East Lancs on the Anglesey Coastal Path-Part 2,Aberffraw to Bull Bay

Being a member of East Lancs& a regular visitor to Anglesey I arranged a two part walk of the 125 mile Anglesey coastal path. In the Coastal path guide book it recommends the island to be walked in 12 days. I was planning two parts, one in May & one in September of 4 days each. 16 walkers were in the group mainly East Lancs (2 yorkshiremen!! & a couple of ramblers!)

ANGLESEY COASTAL PATH-PART 2

Day1-Saturday 7^th September, 15.64 miles, 929 feet climbed.

ABERFFRAW to LLYN RHOS DDU

Aberffraw estuary is filled with over half a mile of wind blown sand dunes. It was once the administrative centre for the kings & princes of Gwynedd. 13 walkers set off on a glorious sunny day. We followed the estuary then came inland towards Hermon. We visited a church at Llangadwaladr which had an ancient memorial stone for King Cadfan dated 625.

After Malltraeth & an organised café stop we walked along the mile long seawall towards Newborough forest. The forest was planted in the 1950s to stabilise the sand dunes, along with Marram grass. After the beach at TraethPenrhos we went onto the island of Ynys Llanddwyn, good job the tide was out ( I did check even though there were a few disputes at the time!!) The lighthouse built in 1845, now abandoned guided ships into Caernarfon harbour. We followed the outskirts of the forest to the finish at LlynRhosDdu.

Day 2-Sunday 8^th September, 18.8 miles, 1,551 feet climbed-

LLYN RHOS-DDU to BEAUMARIS

Another nice day, 15 walkers today followed the lane down to the tidal river of AfonBraint. We crossed the river via stepping stones, good job I checked the tide was out again. We passed the Anglesey sea zoo, quick coffee stop at the farm then a walk along the shingle beach along the Menai straits. At Llanidan we passed an old church ruins from the 14^th century. After Moel-y don the next section is prohibited land, so instead of catching the bus we navigated our way through fields to keep us off the busy road. After the village of Llanfaipwllgwyngyllgogerychwyrndrobwyllllantysiliogogogoch we went under the Britannia Bridge built by Robert Stephenson in 1850. Then on and under the Menai Bridge engineered by Thomas Telford in 1826. It took 8 years to build and was the first iron suspension bridge in the world at the time. We pushed on now to get to Beaumaris before the ice cream shop closed which we managed with half an hour to spare.

Day3-Monday 9^th September, 14.7 miles, 1273 feet climbed.

BEAUMARIS to BENLLECH

14 walkers today. Beaumaris was once the commercial capital of North Wales and was the main access point to the island until the suspension bridge was built in 1826. We walk on shingle beach now for a mile, and in the distance we hear bagpipes playing. We then had a  demonstration by a Scottish man on the bagpipes! Inland we pass the ruins of PenmonPriory  which date from the 12^th century. On the headland we reached Angleseys most easterly point, with a view to Puffin Island and Penmon Lighthouse. Approaching the vast expanse of sand at Red Wharf bay the troops voted to cut across the bay which was at low tide. (big mistake!!) The majority of us re-grouped and started to follow Don inland who had local knowledge of the river at the end of the bay. Half an hour later the four walkers and a dog met back up after negotiating the mud flats, red cards all round!

Day 4-Tuesday 10^th September,19.8 miles, 2,660 feet climbed

RED WHARF BAY to BULLBAY

13 walkers today, the longest hilliest day today, everyone still in good spirits.After torrential rain during the night we were pleased to have dry weather for the day. We walked along the cliff edges to the popular beach resort of Benllech followed by Moelfre. There is then an estuary to follow inland to a pub lunch stop well deserved. We approached the port of Amlwch which is famous for shipping copper from nearby Parys mountain in the early 18^th century. Then a slight detour (not lost really!!) we finished at Bull Bay.

We all thoroughly enjoyed this adventure, I highly recommend it for other groups, and I was pleased to still be No1 leader at the end & not thrown in the sea. Thanks to Ken & Don for all the accurate mileage (gadgets galore!!).

If any other groups are interested:-

Bull Bay Hotel 01407830223

www.bullbayhotel.co.uk

Kath Page walk organiser 01204-592653

Official Guide, Walking The Isle of Anglesey Coastal Path by Carl Rogers

Eifion coaches Ltd. 01407 721111

nigel@eifionscoaches.co.uk