Tag: Wales

Day 49 – Bridgwater to Cardiff

Day forty-nine!!  YES!!  That means we will complete our entire loop of mainland Britain’s coast today.  We are both feeling super excited!

 

Photo of the day

Coastal Road Trip, Royal Sands and Uphill, Driving on the beach, Julian, Jarno, Thumbs up
Driving on Uphill Beach

 

Burnham-on-Sea

Coastal Road Trip, Burnham-on-Sea, Burnham on Sea Motor Boat and Sailing Club, River Brue, Sunrise
From Bridgwater we made our first coastal stop of the day at Burnham-on-Sea.  As we arrived the sun was just rising over the local sailing club & the mouth of the River Brue.
Coastal Road Trip, Burnham-on-Sea, Mural, Street Art, Seaside scene
The sailing club walls, with the colourful Burnham-on-Sea mural detracting from the security atop!
Coastal Road Trip, Burnham-on-Sea, Beach, Low Lighthouse
The warm morning light gave Burnham-on-Sea’s beach a deep bronze glow, contrasting with the bright white Low Lighthouse…
Coastal Road Trip, Burnham-on-Sea, High Lighthouse, Somerset
…and behind that, the High Lighthouse was towering above Burnham-on-Sea’s coastal houses.

 

Berrow

Coastal Road Trip, Berrow, St Mary's Church
Just outside Burnham-on-Sea, the 13th century St Mary’s Church at Berrow.   As we wandered around, we realised the church had flood protection…
Coastal Road Trip, Berrow, Golf Club, River Parrett, Hinkley Point Power Station
…as we walked behind the church, we realized why.  Just the low-lying Burnham and Berrow Golf Course were separating it from Berrow Beach and the Bristol Channel.  In the distance you can also just make out Hinkley Point Nuclear Power Station, an area that we skipped at the end of yesterday’s journey.
Coastal Road Trip, Berrow, Beach, Warning, Sinking Sand
We tiptoed down Berrow Beach.
Coastal Road Trip, Berrow, Beach, Groyne Posts, Longshore drift prevention
Groyne posts lined (fairly) neatly down the beach.  There’s always one annoying one out of place 😉
Coastal Road Trip, Berrow, Beach, Fisherman, Brean Down
A solitary fisherman was patiently fishing in rather rough and chocolaty brown looking sea.  Brean Down and its Fort in the background.

 

Brean Down

Coastal Road Trip, Brean Down, National Trust, Julian, Jarno, Bristol Channel, Windy
Driving past many static caravans hugging the coast, we arrived at the National Trust’s Brean Down.  Despite the sunshine it was very cold and windy at the top of the limestone peninsula.
Coastal Road Trip, Brean Down, Panorama, National Trust
Looking back inland along the ancient field system to Weston-super-Mare to the north and Berrow to the south.

 

Uphill

Coastal Road Trip, Royal Sands and Uphill, Beach, Kite Surfers, Weston-Super-Mare
On the northern side of Brean Down, after quite a detour inland, we arrived back at the coast at Uphill Beach, with Weston-super-Mare’s Grand Pier coming into view.  The beach was busy with kite-surfers.
Coastal Road Trip, Royal Sands and Uphill, Beach, Kite Surfer
Look how murky and churned-up that Bristol Channel water is!
Coastal Road Trip, Royal Sands and Uphill, Driving on the beach, Julian, Jarno, Thumbs up
Driving on Uphill Beach.  In the distance you can just about see Steep Holm island off Brean Down in the middle of the Bristol Channel.

 

Weston-super-Mare

Coastal Road Trip, Weston-super-Mare, Royal Sands, Beach, Beach Huts
Pastel coloured beach huts lining Royal Sands as we drove into Weston-super-Mare.
Coastal Road Trip, Weston-super-Mare, Grand Pier, Entrance
Driving alongside the seafront promenade past Weston-super-Mare’s Grand Pier entrance.  Like so many piers, it had been badly damaged by fire in 2008.  After a whopping £39-million restoration it was reopened two years later.
Coastal Road Trip, Weston-super-Mare, Birnbeck Pier, Abandoned
Meanwhile further along the seafront, the Birnbeck Pier was looking a little sorry for itself.  The closed and deteriorating pier is unique in that it links the mainland to an island (Birnbeck).
Coastal Road Trip, Weston-super-Mare, Birnbeck Pier, Abandoned, Close-up
There was a small cafe and information hut near the original pier entrance.  The volunteers explained the several regeneration attempts of the pier since it closed in 1994.  But so far sadly nothing has come to fruition.

