Church Bay to Cemaes – Wales Coast Path

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Joined today by good friends Esther Roberts and Judith Newton who are chivying us along the final stages of the Wales Coast Path walk.

We first strolled round the grounds of the Swtan Heritage Museum, which doesn’t open until the second bank holiday in May, it is a restored 17th century Welsh Cottage, the roof is thatched and the walls whitewashed..

There is a pay and display car park and toilet here, with a cafe nearby.

We set off at a brisk pace gradually going uphill towards Porth y Bribys, we had to really stop and consider our next steps as there were fences and signs intermingled, plus lots of cows in the field.  We eventually made our way past the cows, down an incline to the little island Ynys y Fydlyn, with a freshwater lake beyond.

We stopped for a breather, and chatted to some fellow walkers, before scrambling up the cliff face and some rocky terrain before levelling off as we approached the abandoned copper works and the two navigational points known as the White Ladies.

Out to sea the Skerries Lighthouse dominates the horizon, a reminder of the treacherous seas around Anglesey, and the numerous shipwrecks sand lives lost – a sobering thought.

Even more sobering is the sight of Wylfa Nuclear Power Station. Juxtaposition against the rural scenes of sheep grazing and farmers tilling the fields, it is altogether a bizarre site.

We sidetracked from here to visit the little church in the field beyond and made our way across  the Mynachdy estate, dropping slightly to Hen Borth then rounding Trwyn Cemlyn, followed by a hard slog across the shingle on Cemlyn Bay.  We stopped to talk to some wardens from the reserve who were watching out for incoming birds, mainly terns. Rather them than me, as there was a fresh, cool breeze blowing.

At the Felinheli Cafnan corn-mill we took a break, situated in a little dip, it was out of the wind and also Wylfa was out of sight. I washed my boots in the clear water, certainly had collected some mud during the walk.

Back on track we were soon trying to negotiate our way around Wylfa. There was a sign discarded in the bushes leading to the forest, and that path was overgrown, so we walked around Wylfa following the roadway keeping a wary eye open for some very discreet signage.  It felt strange, soulless and not the most endearing part of the walk.  We eventually climbed over a gateway to get out of the area.

We quickly made our way towards  Cemaes Head, opting for the short cut to Cemaes, stopping at the Stag pub for a bar meal, before completing our walk, passing Harry Furlong Buoy which now stands to one side of the Main Street to the harbour, rather than warning ships against the danger of the rocks at Trwyn Cemlyn.

The sun shone on the pretty little harbour of Cemaes as four tired ladies made their way to the car park.


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