Chester & North Wales Holiday August 2021
Chester
Friday 13th August
Arriving in Chester, sorting out the car parking and an early evening meal. We head out into Chester, down to the station, across to the Royal Mail sorting office, or Head Office for Chester & North Wales when I worked there. We then walk up into the town, under the famous clock and to the Cathedral and City Hall.
Then through Northgate and onto the city walls. A great walk around the city, with views across showing the different ages of the city’s growth and building works, we spot the locks, racecourse, Roman gardens and amphitheater, walk up and under the city clock a good walk around. We then walk back through the city centre to the hotel.
Chester has certainly changed since we were last here and certainly when I worked here some 30+ years ago. Still a good city to visit with magnificent old buildings and of course the city walls.
Tomorrow to Pwllheli via Mold and the A55
Pwllheli via Mold, Llandudno and the A55
Saturday 14th August
We start with a nice Breakfast at the hotel. Set off past the railway station in Chester and Royal Mail to recreate the journey back home to Mold. We did not get far as the road works in Chester’s development had closed the road. After a trip around Chester we got out on the A55 and set off to Mold.
Following the signs as I could not remember they way I used to go, we arrived in Mold Main Street, only to find the street market had closed the Main Street to the left of the junction, the way I intended going! So after a huge detour and getting lost we make it to the bottom of the Main Street and follow the road to Archway and see our “old” house…memories!
Then taking the road out we head for St Asphef drive past the cathedral and back onto the A55.
We get off at Conwy to visit the castle. It is so crowded we change our minds, one for another day. Instead we make our way to Llandudno. We have a nice walk around this busy Victorian seaside town, a good ice cream and set off around the Great Orme headland, toll road £3:70!
Good drive around and views are ok, limited due to the mist. We then find our way up to the top of the Great Orme and look around.
We were going to Bangor, it started to rain, so will add this onto our Anglesey trip.
So we head for Pwllheli via Caernarfon , find our Airbnb and settle in. Fish & Chips for tea followed by a walk round and then unloading Tesco!
Busy day, loads of people about, and the weather not kind on occasions. Good to go back to Mold and Llandudno. We explore Pwllheli more tomorrow…
Pwllheli - coastal walk
Sunday 15th August
After a relaxing start we set off for a walk along the coast further into the Llyn Peninsula. The sea seemed to be quite well in, although the tidal drop seems very little.
We walk along to near Llanbedrog with views across the sea for most of the way. A slight dampness on the atmosphere. At Llanbedrog we stop, quick rest and start the return journey, and watch 3 jet skiers strut there stuff out in the sea….
Good walk, and both sea and rural scenery as we went along.
In the evening we walked the other way, along the promenade to the lifeboat area, looked out to sea and then walked around the harbour edge and back along the sea front to the flat
Ffestiniog railway - Porthmadog
Monday 16th August
So today its off to Porthmadog and we are going on the fabulious Ffestiniog railway up as far as Tan y Bwlch on the Woodland Wanderer…. About half way due to previous restrictions because of Covid 19.
We have lunch there and undertake a short walk in the woodlands…. Then it’s back on the train for a return journey to Porthmadog.
We undertake the flat walk across the Cob, nice walk and views, bit hard on the feet…. On the way back a train goes past, hence the pictures… we then head out of Porthmadog to Pwllheli.
Llyn Peninsula
Tuesday 17th August 2021
Today we explore the Llyn Peninsula and start off travelling from Pwllheli to stop at Morfa Nefyn and walk out on the Porthdinllaen peninsula… This is very pretty made even more so by the strong winds blowing the seas onto the rocks. We walk along the golf course, up to the coastal watch building, over to look at the RNLI building and traditional slipway and down over the Sandy beach and coast line beyond.
We then head for Porth Towyn Tudweiliog, which we see from a distance and then onto Porth Colman, where we have lunch and view from a distance.
Following the coast down we go to a lovely little beach called Porthor. We walk along this curved Sandy beach up over the cliffs and along the coastal path. There are a good few people on the beach enjoying the waves, sand and scenery
We then go onto the Mynydd headland. First road takes us to a great view of Beardsley island but no more. Doubling back and turning off left we get to the area where we can drive to the top of the headland with great views up both sides of the LLyn Peninsula and over Beardsley Island again
We then head to Aberdaron. This is a small coastal village, with a couple of pubs, cafes, ice cream shops etc and a long Sandy beach. It’s quite pretty with views over a couple of small islands and beyond.
From here our next stop is Porth Neigwl beach in Hells Mouth Bay. This is a very long and large beach, with not many people on it at 17:30! There is a group out having a surf lesson and a few on body boards. Sandy beach.
Then our final stop of the day Abersoch and we make our way down to the Beach. This is a much busier village, more commercial and lots of yachts / boats on the beach and more up beyond. The area is nice and the view out into the bay to the island off this are good and interesting….
A really good day exploring the Llyn Peninsula. We don’t think we have been to any of those places before and much of it reminded us as a small version of West Cornwall.
Morfa Nefyn and walk out on the Porthdinllaen peninsula
Porthor
Mynydd headland and a great view of Beardsley island
Porth Neigwl
Abersoch