 

Sand Bay

Coastal Road Trip, Sand Bay, Sand Point, National Trust
As we continued along the coast we stopped briefly at Sand Bay, with views north to the National Trust’s Sand Point.

 

Clevedon

Coastal Road Trip, Clevedon Pier, Heritage Trust
The rather elegant Clevedon Pier, originally opened in 1869 as a landing for ferries crossing the Severn Estuary to South Wales.

 

Portishead

Coastal Road Trip, Portishead, Battery Point Lighthouse, Esplanade Road
If you had mentioned Portishead to us before this trip, we would have thought you were talking about the 90’s band.  Anyway, it turns out the band Portishead was named after the place, and here we are!  The Battery Point Lighthouse at the end of the esplanade.
Coastal Road Trip, Portishead Quay Marina, Yachts, Apartments
Around the corner from Battery Point, we arrived at the surprisingly large and busy Portishead Quay Marina.

 

Tyntesfield House

Coastal Road Trip, Tyntesfield, National Trust, Wraxhall, Sunny, Blue sky
Before crossing over the River Severn, we decided to drive inland to another National Trust property, Tyntesfield House and Estate.  The Gibbs family had made their wealth in the guano trade (bird excrement fertiliser).  The Victorian Gothic mansion looked stunning in the afternoon sun.
Coastal Road Trip, Tyntesfield, Horse and Cart, Driveway, National Trust, North Somerset
A couple of handsome horses were pulling a cart up the estate driveway.

 

Severn Bridge

Coastal Road Trip, Severn Bridge, Looking up
As we drove back along A403 and the Severn Estuary, we struggled to see anything worth taking a picture of.  The area was mainly one long industrial estate.  So we continued on our way crossing over the Severn Bridge….
Coastal Road Trip, Welcome to Wales Sign, Croeso i Gymru
… and back into Wales (sorry a little blurry as we drove by).

 

Newport

Coastal Road Trip, Newport Wetlands, RSPB, East Usk Lighthouse
The north side of the estuary felt far more rural than the south.  After a few little dead-end detours, we finally made a stop near Uskmouth Power Station, for a short walk at the RSPB’s Newport Wetlands.   Although we didn’t see much bird-life today, we did see the East Usk Lighthouse peeping over the nature reserve.
Coastal Road Trip, Newport Wetlands, RSPB, Meadow
The afternoon sun briefly came out again, illuminating the wetland meadows.
Coastal Road Trip, Newport Transporter Bridge
As we crossed the River Usk, the unusual Newport Transporter Bridge came into view.  It was completed in 1906 based on a french design.  It solved the problem of crossing the fast Usk currents, enabled tall ships to pass under, and came in on budget.
Coastal Road Trip, Newport Transporter Bridge
The ‘ferry’ is cleverly suspended like a gondola from a high level boom, and can carry 6 cars and 120 people every 7.5 minutes.   OK that’s us geeked-out for the day 🙂

 

Tredegar House

Coastal Road Trip, Tredegar House, National Trust, Newport
Leaving Newport for Cardiff, we made our final National Trust country house stop at the Morgan family’s Tredegar House.  We have definitely squeezed every penny out of our National Trust membership on this coastal road trip 🙂  The volunteers were all in costume and the house was all decked out for Christmas inside, maybe a little too much.  It reminded us of our Christmas visit to the Edison & Ford Winter Estates in Florida a few years ago –  the decorations there were so OTT!

 

Cardiff

Coastal Road Trip, Cardiff, Wales Millennium Centre, Outside
Our final stop of the day and road-trip!  Back in Cardiff Bay, we had celebratory cappuccino and a wander around the Wales Millennium Centre (AKA Canolfan Mileniwm Cymru).  The impressive arts and entertainment venue that was completed in 2009.
Coastal Road Trip, Cardiff, Wales Millennium Centre, Inside, Stairwell
The centre’s sweeping staircase, one day we’ll have to come back for a performance.
Coastal Road Trip, Cardiff, Wales, Pierhead, Senedd, Julian, Jarno, Map, Completed Road-trip!
Yay!  We did it.  Back where we started 49-days ago!  That’s the entire British mainland coastal road trip completed.  What an amazing journey!  Go on, give it a go yourself… 🙂

 

Daily video

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Day 07 – Colwyn Bay to Preston

We started day seven of our trip by going back west a few miles to Llandudno before continuing east out of Wales into England.  Some typical and some not so typical British seaside sights today.

