A Big Welcome in Holyhead

Cruise ships are coming into Holyhead in increasing numbers, and I am very impressed by the way that the red carpet is being rolled out to cruise visitors. On the Thompson Spirit, which visited with 1250 people yesterday, only 250 were on the ship's own excursions, which left 900 - 1000 arriving on shuttle buses, going on independent tours and walking around the town. A huge and very impressive effort was made by the Council, and everyone involved, and this clearly impressed the visitors, many of whom will hopefully return to Wales for a longer stay in the future.

Big welcome from Bethan Hughes and Amy from Anglesey Council. They operated an information service from a caravan at terminal 1 providing much needed advice and direction.

All over Holyhead you will find interesting sculptures and artwork which convey an excellent sense of place.

The new bridge that connects the railway station and terminal 1 with the town is efficient, welcoming and stylish.

The bunting is out for visitors.

An interesting piece of street sculpture evoking sailing ships.

The local male voice choir performed for the visitors, who were greatly impressed both by the quality of the singing and the warmth of the welcome.

 On the day of my visit there was also jetty entertainment of traditional Welsh music by Dawnsio Bro Cefni, a flower festival in the church, naval re-enactments and welcoming Roman soldiers, about which I will write separately.

Spooky Clouds - can anyone explain?

I was driving along the A499 yesterday morning and spotted these beautiful cloud formations to the south. These are photographs taken from Glynllifon towards western Snowdonia, the hills are probably Mynydd Mawr, Mynydd Graig Goch and Moel Tryfan. I was strucky by the eerie way the clouds seemed to be tumbling off the mountains. Can anyone explain this please?

Penrhyn Castle Circular Walk

Readers of Wales and Borders Magazine may have come across this walk starting at Penrhyn Castle. If you have completed it, let us know what you thought of it.


View Penrhyn Castle Circular Walk in a larger map

Directions
1. Leave the car park and walk back down the drive to the main entrance, through the gatehouse and to the main road. Turn left then immediately left again towards the school. Bend right with the lane and walk down the narrow lane between the school and the graveyard on the left. Continue to the gate and emerge onto the main road. Turn left.

2. Head over the bridge and continue carefully along the road, past a private entrance, and eventually over a bridge across a railway line. Continue until you seen the sign for the nature reserve pointing left. Take this lane and walk along it, crossing another railway bridge. Continue for almost another mile to a car park near the coast.

3. Bear right through the car park to pick up the footpath along the beach. Continue along the Wales Coast Path for almost 2 miles, passing the overflow and a track on the right and then a small bay.

4. Eventually, look out for track above the beach and join it to pass the farm and then reach the car park. Bear right ro follow the lane away from the coast. Follow it under the bridge and turn right at the junction. Pass the houses and continue, turning at the next left (signposted for Abergwyngregyn and Bangor).

5. Follow the pavement under the main road and turn right at the junction, passing the church on your left. Follow the road as it bends left then right. Continue for just over half a mile (ignore the first lane to the left) to a set of lane crossroads. Go straight across and continue along the lane, eventually passing a farm. Stay with the lane, ignoring all roads to the left and right.

6. Eventually you will meet a drive coming from the right near the A55. Stay ahead here and follow the lane beside the main road. You will pass bungalows and a lane to the right, and continue on the verge as the road widens.

7. At junction (with Hendre Hall on the left) turn right and across the bridge over the A55. Follow the road as it bends left and at the junction turn right through Tan-y-Lon village. Continue to follow this road as it leads back over the railway bridge you crossed earlier, until you find the gate on the right. Go through the gate and back up the lane beside the churchyard, through Llandygai village and retrace your steps to the start.

Other points of interest

Aber Falls are a short distance from Abergwyngregyn.

Refreshments

Abbeyfield Hotel, Talybont, Bangor, Gwynedd LL57 3UR
Tel: 01248 361299
www.abbeyfieldhotel.co.uk

Penrhyn Castle Tea Room, Penrhyn Castle, Bangor, Gwynedd, LL57 4HN
Tel: 01248 353084
www.nationaltrust.org.uk

Accommodation

Platt's Farm Camping and Bunkhouse, Aber Road, Llanfairfechan, Conwy LL33 0HL.
Tel: 01248 680105
www.plattsfarm.com

Barmouth Walking Festival 14th - 23rd September 2013

This year's Barmouth Walking Festival will take place Saturday 14th to Monday 23rd September 2013.

The Walking Festival is a well established event organised by Barmouth Publicity Association to take advantage of the fabulous walks and dramatic landscape accessible from Barmouth, on the west coast of Wales. Taking place in September every year, the festival gives walkers of all abilities the opportunity to enjoy guided walks around the beautiful Mawddach Estuary and Southern Snowdonia. Last year around 150 walkers completed approximately 450 walks over the course of the 10 day festival.

For more information, see the website, email hello@barmouthwalkingfestival.co.uk or phone Leslie or Kirstie on 01341 242 646. You can also follow the festival on Twitter at @barmouthwalking.

Connah's Quay to Chester Railway Path

This is an 8 mile walk from Connah's Quay in north east Wales, across the border to Chester, following the route of a disused railway. You can find more details on the Sustrans website.

The Chester and Connah's Quay Railway operated for over 100 years from 1890 to 1992, although it was only used for freight after passenger services stopped in 1969. I primarily transported material for steelmaking in Scotland until those steelworks closed down.

In just 8 miles you can walk in two different countries, crossing the river Dee and finishing in the picturesque Roman city of Chester. Much of the walk is through farmland, with distant views of the Clwydian hills.

Give something back to our beautiful coastline.

Do your bit to preserve the specialness of our magnificent beaches by joining the Marine Conservation Society's Beachwatch Big Weekend from the 20th to the 23rd of September.

Last year almost 3500 volunteers cleaned almost 240 beaches around the UK. They collected enough rubbish to fill over 1,800 bags. To take part in a cleanup near you, go to http://www.mcsuk.org/beachwatch/user/register or telephone 01989 566017.

Cambrian Coast Sportive

A diary date for all you keen cyclists out there. The Cambrian Coast Sportive is taking place on the 14th of September, starting from Aberdyfi, and climbing into the mountains of Snowdonia, in what must be one of the world's most scenic (but challenging) cycle routes. If you would like to enter, please do so before the 13th.

Cambrian Coast Sportive, 14th September, Aberdyfi, Gwynedd.

Tel: 01654 767070

www.welshcyclingevents.co.uk