4 (sort of) sunny days

With a clear diary I planned a little bit of adventure for each of Friday through Monday.

Friday was a route I've done before mainly off-road to Penicuik with some really nice flow sections on the route. Had hoped for coffee at Penicuik House but that had long closed but also made a detour and stop at Stewart Brewing in Loanhead for a couple of beers and a very nice pizza.

 

On Saturday it was a shorter ride just as far as Little France Park and not wanting to tire myself too much before the next two days.

Sunday morning drove off towards Braemar to Park at Invercauld and do the long long ride in up the Sluggain to the start of the steep climb up towards Ben Avon. The weather was perfect today with lovely clear skies. The walk up to Ben Avon was pretty nice but the trek to the next munro of Beinn a Bhuird was a bit of an uninteresting slog. Quite a long walk and then ride back to the car. 

Drove to No 45 B&B in Ballater and had dinner out in town at The Barrel.

On Monday it was back to Linn of Dee for another long cycle in via Derry Lodge to tackle Beinn a Choirrain. The weather was starting to break by the time I got to the summit. As is often the case the summit seemed to be much further away than expected. Thought about doing another nearby hill briefly but was sufficiently tired to be happy to stop at 1 summit today having completed the 3 hills I missed on my May trip.

Drove back in the late afternoon with a tea stop on route at the nice cafe at Glenshee.

Wales Holiday - Day 8 - Lake District

After packing and tidying we dropped Hannah for her train at Bangor station then drove to Glenridding in the Lake District. We took the Ullswater Steamer to Howtown from where we walked back along the Ullswater Way path which was fairly rough and with lots of small ups and downs. The weather was again pretty good.

Dinner at our hotel the Ullswater Inn.

 We finished the drive home on Sunday - dropping Max off to catch at train in Lockerbie.

Wales Holiday - Day 7 - Coastal Path from Nefyn

A fabulous walk today along the Welsh Coast Path to the headland at Porthdinlaenn. The weather was great and the views spectacular. There were plenty of cafes and toilets. We stopped on the way out and back at Caffi Traeth Becws Islyn for pies and cakes.

On the headland there is a nice pub and an excellent beach. 

Sadly our last day in Wales. The weather had been pretty good and The Old Mill AirBnB was excellent. 

Dinner that night was back to Dylans.

Wales Holiday - Day 6 - Bodnant Gardens

The four of us went to Bodnant for a very nice extended wander around these excellent National Trust gardens. The laburnum arch was just past its best with the flowers starting to fade.

We headed back via Betys-y-Coed where we stopped for a very short wander and then a drive home through the mountains. Dinner in the evening in the cottage.

 

Wales Holiday - Day 5 - Snowdon

Colin, Cherry and Max headed to Llanberis in the morning for a walk towards Snowdon (the train being fully booked). Hannah had a day off to snooze and write. We got to the halfway house in pretty reasonable weather with never the intent to go all the way.

In the evening the four of us went to dinner at the Freckled Angel in Menai Bridge for a very nice set of selection of small plates.

Wales Holiday - Day 4 - Conwy Castle and Llandudno

The forecast was very bad for the early part of the day so we stayed in for the morning and headed off to Conwy after lunch for a wander around town and to visit the very impressive castle - although unfortunately still in the rain.

We then headed on the Llandudno and walked along the north shore and the length of the pier before having dinner at a Wildwood restaurant.

 

Wales Holiday - Day 3 - Portmerion

We headed off by car at 10 am for Portmerion about 50 minutes drive away. A nice wander around the Village and the coastal and woodland walks. A nice pasta/pizza lunch.

 Got home around 4 pm and had dinner at the apartment.

Wales Holiday - Day 2 - Beaumaris Boat Trip

We headed off at 10.30 am to nearby Beaumaris for a boat trip with Seacoast Safaris departing at 11.30 am. The trip took us up the Menai Strait back towards Menai Bridge past Bangor Pier, the various bridges between Wales and Anglesey to the Nelson Monument. We turned and headed to Puffin island to see the puffins, shag, cormorants and gannets. It was a bit rough by the island. A 2 hr trip in total.

 We had some fish and chips and ice cream before heading to Beaumaris Castle.

In the evening we went to The Victoria in Menai Bridge for dinner.

Wales Holiday - Day 1

Left home at 8 am with Colin, Cherry and Max in the car heading towards the M6 southwards. A bit if a jam  just south of lakes due to an accident with us finally making it to Bangor at 5 pm to pick up Hannah at the station. We then headed to our AirBnB - the Old Mill at Menai Bridge. A really nice property with lovely views over the Menai Straits.

We had a nice dinner at Dylans a short walk away in Menai Bridge village.