 

Photo of the day

Coastal Road Trip, Crosby Beach, Antony Gormley's Another Place
Crosby Beach

 

Llandudno

Coastal Road Trip, Llandudno Pier
Early Sunday morning at Llandudno Pier, eerily empty.  Everyone was clearly still in bed, as they knew the heavens were about to open.
Coastal Road Trip, Llandudno
Colourful hotels at the end of the Llandudno promenade.  The start of the Great Orme hill and headland behind.  We then drove around the Great Orme Heritage Coast loop, would have been great views if it it hadn’t been pouring down with rain.

 

Colwyn Bay

Coastal Road Trip, Colwyn Bay
We looped back to Colwyn Bay where we stayed the night before.  The promenade and road along the sea front was closed off due to an ongoing waterfront improvement project.  In the distance we could see the pier, which looked in a sorry state… hopefully that is part of their improvement project too.

 

Prestatyn

Coastal Road Trip, Prestatyn, Lifeguard Board
The lifeguards were having a peaceful day at a very quiet Prestatyn Beach.  Wind turbines off shore in the background, which became a surprisingly common sight on our coastal journey.

 

Talacre Lighthouse

Coastal Road Trip, Talacre Lighthouse, Point of Ayr
The Talacre Lighthouse at Point of Ayr.  Abandoned, but looked great, even on a stormy morning.

 

Flint

Coastal Road Trip, Flint Castle, Julian, Jarno
Flint Castle with impressive views over the River Dee.  We bumped into a lovely Canadian family that had also been staying at the same B&B as us near Cardigan, we had also bumped into them at Cilgerran Castle three days earlier… small world.

 

Flintshire Bridge

Coastal Road Trip, Flintshire Bridge
Crossing the River Dee over a rather striking Flintshire Bridge, flanked by electricity pylons.  Blue sky starting to peep through the clouds…

 

Leasowe Lighthouse

Coastal Road Trip, Leasowe Lighthouse
The now disused Leasowe Lighthouse, not the most attractive lighthouse, but still striking with the blue sky behind.

 

New Brighton

Coastal Road Trip, New Brighton
The view from New Brighton out to the lighthouse and beyond to the cranes on the other side of the River Mersey.

 

Crosby

Coastal Road Trip, Crosby Beach, Antony Gormley's Another Place
One of the one hundred Antony Gormley’s ‘Another Place’ statues, submerged in Crosby Beach.  A bit spooky but very striking.  Very cool to see in person.
Coastal Road Trip, Crosby Beach, Antony Gormley's Another Place, www.coastalroadtrip.com
A bit of beach marketing.

 

Formby

Coastal Road Trip, Formby Point
A lovely clean beach backed by sand dunes and pinewoods at the National Trust’s Formby Point.  They’ve clearly struggled with beach erosion though, this looked like an old road or building that had collapsed in the beach and sea.

 

Southport

Coastal Road Trip, Southport, Ice cream van
A Mr Whippy ice cream van finishing work for the day at Southport Beach.
Coastal Road Trip, Southport Beach, Weather Vane Fish
A striking looking weather vane style fish sculpture on the Southport Promenade.

 

Marshside

Coastal Road Trip, Marshside, View to Blackpool Tower
On our way to Preston for the night, we passed Marshside, with views across to Lytham St Ann’s, and Blackpool Tower ghost-like in the distance.  A sneak preview of our trip tomorrow.

 

Daily video

Day 06 – Porthmadog to Colwyn Bay

After beautiful weather on day five, day six started rainy and windy and continued most of the day.  As today’s trip included Anglesey, the weather matched our expectations for the wind swept island… but we had fun nevertheless.

 

Photo of the day

Coastal Road Trip, Llanfairpwllgwyngyllgogerychwyrndrobwll-llantysiliogogogoch Station
Llanfairpwllgwyngyllgogerychwyrndrobwllllantysiliogogogoch

Caernarfon

Coastal Road Trip, Caernarfon Castle
Welcome to Caernarfon!  Impressive castle but the verdict is out on the rest of the town.  Though we did have a good coffee.

