Our last day of the long weekend before heading home. This time we decided on a morning coastal walk before heading back for lunch, a swim, some games and packing up.
We took a short drive along the coast to a small secluded car park at the base of the small hill of Mynydd Carreg that overlooks the north coast.
Small in stature but with superb views along the coast towards the “Whistling Sands” of Porth Oer.
And south west towards the headland.
It was another gloriously clear sunny day, if a little cool but that does make for great walking conditions (the recent hot and humid weather for example ruled out any sort of hiking)
The sands of Porth Oer are magnificent and we should really make more of an effort to spend longer here and take to the water.
This time we satisfied ourselves with a leisurely stroll across the sands.
Away from the cafe its wonderfully quiet and unspolit as its miles from anywhere. Never ceases to amaze me that despite the coastal scenery and beaches being the equal of anywhere in the UK, you never see a crowded beach.
The rocky coastline beyond is equally impressive.
A view back to Porth Oer through the grassy hummocks.
We were heading for Porth Iago, the next sandy beach along the coast.
Some gorgeous beaches below the cliffs only accessible by water-craft.
Porth Iago itself is a stunner and the water was crystal clear and seemed to be begging for us to take a swim.
Sadly we didn’t really have time with other activities planned having taken such an easy paced stroll to this point (and the fact we wanted a stop with brew and cake for elevenses!)
After said stop we retraced our steps back across the Whistling Sands.
And back over Mynydd Carreg.
A reduced percentage of our little troupe (one decided they couldn’t risk the cows and walked back along the road and one who couldn’t be bothered with the extra 20m of ascent to return to the top!)
Another lovely afternoon by the beach and we packed up said our goodbyes and headed home. Another stop for fish and chips on the seafront at Criccieth.
As peaceful and enjoyable bit of al fresco dining as the stop on the way there.
Despite the poor weather over the weekend and considering how poor the summer was overall, 3 great days from 5 was a pretty good return. Already looking forward to next year
After the wet weekend we were hoping the forecast was right and some drier and sunnier weather was on the way. It was!
Time for the annual Carn Fadryn expedition.
As always it took an age to rustle everyone together and be ready.
However on a day as good as this hardly a chore. The beach was looking good but it could wait till later
This is the mighty Carn Fadryn from the campsite.
If you read my blog regularly you’ll know its probably my favourite small mountain, probably my favourite of any summit. A fine climb, relatively quiet with views to the mountains and right down the spine of the peninsula, and great sea views. Pretty much all boxes ticked. A view here south over to Hells Mouth.
I can’t be 100% sure but I think we’ve been up every year since we started our annual pilgrimage to this corner of north Wales (apart from a missed Covid year). It wouldn’t be Towyn trip if we didn’t climb it at some point.
Approaching the summit behind the DBs.
Its a cracking little summit as well. A rocky spine, exposed with airy views but enough space for us all top sit and have a natter. Views west along the peninsula towards Bardsey Island.
East towards the Rivals and Snowdonia.
UF and EWO bringing up the rear.
Always make time for a cuppa and some cake on a sunny summit.
Summit Pano looking east.
Sadly it was time to head down. There was lunch and a beach waiting for us.
Carn Fadryn’s baby brother, Garn Bach. Well worth a bit of extra effort to climb.
And the older sibling.
The little one has views almost as good as the big one.
A fine walk, small and perfectly formed.
You may wonder why I took this photo. Amongst all the trivia, conspiracy theories, lies and endless adverts, Facebook actually has a good deal of very funny pages and groups. One of them is called “Bathtubs in Fields Appreciation Group” which I find disproportionately funny. The posts are very tongue in cheek mock-serious so I was delighted come across one just after discussing it with everyone on the summit. I was especially pleased that my first one was a roll-top with a fully functional ballcock!
Back to the serious business of beach fun. A prefect clear sunny afternoon for a game of boules. Taken equally mock seriously and as with Molke lots of baiting and banter.
The waves were also pretty good and we did a bit of quality body boarding.
