Holyhead Breakwater Country Park and South Stack 18th June 2022

The Irish Ferry coming into Holyhead.

The Irish Ferry coming into Holyhead.

One of Many Common buzzards seen today.

Penrhosfeilw standing stones.

Canoeist enjoying a day on the sea.

South Stack lighthouse with its light flashing.

Oystercatchers roosting.

Red billed chough in paddocks near Ty Mawr.

South Stack from Ellen's Tower.

Razorbills at South Stack.

Guillemots at South Stack.

Puffins at South Stack.

Puffin at South Stack.

Puffins at South Stack.

Who said "If only all paths were like this?"

Another Irish Ferry heads for Holyhead harbour.

Never miss an opprtunity for a rest!

Our last view of the sea (Port Manarth) before heading away from the coast to the Holyhead Breakwater Country Park car park.

Walk stats: 

Distace: 10.6 miles. Climb: 1403'.

Time: 6 hours 9 minutes. On the move walking average: 2.2 m.p.h. Overall walk average: 1.7 m.p.h.

Temperature:Max 17.2 Celsius. Minimum 15.2 Celsius.

Beafort Wind Force: 2 - 3. Generally a light breeze, but occasionally rising to a gentle breeze (max 10 m.p.h) at times as we crossed The Range.

Group: Martyn, Mike and Ed.

We set off later than usual as the driver for the day had only arrived from Germany late in the evening.

We arrived at the Holyhead Breakwater Country Park just before 11-00 and our first surprise came to find the cost of parking for over 4 hours had risen to £8-00. We will be looking for a different start point for our South Stak Walk in future.

this was a much better day for walking, not too hot and not too cold, although the north westerly breeze made it feel cool at times.

The walk today was great for birds and flowers, but the only mammal seen was a very large rabbit, so large e thought it might have been a Hare.

Birds seen or herd today included: Mallard, Herring gull, Lesser black back gull, Jackdaw, Goldfinch, Common blackbird, House sparrow, Common whitethroat, Barn swallow, Winter wren, Common buzzard, Great cormorant, Oystercatcher, Meadow pipit,Skylark, Willow warbler, Chiffchaff, Stonechat, Guillemot, Razorbill, Black billed magpie, Red billed chough and Puffin.

Flowers seen included: Tormentil, Stonecrop, Red campion, Foxglove, Thrift, Common spotted orchid, Bluebell, Buttercup, Dandelion, Lesser celendine and Sheep's bit.

Unusually we stopped for lunch onlt 4.5 miles into the walk, that meant that afterwards we still had most of the walkto complete. Lunch was taken almost as soon as we arrived on the coast, but the cool breeze meant we had to seek a sheltered spot.

As we walked up the road to South Stack, we had supurb views of Red billed Choug feeding in a field grazed by horses.  We saw nine Red billed choughs, the most we had ever seen on our South Stack walksand this ws after seen them on The Range.

We spent much longer at South Stack than usual encouraged by the sighting of at least four Puffins.

This was a day when four Puffins trumped nine Red billed choghs for the  bird spot of the day.

We arrived back at the cars, having had a great walk, legs and feet looking forward to a rest and all ready to head for the Albion in Conwy for liquid refreshment. Local brews and even locally made crisps (Jones o Gymri) were available. We didn't waste the opportunity to sample a few brews and at least one variety of crisps. All went down well!

Wylfa, Cemlyn Bay and Carmel Head 3rd July 2021

First views of the coast.

Cemlyn Bay from the north east.

The terns colony at at the Cemlyn Lagoon.

The terns colony at at the Cemlyn Lagoon.

Common terns and Sandwich terns at the Cemlyn Lagoon.

It's what mother cows have to do.

A Raven seen on our walk today.

West Mouse from our lunch spot with a White Lady".

Mike has lunch with a White Lady.

Greylag geese on Cemlyn Lagoon on our way back to the start.

Distance: 10.9 miles. Climb: 942'.
Time: 5 hours 3 minutes. On the move walking average: 2.6 m.p.h. Overall walk average: 2.0 m.p.h.
Group: Martyn and Mike.

The forecast for today wasn't brilliant, with 25% chance of showers predicted for most of the day, but at least it would be warm with only a light breeze.

Arriving at the Wylfa car park, I opened the bot of the car to find that I had forgotten to put in my rucksack!  It meant that today I really was travelling light.  With a complete change of clothes in the car, I wasn't too bothered about getting a little wet in a light shower, but a downpour might have made me feel a little different.

However we did get some sunny spells, and without my hat, I had to improvise with the traditional hankerchief knotted in the four corners - it proved pretty effective!

