Wales
Please follow this link to view a diary of our 2 week Wales adventure in 2005.
This is my version of events, as I saw them, and more importantly, remember them.
Please follow this link to view a diary of our 1 week Wales adventure in 2015.
This is my version of events, as I saw them, and more importantly, remember them.
Please follow this link to view a diary of our 1 week Wales adventure in 2018.
This is my version of events, as I saw them, and more importantly, remember them.
I like going to Wales as it is relatively easy to get to. My favourite mountain in Wales is Tryfan; I prefer to go up the North Ridge as this affords some excellent scrambling opportunities. I have lost count of the number of times I have summated Tryfan, but it is rare if I get to follow the same route completely to the top. The good thing about the North ridge of Tryfan is you can make the climb as easy or as hard as you want, so if you find that the weather is not too good, you can go the easy way, but if the weather is good, then depending on your ability you can make it very hard.
Other mountains I enjoy are Moel Siabod, the Glyders and Snowdon via Crib Goch. I also now have a favourite low level walk for when the weather is not too good or just as a change from climbing; the walk takes you from Capel Curig and round Llyn Crafnant. Even this walk can be extended by taking in Llyn Geirionnydd.
Me, Andy & Ray
at the top of Devils Kitchen
2005
Moel Siabod offers brilliant views of Snowdon on clear days, but as you will see from some of my photos, you can get excellent views in every direction.
The Glyders is like a lunar landscape, with its unusual rock formations, but also gives you excellent views of Snowdon, on a clear day you can watch the Snowdon Mountain Railway taking the tourists up to the café on top.
I must admit it has been quite a few years since attempting Snowdon from any route, let alone via Crib Goch, but I would like to do that route again one day.
My favourite part of North Wales.
The Ogwen Valley, with Tryfan,
Bristly Ridge, the Glyders
and The Devils Kitchen
I have been to Wales quite a few times over the years, have even ventured into South Wales to The Brecon Beacons, but North Wales is my favourite part of Wales.
I have been there with many different people over the years, my aunt & uncle, Colin, Eric, Pendra, Len and of course Andy & Ray.
As I have said in my About me page, Andy & Ray went to Wales in 2004, for 2 weeks, of which I could only go for a long weekend. In 2005 the three of us went for 2 weeks. a lot of my photos are from 2005.
Llanfairpwllgwyngyllgogerychwyrndrobwllllantysiliogogogoch
or Llanfair PG as it is known.
In 2004 Andy, Ray and I took my eldest daughter Kirsty (7 years of age) to Wales for a week, so she could see what I like to do to relax. She wanted to climb Tryfan, so we planned which route we would take, (not the North Ridge) to give her an idea of the effort involved in such a task, we took her on our Vernham Dean walk in Hampshire a couple of weeks before we went to Wales.
I gave Kirsty the idea of raising some money for charity while doing the Tryfan climb. So we got some sponsorship forms for Cilc Sargent (the children’s cancer charity), I had done a zip-wire challenge for this charity a year earlier, and thought it would be a good idea. Kirsty managed to raise around £200 for the charity.
We had a great few days in Wales, we didn't do much walking/climbing because we only had a few days there, but it was great to just be away on holiday, even a short holiday.
So on 14/07/2004, a very hot day, we all set off up Tryfan from Idwal Cottage car park, with Kirsty full of energy and determination, wanting to carry her own rucksack. We knew it would be a very tiring day for Kirsty, after a while she had to surrender her rucksack. We stopped every time she wanted to take a breather, at one point she got upset, saying she couldn't do it, but we talked her round and gave her loads of encouragement, even someone coming down from the summit gave Kirsty £5 towards her sponsorship, which I think did the trick at that point, as she seemed to summon up some energy from somewhere to continue.
Our retreat on the outskirts of Llanfair PG
We arrived at the South Peak, this being the point Andy & Ray didn't want to continue, so Kirsty and I continued to the North summit and Adam & Eve. After a couple of photos, we headed back to Andy & Ray and then headed back down to the car. Needless to say Kirsty was exhausted by the time we reached the car, but after a nice refreshing ice pop she said she enjoyed the climb.
I was so proud of Kirsty, for her determination to complete this climb and also for the money she raised for such a worthy cause.
Kirsty ready for her 1st climb up Tryfan
Andy & Ray in the background.
Kirsty & me taking a breather.
Kirsty standing next to Adam & Eve
at the summit of Tryfan
Kirsty cooling down with an ice pop after
completing her climb up Tryfan.
In 2006 we did one of our regular walks, Llyn Crafnant, this is what we class as a low level walk, as there is no major steep climbs (except for on the way back) When on this walk; we caught up with a group of young kids (8 to 12 years old). One of them seemed to be struggling as we walked past; we asked if everything was OK? One of the youngsters replied that he thinks he had twisted his ankle but would be OK! We carried on our way for a short distance, until my conscience got the better of me! We turned round and went back to the youngsters to see what could be done! We asked where they were heading. A camp site near to Llyn Crafnant was the reply! I talked it through with Andy & Ray. I gave Andy my rucksack and got the young lad of about 10 years of age onto my shoulders, we then set off on the route to Llyn Crafnant. I am glad the lad was quite light! I carried him all the way along the route to next to the Farm house. We showed them how to form a chair by interlocking their arms, to carry the young lad the rest of the way to the campsite. Once we had done the circuit of Llyn Crafnant, we passed the campsite, and a load of the kids came running up to the wall saying he was OK. We think they were part of a Scout group or something like that, but thought it strange that they were so far away from any adults! We never did think to ask his name.
South Stack Lighthouse 2008
In July 2008, Andy, Ray, Len (Ray's brother) & I went to Wales for a week, this would be Len's 1st time with the three of us.