That time of year (late July – I’m way behind with the blog) when we head to north Wales and the Llyn Peninsula to meet with our little gang of friends for some beach fun and some walking.
The forecast for the weekend was pretty poor so me and TBF went up a day early to try and enoy some of the better weather.
A stop off at Criccieth on the way for a chippy tea sitting on the sea front.
It was peaceful and warm and a great start to the weekend.
We were on our own for the first day and headed out to The Rivals for a walk. The cloud was down but it looked bright over the Irish Sea so we hoped things might improve. At least it was dry and the heather looked grand.
Looking back to cloud scudding over Yr Eifl.
First summit is the fabulous Iron Age hill fort of Tre’r Ceiri.
Its amazing and impressive in equal measure. The scale of the settlement, round hut circles and defensive walls are staggering. Its quite odd that its not better known.
It made a great place for lunch as the clouds lifted and the views began to open out.
Along the coast towards Caernarfon.
And back from the summit towards the other two summits of The Rivals.
An access door through the walls.
And what I assumed was the main entrance. A place most definitely worth seeking out when you are in the area.
A view back to Tr-r Ceiri from the steep climb to Yr Eifl.
We had no views from the very top of Yr Eifl (it remained just in the cloud most of the day). Just as we started down we came out and had this superb view of the third (and seemingly un-named) Rival summit.
I love this summit. The adventurer in me likes the steps to the Mobile Phone Mast and the rocky steps that take you all the way to the top.
And the views I think are better than Yr Eifl. West along the peninsula.
And east towards Caernarfon and Anglesey.
Summit Panorama
Time for another long stop and more food!
View over the quarries and the Gyrns to the main Snowdonia mountains.
And a happy looking selfie for a change.
TBF ponders just how much stuff we carry around on a short day walk.
A great day out
Sadly the Saturday was wet (although not as bad forecast) and we did manage a bit of a swim and some beach games.
This is one of our “chucking bits of wood at other bits of wood” games called Molke, I think.
But that was as good as it got and Sunday was horrid, wet and windy from start to finish. Forecast for the last two days was better.
End of School Holidays? End of July? Must be time for a visit to the Llyn Peninsula.
Its been a gathering place for a little band of friends for the best part of 20 years now such that its one of the first weekends we agree a plan for. Sadly this time we only had the DBs and DB Snrs new “friend” 😀representing TNG.
You may be thinking from those first couple of photos that we timed our visit to coincide with one of the many spells of hot and sunny weather. Whilst that first evening was gorgeously sunny, sadly the next day and a half were a complete washout. In a summer of heatwaves and droughts we camped out on a day where it rained incessantly from dawn till dusk!
Sunday afternoon improved markedly and we managed to fit in some swimming, play with SUP and a game of Kubb on the beach.
Not exactly warm and sunny, but dry at least.
The DBs enjoying the SUP although not daring to stand.
The evening light was good and we’d seen the back of the poor weather – for the most part anyway.
The cloudy weather meant we weren’t treated to the usual array of superb sunsets that a NW facing coast delivers.
This wasn’t bad but we are used to much better.
On Monday we decided on a coastal walk around Porth Oer – the Whistling (or more accurately, squeaking) sands. Despite the sun being out as we parked up, it began to rain as we set off and drizzled without pause for the first 30 minutes. For a time it was pretty cold and miserable and we came close to heading back.
We stuck at it, patience paid off and it stopped. The sands at Porth Oer are stunning and with waves crashing in it became a very enjoyable walk across the beach.
We found a sheltered spot for a brew and snacks before setting off back to the car.
This time we followed a much lower path close to the sea which was very impressive.
Although it did require a steep bash through the bracken to return to main coastal path.
We returned over the small hill of Mynydd Carreg where the views were better – and drier – than on the way out.
An enjoyable stroll – eventually.
We fitted in some more beach times and games before a BBQ back at the tent.
Here we are enjoying that quintessential British summer activity – a BBQ outside in the cold!
What better way to improve it than a fire.
Happy Camping!
On our last day, as ever, we found time for Carn Fadryn.