Thankfully after a short shower as we walke through the sheterted wooded aea through the grounds of Wylfa Power Station, we didn't get any significant rain.

Walking along the coast is always special and today was no exception. Coastal flowers were abundant and the sound of birds everywhere, and almost deafening when we were near the tern colony in Cemlyn Bay.

Birds seen today included: Common whitethroat, Red billed chough, Meadow pipit, Herring gull, Black headed gull, Great black back gull, Raven, Canada goose, Great cormorant, Grey heron, Oystercatcher, Housesparrow, Barn swallow, Common starling, Sedge warbler, Sandwhich tern, Common tern, Canada goose, Greylag goose, Goldfinch, Mallard, Common buzzard and Grasshopper warbler.

The surprise sighting of the day was seing a newly born calf being licked clean by its mother, and some of the afterbirth still hanging from the back of the cow.

Mike didn't notice this, until I called him back. He watched the calf and mother I as I continued walking and was luckyenough to see the calf make its first attempts to stand up.

Lunch was taken at the middle White Lady (not very white at the moment in need of reviving with a coat of white paint).

I was grateful to Mike giving me a refreshing drink of water, he did offer to share his lunch, but after my full Welsh breakfast I didn't need to accept the kind offer.

The return route was more inland, mainly along farm tracks and minor roads, before returning to the coast at the path through the Wylfa grounds.

Overall an enjoyable walk, and both ofus were ready to for that pint of Lees Bitter at the Blue Bell Inn at Halkyn.

Cemlyn Bay, Cemaes and More 25th May 2019

Looking across the Cemlyn Lagoon towards the Wylfa Power Station.

Sea kale in Cemlyn Bay.

Nesting terns on the island in the Cemlyn Lagoon.

More nesting terns on the island in the Cemlyn Lagoon.

Terns bathing in Cemlyn Lagoon.

More nesting terns on thesmaller island in the Cemlyn Lagoon.

The view from our lunch spot overlooking Cemaes Bay.

St Patrick's Bell on the beach at Cemaes Bay, but I don't think it will be ringing today.

Panoram from Cemaes to Wylfa.

Inside Ty'n-llan.

Ty'n-llan.

On the Wales Coastal Path North of Ty'n-llan.

A Linnet on Gorse adjacent to the coast path.

Looking back towards the chimney and industrial buildings at Porth Llalleiana.

Leading the way on one of his shortcuts.

Walk stats: Distance 12.9 miles. Climb: 1267'.

Time: 6 hours 20 minutes. On the move walking average 2,5 m.p.h. (2.8 m.p.h on my newest GPS). Overall walk average: 2.o m.p.h.

Group: Martyn, Ed and Evelyn.

Unable to muster vany troups for the Congleton Edge walk, I was thankfully able to join Ed and Evelyn on the Anglesy walk.

 This turned out to be a good day for walking, pleasantly warm all day, although muggy at times, being on the coast meant that we were often experience a cooling breeze. We did have a brief spot of rain, just enough to make you stop and put on waterproofs, only to find that it was a complete waste of time doing so.

 This was a day for birds and flowers.

 Throughout the day evidence of Bluebell were there, most past their best. Other flowers included: Red campion, Foxglove, Sea campion, Thrift, Sea kale, Buttercup, Daisy, Dandelion, Red clover, Common dog violet, Self heal, Primrose, Slverweed, Tormentil and many more that I haven't been able to identify.

 Birds seen or heard today included: Raven, Common whitethroat, Sedge warbler, Winter wren, Carrion crow, Rook, Arctic tern, Common tern, Sandwhich tern, Mallard, Mute swan, Red breasted merganser, Oystercatcher, Black-headed gull, Herring gull, Lesser black backed gull, Stonehat, House sparrow, House martin, Barn swallow, Common chaffinch, Common blackbird, Linnet, Willow warbler, Chiffchaff, Meadow pipit, Fulmar and Red billed chough.

 Walking along coastal paths is always special, especially at this time of the year when there is so much to see and enjoy as nature springs back into life, a bonus to the stunning views encountered along the coast (ignoring the Wylfa Power station site.

 It was almost unvbeleivable to see how much more land that the proposed new power station would swallow up if it goes ahead.

  Approaching Cemaes we came across several benches overlooking the bay, and decided to take lunch. Throughout we were entertained by a pair of terns fishing in the bay, and House martins flying around us.

 Cemaes was busy, and from then on we were never out of sight of people enjoying a day out on the coast.

The church at Ty'n-llan was open, so we decided to look inside, entering through a chains blocking the way to birds, bats and other wildlife trying to take refuse.

 The return route from  Porth Llalleiana was more direct and used minor lanes, although at times we did wonder where Ed was leading us as we went around the back streets of Cemaes.

