The Walk: We had an early start, 8:40am, in clear but cool weather. I was wearing my polypro for the first time. We started to climb shortly after leaving our B&B (Fron Hall), and within about 10 minutes I decided I also needed my windproof jacket. We had good views back over yesterday's route at this time.
It was a good pull to the top of the hill, Cefn Du, and I was glad we stayed at Sodom and not further down the hill in Bodfari. Climbing out of Bodfari to Cefn Du on a full stomach does not bear thinking about.
Just as we reached the summit the skys darkened, the rain came and the wind intensified. We put on all our wet weather gear. Needles to say, what might have been extensive views were seriously curtailed. The wind rose to almost frightening proportions and in crossing one field, near Rhuallt, we heard an almighty crack and saw a large branch break off an oak tree. Fortunately it was about 30 metres away. By midday the rain eased and the views improved but the wind was still horrendous.
The route into Prestatyn is quite imaginative, and climbs high above the town giving great views out to Snowdonia, and north to Lancashire, but we spent most of our time trying to keep upright in the gusting wind. As Shiel said, 'Now we know why they've sited a wind farm offshore here.' Fortunately the wind was blowing us onto the hillside, and not off it or the walk would have been impossible. On a calm day it must be a really impressive end to the walk. Full marks to the planners.
Having now done the walk I would recommend a south to north crossing to anyone contemplating the walk. Finishing in Sedbury would I think be an anticlimax compared to finishing in Prestatyn.
As we passed our B&B we popped in to report our progress, but continued, fully kitted, to the water's edge in Prestatyn. It was still very windy and it felt like one was in a sandblasting machine. We didn't hang around but took a few photographs and then returned to our B&B (Plas Ifan Chapel. Plas Ifan also have camping facilities and will even provide a breakfast if requested. We met two young guys there who had had great difficulty finding a campsite in Prestatyn until a publican had referred them to Plas Ifan Chapel.
Well done, R+S, it sounds as if you are having another enjoyable trip to the UK.
ReplyDeleteI'm down in Devon next week, but around from 18-23 Sept, should you fancy a stroll in the Peak District.
Have a nice relaxing time before you go home....?!
Martin
Hi Martin,
ReplyDeleteSorry for delay in replying but I didn't get the email
notification about your comment until yesterday! I've been
reading my email on a cell phone which means I have to push
and drag text around to see the full web page on my small
screen. At some time I must have touched the 'sender' title
on the main email page which them meant my emails were
sorted in alphabetical order rather than 'most recent', date
order. I wondered why my last emails were always from Alan
Frost and Alamo car hire but I didn't twig it then as we'd
just hired a car.
We are in Skipton at the moment but will be heading towards
Oxford for next Friday and could pass through Derby area if
you want to meet up for a walk.
Cheers
R&S