Finally the skies cleared properly and we were treated to some summer blue and sun as we lazed on the summit.
Looking towards the Rivals and Snowdonia.
Out over the campsite. The Wicklow Mountains in Ireland were clearly visible although the photo doesn’t show them.
Looking over to Garn Bach and Cardigan Bay.
Wonderful colour contrasts.
To extend the walk a little we decided to climb Garn Bach. It gives good views of Carn Fadryn itself.
From here really exaggerating its isolation and modest height.
View from the top towards Snowdonia.
And out across the Irish Sea to Anglesey.
Back to the campsite for lunch and another top afternoon of swimming and beach games, then pack up say our goodbyes and the late drive home. May not have been the sunniest and driest weekend of the summer but another cracking little mini-break in this superb little corner of Wales.
There is more to the Llyn Peninsula than just beaches. It has some superb coastal walks and small mountains to climb. Let’s take a look…..
On our first day we set off early from home so we could make the most of a good forecast and pitch the trailer in good time. Before that hard work we took a stroll along the coast.
Breezy but a clear blue sunny day made the beaches and water look very inviting.
Gave us our first chance to meet the Professor’s girlfriend and very lovely she is too. Fitted in well with the gang and joined in all the usual fun as well as enjoying the outdoor walk side of things.
Set us up in grand style for a great week.
No visit would be complete without a trip to the far end of the peninsula and a coastal walk taking in the highest point of Mynydd Anelog (seen here in the background).
The weather was very odd, hot and sweaty in the sun but with layers of mist along the coast and here, between the mainland and the island of Bardsey.
The walk to Mynydd Anelog is typical coastal walking, namely a lot more ascent and descent than you’d like!
However with views like this, its well worth the effort (if a little hazy on this day)
Approaching the top of Mynydd Anelog.
Looking back over the headland of Mynydd Mawr to Bardsey.
And looking back towards Snowdonia where the weather looked very much more unsettled.
As we continued our walk the banks of low cloud rolled back in.
After we stopped for an ice cream (and in my case a chilled cider) that mist enveloped us and created some rather weird effects.
In the sunshine it was still really hot but when the mist rolled in it was instantly cold.
At times where the breeze was blowing it in, it was like standing in front of an air conditioning unit.
Some of our party took a longer walk and reported back that they managed to get above the cloud. Sadly we’d headed back to the beach by then. Still, an impressive walk in unusual conditions.
And of course anyone who’s been reading my blog since the start (way back in 2011) knows my love for Carn Fadryn.
This is its baby sibling.
We walk up here every time we visit and as its DB Juniors birthday around the time of our usual trip we’ve climbed it on his birthday a few times – we always refer to it as birthday hill and here is the birthday boy in question.
The heather was in full bloom and looking magnificent although this picture doesn’t really capture it.
Views opening out as we climb.
I’ve come to love and seek out those small hills that deliver expansive views (indeed me and Mark are planning a book on the subject that we will never write). I have a wide list now but Carn Fadryn is easily the pick of the bunch, for me anyway. Me and Mark debate this regularly, always coming down to choice between Carn Fadryn and Arnside Knott. Mark always chooses the latter as its his local hill he can walk from home and he knows every path and corner. Whilst I’ve grown to love it as well having climbed it many times myself, my heart will always belong to Carn Fadryn. Its even featured in a recent TGO magazine article by Jim Perrin.
With views like this its not hard to see why we love it so much. In one direction you have the distant mountains of Snowdonia.
In the other a view along the peninsula, both coastlines visible.This day we also had the clearest view of the Wicklow Mountains in Ireland that I can remember.
We spread out across the top to enjoy a leisurely brew and snacks.
Mark managed to find enough space to lie down!
We spent a good hour up here despite the strong breeze blowing. On a perfect day of clear views and brooding distant clouds its hard to tear yourself away.
That’s it from part 1 of our holidays. Part 2 coming up in the next few posts
Last summer our usual gathering at Towyn Farm on the Llyn Peninsula couldn’t go ahead due to COVID, the first year we’d missed it since 2006. This year we were determined to make it and after a bit of negotiation with owners managed to secure a few nights to meet up with friends, play some games and generally get up to all the stuff kids and adults pretending to be kids do when by the beach.
