The Little Orme and More 31st January 2015

Looking towards the Great Orme from the Craig-y-Don paddling pool.

Snow on the high peaks of the Carneddau - taken from the summit of the Little Orme Head.

Walk tstas: Distance: 6.9 miles. Climb: 800' (at a guess - 2002' wind assisted on the GPS!).

Time: 3 hours 43 minutes. On the move walking average: 2.2 m.p.h. Overall walk average: 1.8 m.p.h.

Arriving at the start point next to the Craig-y-Don Paddling Pool, we realised the wind was a little bit stronger than we had expected!  The waves rolling in were the largest that either of us had ever seen on this part of the coast and some seemed to reach more that 10' before crashing down.

  We set off for the Little Orme, hoping that the wind would ease a little, especially on the top of the Little Orme Head. Hope was all it was, we could hardly stand up by the trig point, and Roger realised he had lost his hat!  Thankfully he was reunited with it, as it was on the path as we descended from the trig point back to the coastal path.

 Alas we didn't see any Grey seals in Porth Dyniewaid, not surprising really as the water was quite high up the beach.

 We managed to walk along the beach in Penrhyn Bay as far as the golf course, but the old birds that were around were Oystercatchers and Herring gulls with a few Great cormorants flying Westward over the sea. In fact we saw more birds on the fields opposite our start point.

 We had lunch sheltering from the wind between the stone sea defences and concrete wall just East of the golf club towards Rhos-on-Sea. As is often the case we found a much better place just before the road heads up towards Penrhyn Side. This had about four bench seats overlooking the sea and in sheltered positions, hopefully we will remember this in the future. 

 On the return, the wind at times was so strong it was difficult to keep walking in a straight line, and at times the occupants in passing cars must have thought we had had a little too much to drink!

 Although it was just under 7 miles, it was enough for today, the walk had blown the cobwebs out of our hair, for those that still had any and the Sun had shone on us for most of the walk.

 Birds sen or heard today included: Carrion crow, rook, Pied wagtail, Jackdaw, Raven, Red-billed chough, Herring gull, Great cormorant, Woodpigeon, Pied wagtail, House sparrow, Common blackbird, Eurasian curlew, Oystercatcher and Common starling.

 After walk drinks were enjoyed at the Blue Bell Inn at Halkyn, where the Aspall's Suffolk cider "Cyderkyn"  went down well, especially a it was only 3.8%! We were even home by 15-00!