 

Coastal Road Trip, Caernarfon Castle, Carousel
And the Merry-go-round Carousel in the market square brightened things up a bit.

 

Llanfairpwllgwyngyllgogerychwyrndrobwllllantysiliogogogoch

Coastal Road Trip, Llanfairpwllgwyngyllgogerychwyrndrobwll-llantysiliogogogoch Ticket
It had to be done, first visit on Anglesey was to the the town with the longest place name in Europe and second longest in the world: Llanfairpwllgwyngyllgogerychwyrndrobwllllantysiliogogogoch.  Which means even the train tickets have to be extra big.
Coastal Road Trip, Llanfairpwllgwyngyllgogerychwyrndrobwll-llantysiliogogogoch Station
…and the train station signs… etc etc… you get the idea 😉  Secretly I (Julian) was excited to visit, I had always wanted to since a kid.  Check.

 

Plas Newydd

Coastal Road Trip, Plas Newydd
Next stop was Plas Newydd House & Gardens.  The impressive interior is home to the largest canvas painting in the UK.  We did take a picture of it, but we couldn’t get the whole painting in the shot, so best to just google it!
Coastal Road Trip, Plas Newydd, Garden
A bit of colour on a grey day in the Plas Newydd Garden.

 

Anglesey, west coast

Coastal Road Trip, Anglesey west coast
Most of the west coast of Anglesey looked like this, wet, windy and stormy.

 

Trearddur Bay

Coastal Road Trip, Trearddur Bay
Struggling to get out to sea at Trearddur Bay, we watched a little longer, he capsized a minute later and gave up.

 

South Stack

Coastal Road Trip, South Stack Lighthouse
The rain stopped by the time we arrived at South Stack Lighthouse on Holy Island, also a RSPB bird sanctuary.   We also tuned in to Irish radio and our mobile phones started trying to connect to Irish networks, you then realise how close you are to Ireland.
Coastal Road Trip, South Stack Lighthouse
Great views of South Stack Lighthouse over some pretty severe cliffs.  We walked a bit further on to also try and see North Stack Lighthouse, but the weather closed in and all we got was pictures of sea mist.

 

Beaumaris

Coastal Road Trip, Beaumaris Castle
Following the northern and eastern coast of Anglesey, we ended up at Beaumaris Castle.  Seemed one of the nicest towns on the island.
Coastal Road Trip, Beaumaris Pier
Beaumaris Pier, with seagulls hovering in the wind, almost in formation.

 

Conwy

Coastal Road Trip, Coastal Road Trip, Conwy Castle
Back on the mainland we passed through Bangor to Conwy, and its grand 13th century Conwy Castle, before heading to Colwyn Bay for the evening.

 

Daily video

Day 05 – Dolgellau to Porthmadog

Sunshine again!  Best day of weather so far.  On day five we drove the remaining part of the Welsh west coast, then looped around the Lynn Peninsula ending back at Porthmadog.

 

Photo of the day

Coastal Road Trip, Braich y Pwll, Heather, Sheep
Braich y Pwll

 

Barmouth

Coastal Road Trip, Barmouth, Lifeboat
Lifeboat resting in the shallow and still early morning waters of Barmouth.

 

Harlech

Coastal Road Trip, Harlech Castle
Old meets new at Harlech Castle, with is modern bridge linked into the medieval fort.

 

Portmeirion

Coastal Road Trip, Portmeirion, Julian, Jarno
The totally surreal village of Portmeirion.  Created by Welsh architect Sir Clough Williams-Ellis.  Weird but we kind of liked it.
Coastal Road Trip, Portmeirion
The Central Piazza, but nothing is quite what it seems…
Coastal Road Trip, Portmeirion
Yes, this is Wales..?!

 

Criccieth

Coastal Road Trip, Criccieth
Criccieth with the contrast between the trim colourful town houses and the headland with Criccieth Castle perched on top.

 

Abersoch

Coastal Road Trip, Abersoch
Abersoch, tide is out again…

 

Plas yn Rhiw

Coastal Road Trip, Plas yn Rhiw
The blooming cottage garden at the modest yet comfy Plas yn Rhiw House, another National Trust property.

 

Aberdaron

Coastal Road Trip, Aberdaron
The former fishing village of Aberdaron with its bay and beach, plus car park concertinaed in this panorama shot.