Our encampment on the site at sunset.
And on a sunny day. The forecast was very mixed but apart from a couple of wet nights we had plentiful sunshine and blue sky and in the UK you can’t argue with that.
Communal eating and drinking.
And our trailer tent looking resplendent as always.
Our good friend J-Dog taking a nap – all this activity proving a bit much for her.
We were very lucky this rather nasty looking storm passed us by!
Allowing us to complete a manic game of multi-frisbee.
The main focus is of course the beach and we spent many happy hours down there on a variety of water-craft as well as some excellent snorkelling.
This year, even UF graced us with his presence. I think he became accustomed to us sitting on the beach all day when the kids were small so he stopped coming. Now that beach sports and campsite games are more in order he decided to return and seemed to have a great time.
A couple of wobbly shots from me on the SUP.
TBF prefers a more leisurely pace of life
Second half of the week we even had some pretty decent waves for body surfing and inflatable antics. I even managed to surf the SUP, (albeit in kayak mode)
No trip to Towyn would be complete with our wooden blocks games – this one is Molke.
One of the highlights for me, our wanders down to the beach at sunset to enjoy the peace and quiet and play games in near darkness.
This one was an improvised game of bowls using beach rocks.
The sunsets here are spectacular.
A different evening visit.
For a few brief moments the sun illuminated the coast in glorious colour.
The dark shadow of our old friend Carn Fadryn.
Footprints in the sand.
Beach cricket until bad light stopped play.
EWO waiting for the next blue patch.
We’ve traveled far and wide over the years but there will always be a special place in my heart for Towyn Farm campsite and its beach. So many happy memories and glad we could create some more this year.
We did plenty of walking during a week in Wales. I’ve rolled them all into one long post otherwise I’ll never catch up the blog!
First up, one of our regular classics. A trip down to the far end of the peninsula, parking up on the summit of Mynydd Mawr, kicking things off with a picnic in the sun.
Its a grand spot with panoramic views out across to Bardsey and back along the spine of the peninsula towards Snowdonia.
The colours were just amazing. Deep blue sky, azure sea, purple heather and yellow gorse.
There is plenty of up and down as you head NE towards Mynydd Anelog to work off that picnic.
More sensational views as the path is largely well above the waterline
Up onto Mynydd Anelog another of the Llyn’s magnificent view points.
Happy campers enjoying a marvellous summer stroll.
Final views from Mynydd Mawr before heading back for some beach fun.
Later in the week while others played on the beach me, TJS and TBF went out for another walk, this time to The Rivals. It was a late in the afternoon so we planned to do two of the three.
More stunning purple heather and more stunning vistas.
Looking back at the high summit of Yr Eifl from the third and un-named Rival.
It may not have a name but its a wonderful little summit. The climb from behind the Mobile Phone mast is up a carved set of steps through the scree and the views from the summit every bit as good as others in the area, if not better.
We were lucky to catch the summit under such a clear sky making the views even better (it was a bit dreary the last time we were up here).
This range of hills tucked between Snowdonia and the peninsula are just begging a walk one of these days although I know almost nothing about them.
Its pretty much 1,500 feet straight down to the sea making for amazing coastal panoramas.
Time to head back down to the col for the steep climb to the highest point.
A view down the steep steps that take you up/down to the phone mast.
The third of the Rivals, the magnificent hill fort of Tre’r Ceiri.
And the view back to our first peak. The cloud had rolled in while we climbed, heralding some overnight rain but a cracking afternoon out.
No trip to the area is complete without and ascent of my favourite small hill, Carn Fadryn (although this is its little sibling)
As always a team outing that all the families enjoy.
It was a tag-team sort of week with comings and goings of various people. EWO had joined us by now.
A couple of photos from a very short local walk along the cliffs at Towyn, curtailed by clouds of horrid black flies.
There is one in the photo below for proof.