Due to one thing or another, I do not have much information about this week away! I do know we all had a great if not boozy time, we did a few excursions into the great outdoors, but we also had some great days either at the cottage or going into the village. We had some great nights, laughing and joking around, we even used the BBQ as a camp fire one evening, just sat around it joking around and having a few drinks (OK a lot of drinks! well we were on holiday) into the early hours.
Me in front of Adam & Eve on Tryfan 2015
September 2015, Andy and I head back to Wales with Andy's friend James. This time we are armed with decent cameras (although I am still learning the basics).
I was looking forward to this week away for around a year, ever since Andy asked if I would be interested in going. Of course I jumped at the chance. Due to our financial circumstances, Susie and I have not been away on holiday since we took my girls to Chirck (Wales) way back in 2009. So for me to have the chance to go away for a week, even though Susie wasn't going to be there, was something I couldn't miss out on. So our 2015 adventure began. Or did it? my finances nearly stopped me the week before we were due to go! I made the choice to still go and worry about the cost at a later date!
Me on the summit of Snowdon 2018
In 2017, we started talking again about going back to the cottage in 2018. When I visited Andy & Les in March 2018, we talked again about going to the cottage later in the year, Les, said she would book the cottage for us. I cannot remember when it was, when I asked if we had any dates yet for the cottage, but Les tried to book a week at the beginning of September, but it was booked, when I checked the website for next available dates, it showed the following week as being available. Les contacted the owner, only to be told that week wasn't available either, so we tried the following week, but all we could get without leaving it too late in the year, was from Tuesday 25th to Saturday 29th September (the owner had let the cottage over the weekend until the Tuesday). We settled for these dates, not impressed we couldn't get the full week.
Our 2019 home from home Abergele
Although over the years we have had a long weekend away, or I have been away for a week with Andy, it has been quite a while since we as a family have had a proper holiday. So in 2019, we decide it was time for that to change. I have no idea where we came up with the idea of going to Abergele, but we found a lovely self-catering cottage on the outskirts of Abergele, on Saturday 13th July, we headed to North Wales and Abergele.
The aftermath of the 1974 M62 coach bombing
On the way to north Wales, we stopped at Hartshead Moor Services for a break, while there I noticed a memorial to armed forces service personnel and their families who were killed or injured on 4th February 1974, when an IRA bomb exploded on the coach they were travelling in, killing 12 people and injuring more than fifty. As I was only 7 years old back then, would explain why I didn’t know anything about this act of terrorism.
Gwrych Castle
We had no real plans of places to visit once we got there, it was just a wait and see what we felt like doing.
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When we arrived at the cottage, I found some of the normal tourist attraction leaflets that you would normally find, but then I came across one for Gwrych Castle, after looking through the leaflet, and having a look on google, I thought this is somewhere we need to visit. So, on 14th July we went to Gwrych Castle.
Rhos on Sea
Susie had said about going to Rhos on Sea, she had been there years before, and fancied going again. So, on 18th July we headed up the coast to Rhos on Sea via Old Colwyn & Colwyn Bay. We didn’t really stop in either Old Colwyn or Colwyn Bay due to lack of available parking spaces near the front, so we just carried onto Rhos on Sea. Once parked up, we headed for the seafront, we just had a walk along the seafront, enjoying the views and the weather. Although it was sunny, there was still a lot of cloud about. I don’t recall if I had ever been to Rhos on Sea before, but I enjoyed being there, it is a lovely place to visit.
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Please click here to view photos I took while at Rhos on Sea.
Conwy Castle
On the 19th July we decided to go to Conwy. I have been a few times before as a child with my aunt & uncle. Not that I could remember any of it, but I have always wanted to go back, especially to see the Castle. Susie has also been to Conwy before, and she wanted to go again.
In 2018 when Andy and I were last in North Wales, we briefly visited Colwyn Bay, so Andy could get some filters for his camera, from there we went to Llandudno for the day. On our way back to the cottage, we could see the Castle in the distance, and it had scaffolding all around it! So, this time I was hoping the scaffolding had gone, so I could get some decent photos of the Castle as it should be. To my relief the Castle was devoid of scaffolding when we visited.
We got parked up and went for a walk around the town and got something to eat before going to the Castle.
The Castle is a great place to visit, I got some reasonable photos while we were there. I would have liked to have spent more time there, maybe next time.
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Please click here for a brief history of the Conwy Castle or to see my photos click here.
Point of Ayr Lighthouse
We had a couple of friends stay with us for a good part of the week we were in Abergele, I had an idea that while they were staying with us, they could have gone somewhere to visit or gone shopping, and I could go off and take photos, without them all being bored waiting for me. I had looked into locations of lighthouses near by, and one which caught my attention was Point of Ayr Lighthouse on Talacre Beach near the little village of Talacre which is to the East of Prestatyn. I wanted to spend a few hours there, trying to get some decent photos. But like the saying goes "The best-laid plans of mice and men often go awry" the oppertunity didn't present itself, so we came up with a comprimise, we would call at the lighthouse on our way back home.
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When arrived at to carpark to Talacre beach, we headed towards the lighthouse, there was quite a cold breeze blowing in from the Irish Sea! Susie suffers from earache if there is a strong cold breeze/wind about, but Susie put up with it for a while, so I could get closer to the lighthouse to get some photos, I didn't manage to get that many, as I was aware Susie was feeling the effects of the the cold wind. So after getting some photos, I rejoined Susie, Ben & Aimee, and we headed into the village to get a hot drink before heading home.
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Please click here for a brief history of the Point of Ayr Lighthouse or to see my photos click here.