red and White Clover, Meadow buttercup, Large bindweed, Red campion, Sea campion and Ragged robin, Yellow rattle and Daisy.

 After visiting Ellin's Tower, the Sun came out, so we decided it was time to risk removing all or part of our waterproofs. After descending the steps to the lighthouse to see if we could see any Puffin, unsuccsful we reluctantly climbed back and set off along the coastal path towards Holyhead Mountain.

 the rest of the walk was completed in warm sunshine and the occasional breeze was a welcome relief from the humid atmosphere.

 This section of the coastal path gives stunning views along the coast and by now it was clear enough to see the Skerries.

 The number of orchids seen today was the most that I have seen on this part of th Holy Island coast, and made up for not seeing a Puffin.

 Birds seen or heard today included: Jackdaw, Mallard, Herring gull, Oystercatcher, Skylark, Meadow pipit, Guillemot, Razorbill, Common kestrel, Black-billed magpie, European robin, Pied wagtail, House sparrow, Winter wren, Dunnock and Goldfinch, but no Puffin!

  We arrived back at the car, having had a great walk, but with knees suffering a little from the huge number of steps that we had climbed and descended on the coastal path.

 The Lees Bitter enjoyed at the Blue Bell Inn at Halkyn went down so well that we had to have a second pint!

Holyhead Breakwater and South Stacks Country Parks 27th May 2017

Exhibits at Holyhead Breakwater Country Park.

Looking South east across Porth Namarch towards Holyhead Breakwater Country Park.

Heading towards South Stack along the Coastal Path.

Two of the local residents.

At the explosive stores and time for a rest.

One of several female Stonechats seen today.

One of many orchids seen along the Coastal Path. 

Heath spotted orchid.

Our first view of South Stack.

South Stack from Ellin's Tower.

Guillemots at South Stacks.

A few more Guillemots on the cliffs at South Stack.

The view from our lunch spot.

Glad not to be on Holyhead Mountain now.

Coastal flowers yet to be identified.

Celia identified it as a rare plant called Field Fleawort.

Dramatic coastal scenery in the South Stacks Cliffs Nature Reserve.

Walk stats: Distance: 11.1 miles. Climb: 1737' (wind assisted GPS reading).

Time: 6 hours 27 minutes. On the move walking average: 2.2 m.p.h. Overall walk average: 1.7 m.p.h.

Group: Martyn, Mike, Celia and Ed.

After the last two days of hot and humid weather, we were looking forward to a much cooler coastal walk, hopefully avoiding the rain forecast to arrive after 16-00. Alas the forecasters got it right and the rain arrived and accompanied us for the last hour or so. Thankfully it wasn't cold and I didn't even bother to put my waterproofs on - others did!

 On this occasion we decided to complete the walk in an anticlockwise direction along the Coastal path to South Stacks and return via the inland paths.

 This turned out to be a good choice as Holyhead Mountain disappeared in mist just after 14-00 and wouldn't have been very pleasant to cross.

 As ever at this time of the year the coastal sections had abundant flowers on display, with the Heath spotted orchids being particularly splendid.

 Birds seen or heard included: Jackdaw, Rook, carrion crow, Stonechat, Red-billed chough, Pied wagtail, Canada goose, Oystecatcher, Tern (Common or Arctic), Mallard, Herring gull, Meadow pipit, Black-billed magpie, Skylark and Common blackbird.

 After finding our way from Penrhosfeilw to Twr, we tried to find the path that went via Castell, but once more failed to find it. We have tried to find this path from both sides now and failed on each occasion. It would appear that we have no choice, but to stick to the road between Twr and Gorlan.

 We arrived back at the car having had and excellent walk, amazed at the number of flowers that we had seen and the number of foreign tourists around South Stacks.

 After dropping Ed off at Abergele, we headed to the Bluebell Inn at Halkyn for celebration drinks and a cider takeaway.

Beaumaris and Penmon 25th March 2017

Looking across the Menai Straits towards Snowdonia from Beaumaris.

"So a 11 mile walk isn't enough the?"

Beaumaris Castle from the North east.

Brent geese on the shore between Beaumaris and Penmon.

The church at Penmon priory.

The dovecot at Penmon priory.

Penmon Lighthouse and Puffin Island.

The view from the beach at our lunch spot.

Looking towards Snowdonia.

Our first Primroses of the year.

Celendine everywhere.

Snowdonia from a point East of Glan-yr-afon on the way to Llangoed.

A delightful woodland path through beds o Ramsons.

Just to prove one Ramson in flower.

Beaumaris castle from the West.

Walk stats: Distance: 11.5 miles. Climb: 858'.

Time: 5 hours 57 minutes. On the move walkm ing average: 2.3 m.p.h. Overall walk average: 1.9 m.p.h.

Group: Martyn and Mike.

We arrived at Beaumaris to bright sunshine, so we had sun hats at the ready. We decided to seek out local public toilets before we headed for the coast. e fond them, but alas the were locked and on returning six hours later they were still locked - not exactly what you would expect in a tourist attraction like Beaumaris!

 As we set of along the Coastal path, we had our first views of Snowdonia, looking magnificent with its peaks still decked in snow.

 The tide was in, so we were forced to take the high tide route as we left Beaumaris, but were able to walk along the beach about a mile in to the walk.

 Walking on pebbles isn't easy, but watching the birds on the water edge distracted us and allowed frequent beaks and our feet to recover. The most noteable bird we saw was the Brent goose.

 Along the coast we were exposed to the cool North easterly wind, making hat retention difficult, but at least did mean that we ere in no danger of overheating!

 We had lunch at Penmon, but had to shelter from the wind by getting behind some rocks, but with the Sun on us it made a very warm and pleasant place to be for 30 minutes or so!

 After lunch we continued Westward along the Coastal Path a another couple of miles, at times using narrow country lanes. Everywhere we went, the hedgerows were masses of flowering Celandine and a few Primroses too.

 Birds seen or heard today included: Common blackbird, House sparrow, Jackdaw, Herring gull, Great black-backed gull, Common redshank, Common buzzard, Common pheasant, Eurasian curlew, Brent goose, Greylag goose, Canada goose, Little egret, Dunnock, Oystercatcher, Collared dove, Mallard, Woodpigeon, Blue tit, Shelduck and Great tit.

 We arrived back at the car, having had a good long walk with superb views all day and lots of Spring flowers to see as a bonus.

 After walk drinks were enjoyed at the Bluebell Inn at Halkyn where one of the Herefordshire ciders o off went down well.