On our last day, the cast had changed again. The Silverdale Massive had gone home but numbers were swelled by TYG and Z from Harrogate.
We took a walk around the coast at Whistling Sands, Porth Oer.
There were dark clouds and storms scudding across the sky but as the day progressed the blue sky took hold and it was fabulous walk.
Team photo.
We wandered along the coast and then returned to the small summit of Mynydd Carreg.
Me and TJS had been up here a few years back on a dreary day when it was in the cloud.
As you can see, yet another of the Llyn Peninsula’s seemingly endless collection of a small hills with great views.
I love this part of the world. An irresistible combination of stunning coastline, beautiful beaches, and small mountains. Despite this, it still seems little known (relatively speaking) and uncrowded. A gem.
Still in August on the blog and memories from a grand week up our regular haunt at Towyn Farm on the Llyn Peninsula.
This year we were visiting at the end of summer rather than the start due to various other commitments.
The weather gods were generous and we had a week of glorious sunshine apart from one grey day albeit a bit windy and chilly in the second half of the week. The only heavy rain was overnight and all was dry after breakfast.
The first post will be beach focused and the second around our walking outings.
We were first to arrive to a very packed campsite so on the first afternoon we took a trip out to Porth Dinllaen for a walk on the beach and along the coast.
The views across the bay to the Rivals was superb and the weather was hot, calm and sunny.
The added bonus is the presence of the Ty Coch Inn right on the beach. Its only accessible on foot and a fine spot to put a pub.
The beach was packed with families and everyone enjoying a drink. We decided to join in for a lunchtime beer. The ambience was such that one drink morphed into several hours and three more drinks. It set the holiday off to a great start and we laughed and talked as a family (fuelled by a few beers for me and TJS I should add)
We were on and off the local Towyn beach all week in some pretty glorious weather, swimming, snorkelling, chucking frisbees, playing cricket and boules and generally enjoying life.
The windy weather fetched up some pretty decent waves and we had a couple of really good body-boarding sessions.
The DBs in particular were enjoying the rides
A fabulously clear and sunny afternoon, one of many that week.
Sunsets from the campsite are always feature of a visit here.
As it was later in the year evening fun on the beach was curtailed by the earlier darkness. This did give us an excuse to sit around the fire most evenings despite the chilly temps.
Our last day was remembered for as high a tide here as I can remember, pushing waves right up to the base of the earthy cliffs.
It made our game of boules quite interesting.
A great finish to a great week from the last hurrah of summer
Our trips to the Llyn Peninsula would not be complete without a walk up Carn Fadryn – the poster hill of all small hills in my view. Me and Mark were clearly tuned into the same wavelength as we both thought that watching the sunset from the summit would be good idea. We made plans and ate early for a change but the weather looked like it was on a very different wavelength. The summit had been shrouded in cloud all day. There were signs that it might clear (the clouds over the campsite had dispersed) so we went for it anyway.
We ascended through moist damp mist and the signs were not looking good. Still its a fine walk in any conditions and we still had hope. As we approached the summit there was definitely a semblance of light and possible views. What we got was extraordinary and magnificent.
The very moist air was being blown along by a strong wind and pushed up over the mountain. As it rose the water vapour condensed and formed clouds while we were watching. It was Orographic Cloud formation in action and we were right in the middle of it
The kids seemed not quite as excited as the adults but they are smiling in this photo so they must have been happy. DB Junior would have been happy as this is his Birthday Hill and we’d climbed it even though his Birthday wasn’t for another couple of days
The views along the peninsula would appear in stark clarity and then just as quickly disappear again as the cloud washed over us
It was hugely impressive although its looked like we weren’t going to get a sunset. As well as the cloud swirling around us there was a bank of cloud over the Irish Sea that was going to cover then sun. We did get some sunlight reflected off the sea and that combined with the weird clouds we were watching was more than enough for a worthwhile climb
It was pretty damp and most of us were inappropriately dressed in T-shirts and shorts so it was time to head down. I’m not sure why but me and EWO lingered for an extra couple of minutes. Just enough for the sun dip below the cloud and light it up with an ethereal other worldly glow
The light was just amazing and we called the others back for a look (the kids were long gone by now)
The light was like nothing I’ve ever seen
Very difficult to capture on film with such fleeting views and poor light. I probably should have taken some video – that only occurred to me this evening over a month on!
