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!
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