Distance: 21.7 miles; 1,194ft elevation gain; 7:34:03 moving time; 20:54/mi average moving pace; 1,926 calories burned
Day 3 started off as perfect as it could possibly have been with a delicious full English breakfast served outside in the sun.
I have to be honest, I could have stayed there for a good few hours longer but our bed for the night was in another location. Another location around 22 miles away. I always seem to like the idea of having a leisurely breakfast in the sun and having a nice relaxing break away for a few days but the truth of the matter is that after a few hours, I (and Tim too) get bored and we have to be doing something either constructive or active. After all, life’s too short to waste it doing nothing.
Reluctantly therefore we made our way along the promenade passing a metal Anglesey Coastal path plaque embedded in the pavement. I wonder how many people have walked past it and either not noticed it or even knew what it was. Sad I think (but, each to their own I guess!). We live in a beautiful part on the edge of the Peak district with loads of fab walks on our doorstep. I bet though that the majority of people that also live there don’t even know about them.
Anyway, we made our way along a path and through woodland around the back of Traeth Benllech taking time to stop and look back at the beautiful bay of Benllech.
It didn’t seem long before we reached Red Wharf Bay where we followed the shoreline for quite a distance (or so it seemed).
The shoreline soon turned into an area full of reeds and rushes and eventually onto a concrete sea wall with what seemed like flower and pebble displays dotted along the path – very peculiar!
We crossed a drainage ditch and then continued along a track / lane before following the shore for a short distance and then through a kissing gate into a field. After passing through a couple of fields we eventually went through the gate at Bryn Offa (National Trust). After passing through gorse, fields, along paths and tracks and through more kissing gates (I really wish we had counted the number!) we eventually went past a pumping station before following a deer park wall on our right.
We continued to take the path through various fields towards Penmon Point where the lighthouse soon came into view. We followed the path down towards the sea and towards Anglesey’s most easterly headland and Puffin Island (a haven for sea birds).
Now for a bit of history…. Puffin Island is also known as Ynys Seiriol in Welsh after the founder of the monastic settlement at Penmon. A second monastic community lived on the island itself and a small monastery existed which was still very much in use during the Viking raids of the tenth century. The most notable event here was the siege of Cadwallon, King of Gwynedd by Edwin, the Saxon king of Northumbria. I do like a bit of history but sadly I had to choose between Geography & History at school and the lure of an oxbow lake won it for me every time!
After a few photo’s (good opportunity for a rest), we headed back up the road before arriving at Penmon Priory.
More history…. the existing priory buildings date from the latter half of the twelfth century and housed a community of Augustinian monks until the Dissolution when the lands were granted to the Bulkeley family. The monastery is much older and dates back to the time of St. Seiriol, who is believed to have lived in about the 6th century.
After a short look around (and some silly photo’s), we followed the road for about a mile, after which we arrived at the beach…. It was low tide so we could take the easier option……mmmm, not so easy walking with tender feet over various sized rocks and pebbles!
The walk along the “beach” seemed never ending…. all 1.25 miles of it! Eventually, it did come to an end and we decided to take a break.
After airing our feet, we were ready to continue to Beaumaris. After heading along an overgrown path and over a field, we descended into Beaumaris with its’ castle ahead of us. Tim reminisced over childhood holidays and was a little disappointed at “how rubbish” the castle seemed to be now that he was older. Oh the joys, illusions and innocence of being a child eh?!
After calling in at a chemists for some Compeed plasters (for me), we headed out of Beaumaris past a set of colourful and pretty houses before taking the road up towards the golf club……. no Tim, you can’t play!
As we headed up the road, the heavens started to open so we took cover under a large tree and put on our waterproofs…. we’d had it good so far and I suppose it was too much to ask for the good weather to continue. Fortunately it didn’t seem to last that long as we were soon taking off our trousers.
In no time at all, the Menai suspension bridge came into sight. Yay – we weren’t too far from our destination. We continued along the road before dropping down to the oddly named Belgian Promenade which was more like a track alongside the shoreline.
It wasn’t a particularly nice view of the straits as the tide was out and the silt and mud was clearly visible.
After passing the Menai bridge, we went under the Britannia Bridge before quickly arriving at our hotel – the Carreg Bran.
The Planning click here
Day 1: Holyhead – Cemaes Bay click here
Day 2: Cemaes Bay – Benllech click here
Day 3: Benllech – Llanfairpwllgwyngyll click here
Day 4: Llanfairpwllgwyngyll – Aberffraw click here
Day 5: Aberffraw – Trearrdur Bay click here
Day 6: Trearrdur Bay – Holyhead click here
Keels 
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