 Overall a good walk, arriving back at the car, still smiling, but with tired legs, happy to be sitting down in the car and heading home for suitable refreshments.

South Stacks Country Park and Cemlyn Bay 9th June 2018

Time correct, but date should be 9th June 2018.

Holyhead Breakwater Country Park.

Memorial to American crew at Holyhead Breakwater Country Park.

Choughs in the Gallery at the Holyhead Breakwater Country Park, but would I see any today!

Holyhead Breakwater Country Park.

Looking along the coast towards Holyhead harbour.

One of may singing birds along the coastal path.

The start of the coastal path to South Stack.

The first view of the lighthouse.

A Meadow pipit on the coastal path.

The South Stack shelter - only needed if it id raining or very windy.

Puffins at South Stack.

Puffin at South Stack.

South Stack Lighthouse fro Ellin's Tower.

Guillemots at South Stack.

Holyhead Mountain.

Choughs on Holyhead Mountain.

Holyhead Harbour as the path descends to the Holyhead Breakwater Country Park.

South Stack Walkl:

Distance: 5,3 miles. Climb: 920'.

time: 3 hours 47 minutes. On the move walking average: 2,1 m.p.h.  (2.6 m.p.h on newest GPS). Overall walk average: 1.4 m.p.h.

Cemlyn Bay walk:

distance: 1.7 miles. Climb: 117'.

Time: 1 hour 5 minutes. On the move walking average: 2.2 m.p.h. (2.7 m.p.h . on my newest GPS). Overall walk average: 1.6 m.p.h.

i arrived at the Holyhead Breakwter Country Park just after 09-20 and was pleased to find that the toilets had already been opened.

As I was quite early, I decided to visit the Gallery at the Holyhead Breakwater Country Park before setting off on the Coastal Path to South Stack. That was a mistake as I crossed the road from the Gallery, I did a Mike Dodd and tripped up giving me a grazed knee, reminding me of experiences when I was in Primary school. After patching my knee up with a large plaster, I set off for South Stack. Still in the car park, I saw and heard two Choughs flying overhead towards the coast.

 This was a perfect day for walking, not too hot, but with plenty of Sunshine. more of a breeze would have been appreciated.

 As I arrived at South Stack, I was greeted by two more Choughs, so all that was needed now was to see the comical clown of the bird world. 

  I set off down the steps towards the lighthouse and it was before reaching the first bend the the Puffins obliged. Several were seen with binoculars, trying to capture them with my camera was much harder, especially as my camera didn't have a view finder. I must have spent about half an hour watching the Puffins flying in, and going in and out of their burrows.

 after emerging from the steps to South Stack, a kindly lady swa that blood had started to trickle down my leg again and offered me an antiseptic wipe. after declining her kind offer I headed to Ellin' Tower expecting to see the nesting Choughs, just below.

 However today, binoculars ans telescopes were not looking at the birds, everyone was looking at two Orca whales - what a bonus, the first that I have ever seen!

 I then set off on the inland path back to the start and was luck enough to encounter two Chough again, but high in the sky they weren't easy to catch on camera.

 after having lunch back at the Holyhead Breakwater Country Park and putting a clean dressing on my knee, I decided to head for Cemlyn Bay and the tern colonies..

Cemlyn Bay.

Cemlyn Bay from the East side.

Terns at Cemlyn Bay.

Terns at Cemlyn Bay.

Terns at Cemlyn Bay.

Shelduck ducklings basking in the Sun at Llyn Llan.

Swans, cygnets and a Shelduck on Llyn Llan.

The Cemlyn lagoon from its Southern shores.

 The short circuit around the Cemlyn lagoon, didn't disappoint, with Common terns, Arctic terns and Roseate terns all in good view, but perhaps the Shelduck ducklings sole the show. However I did make the mistake of not putting my boots back on, trekking across shingle in sandals resulted in many stops to remove small stones!

 This was somewhat compensated by a very pleasant coastal breeze and the superb views of the terns.

 Overall the day had been a good one, especially for anyone interested i n birds and nature in general.

 Birds seen or heard today include: Greenfinch, Moorhem Mallard, Shelduck, Grey heron, Herring gull, Lesser black back, Meadow pipit, Wheatear, Jackdaw, Black-billed magpie, Stonechat, Red billed chough,Guillemot, Puffin, Blackbird Willow warbler Common whitethroat, Carrion crow, Dunlin, Oystercatcher, Common tern, Arctic tern, Roseate tern, Shelduck, Black-headed gull, European robin, Willow warbler, Chiffchaff, Linnet and Song thrush.

 A great solo day, celebrated with a glass of Cote du Rhone when I got home.