Our motto for the walk from Macbeth, much quoted by Lucy “I am in blood stepped in so far that should I wade no more, Returning were as tedious as go o’er,”
Here we are at last, the final day’s walking on the Wales Coast Path. We were up early only to be greeted by a dense sea fog. By the time we positioned our cars and set off along the promenade in Beaumaris, there was enough visibility to walk, but not to see the glorious views across the bay.
Beaumaris Castle was a vague, ghostly outline in the distance. From the promenade we entered a kissing gate which led us up through a grassy field. We stopped to talk to a chap who was hoping for the fog to lift. We told him that by the end of the day we would have walked the 870 miles of the Wales Coast Path. He was full of admiration and wanted to know what charity we were supporting so he could donate. Several people had offered to donate to a charity of our choice enroute but we hadn’t really considered the option.
Once off the grassy path we followed the road clearly signposted – onto a concrete wall then a shingle beach, we tried to find some sandy bits as the shingle was hard work. Tip toeing along in the mist, we must have been a sorry sight should anybody be looking out from the houses as we scrunched our way along delicately.
Along the cliff face caves appear to have been dug out, while one boulder looks like an ugly giant’s face, alongside an isolated rock formation.
Before we are forced off the beach by a river running through, we stop to take in the big reveal. The mist has lifted a little and we get a brief view of Snowdonia in the distance. Tantalising!
We head inland following the signs to steps, another shingle beach and yet another long stretch by road to the 11th Century Penmon Priory, with it’s distinctive Dovecote which dates from the 16th century.
Exiting through the Toll Gate we make good time to Trwyn Du and the Penmon Lighthouse. Still draped in mist, we couldn’t see across to Puffin island let alone Llandudno and the Isle of Man. My hair is damp from the clinging mist.
The camper vans parked here for the night we’re getting ready to set off for the day, while we made our way to the whitewashed cafe for a cuppa.
The WCP turns left just before the car park here entering into an area covered by bushes, clearly signposted until you reach a long whitish wall. Continuing until we passed a corner of a house, we are signpost downhill.
From here we lost track of directions, just following the route around and between whitewashed houses, over narrow roads and wooded track to Glan-yr-Afon.
We were reminiscing about our walk so much we must have missed a sign, as the guidebooks talk about Llanfihangel Chapel while we found ourselves at Llanfihangel School, but we soon picked up the working farm which was mentioned in the guide books.
Blimey, I must have been tired as I left my camera on the wall here while I checked on our onward journey. Soon spotted, I raced back to collect it, the camera has been like an additional limb through this adventure.
Lots of work taking place on the path here, so the guidebooks don’t follow the new layout. There is still a steep descent down some steps though, and while we had rather hoped that we would end our 870 mile walk with stunning views across to Red Wharf Bay and Llanddona Beach, but that weird sea mist was still hanging around.
Down on the beach we found a local fisherman who was happy to take our photo, before we jumped in the car for taking on that testing road up to Llanddona village and home.