It felt like the show went on for ages but it can’t have been more than a couple of minutes
The sun then dipped behind the cloud bank, the light returned to a grey gloomy and we were damp and cold, but completely fulfilled. A magnificent outing, not quite the sunset we had in mind, something much better
Last lingering shot of the setting sun over the farm
On to our summer hols. We had a major three week trip planned with some of our old friends and families who regularly appear on the blog. The main focus of the trip was France so what better way to start than a 3 hour journey in the opposite direction to North Wales and the Llyn Peninsula. For a variety of reasons we had to do the trip in the early part of the summer hols but we didn’t want to miss out on our annual trip to Towyn Farm so we just combined the two legs into one long 3 week holiday. Lots of driving but always good to get in a 3 week break from the rigours of work.
Right on cue the endless hot summer broke the day we travelled. We’d been on the road 10 minutes before we saw rain. We pitched the camper in slanting cold drizzle instead of hot evening sunshine. Despite the fact that we had rain overnight and a few very damp misty mornings I seem to recall sunshine on most days and by the time we moved on the heatwave was back in action
The routine for these trips is simple. Get up late, eat breakfast late and lazily, wander to the beach, play some games and swim, eat lunch lazily and late, back to the beach, eat tea late, back to the beach in the dusk and dark. We normally throw in a trip up Carn Fadryn (later post) and sometimes a walk further afield but the general tone is one of relaxed and unhurried pottering and play.
It was also the first time out for our upgraded camper. The old aluminium poles have been replaced by inflatable Air Beams and its amazing. Its now genuinely quick to pitch. I can have it unhitched and ready to inhabit in around 30 minutes. The beams seem amazingly strong although they have yet to try out a UK storm. The awning is new and is also supported by air beams
The air was still warm and humid so it was wonderful sitting on the beach and playing, Despite the hot weather the sea was bitingly cold, possibly a result of the cold winter with sea temperatures always lagging behind the land. Might be good for swimming in October!
The game of choice is Kubb (or Plop as me and EWO are want to call it – gives you a very clear idea of my puerile sense of humour)
Who would have thought a game of throwing wood at other wood could be fun but it is. Especially enlivened by our little gang’s propensity for over-reaction, baiting, gamesmanship, barracking and the like
We played many, many times over the course of the holidays and it was always fun and generated many laughs and recriminations (including me knocking a block over and seeing it right itself – everyone thought it was hilarious insisting I hadn’t knocked it down when a post holiday check of the rules confirmed I was right – outrage!)
Playing Kubb remains one of the abiding memories of the holiday
Evenings were always a highlight. We ate outside and BBQ most nights in a very convivial atmosphere
I even bought some special BBQ marshmallows although it wasn’t entirely clear how these differed from ordinary marshmallows
And of course this spot deliver some stunning sunsets
Our upgraded camper minus its awning
Dusk and the rising moon
And another sunset
A view to Carn Fadryn on our last morning. The clouds hugging the summit were a feature of our stay and it delivered a memorable experience when we climbed it. More on that in the next post
Another great trip and I’m hoping that we can persuade the kids to keep up the tradition of these visits as they start to move into their new lives as University for some of them approaches
I spend alot of my time surfing the web looking for ideas on places to go, walking routes, travel ideas and tips to plan the perfect holiday or day out. (I'm a project manager I like to plan). I thought it was time to share my own experiences and contribute to the vast amounts in information that's already out there.
I'll also add in some gear and tech reviews and when something irks me I may even use this forum to have a rant - I do that pretty well I'm told.There are a few pages at the top that give a bit of background to what I like to get up to and what you can expect to see in my posts. I'm not exactly a creative writer but I hope some people will find my stuff useful or inpsiring or at least enjoy some of my photos.
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