 

Braich y Pwll

Coastal Road Trip, Braich y Pwll
The most westerly point of Wales, with breathtaking views from the single track lane to the coastguard lookout at the top.
Coastal Road Trip, Braich y Pwll, Julian, Jarno
Hello from Braich y Pwll and the Irish Sea.
Coastal Road Trip, Braich y Pwll, Heather
Braich y Pwll sheep enjoying the weather too.

 

Porthor

Coastal Road Trip, Porthor
Another National Trust stop at Porthor Beach on the north side of the Lynn Peninsula.

 

Porthdinllaen

Coastal Road Trip, Porthdinllaen
After trying to find Porthdinllaen precariously walking across a golf course, we turned back to the car park, and realized we could see it in the distance on the other side of the headland.
Coastal Road Trip, Porthdinllaen view
And in the final photo of the day, with the view to the east from Porthdinllaen across to Porthnefyn.  We then headed back south to Porthmadog for the evening.

 

Daily video

Day 04 – Cardigan to Dolgellau

Today we are starting our journey near Cardigan then driving up to Dolgellau, about 130 miles.  And yay!.. a sunny day 🙂

 

Photo of the day

Coastal Road Trip, Coastal Road, Sheep
Coastal Road Sheep

 

Cilgerran

Coastal Road Trip, Cilgerran
Being welcomed by this gentleman at Cilgerran Castle entrance.

 

St Dogmaels Abbey

Coastal Road Trip, St Dogmaels Abbey, Julian, Jarno
A few minutes down the road we reached the remains of St Dogmaels Abbey.  As well as castles, and lighthouses, lots of abbeys on this trip too!

 

Cardigan

Coastal Road Trip, Cardigan, Parking
Slightly worrying sign whilst parking near Cardigan.
Coastal Road Trip, Cardigan, Colourful Houses
The Welsh love their colourfully painted houses, this was on a side street behind the castle.  And yes, we did wear cardigans in Cardigan.

 

Aberporth

Coastal Road Trip, Aberporth
We enjoyed a picnic, with great views overlooking Aberporth bay.

 

Penbryn

Coastal Road Trip, Penbryn Beach, Telephone
A curious telephone at Penbryn Beach.
Coastal Road Trip, Penbryn Beach
And families enjoying the golden sands at Penbryn Beach, protected by the National Trust.  Free parking at the top of the hill if you are National Trust member.
Coastal Road Trip, New Quay
Again colourful Welsh houses at New Quay, we missed the turning for the town, so stopped further along the coast at Llanina Woods.  A muddy car park, with short walk through the woods to the pebbly and sandy beach.

 

Llanerchaeron

Coastal Road Trip, Llanerchaeron Estate
Making the most of our National Trust membership, driving slightly inland to visit the Llanerchaeron Estate.  Understated interior and beautiful gardens.
Coastal Road Trip, Llanerchaeron Estate, Gardens
A little potter around the gardens.
Coastal Road Trip, Llanerchaeron Estate, Coffee
..and time for coffee.

 

Aberaeron

Coastal Road Trip, Aberaeron
Then back to the coast to the colourful harbour houses of Aberaeron.

 

Coastal Road Sheep

Coastal Road Trip, Coastal Road, Sheep
Sheep along the coastal road.

 

Coastal Road Drivers

Coastal Road Trip, Car Interior, Julian, Jarno
On the road again…

 

Aberystwyth

Coastal Road Trip, Aberystwyth Castle
The remains of Aberystwyth Castle on the sea front.  Aberystwyth was grander than we had expected with its long promenade.

 

Aberdyfi

Coastal Road Trip, Aberdfyi
Views from Aberdyfi across the calm evening waters of the Dyfi estuary to Ynyslas.

 

Tywyn

Coastal Road Trip, Tywyn, Telescope
Jarno checking out the view from Tywyn promenade.

 

Bryncrug

Coastal Road Trip, Bryncrug, Woolly Street Art
Woolly street art over the bridge at Bryncrug.
Coastal Road Trip, Bryncrug, View to Snowdonia
The view over houses and woodland to Snowdonia.

 

Coastal Road from Llangelynin to Fairbourne

Coastal Road Trip, A493, Llangelynin to Fairbourne
Rolling landscape
Coastal Road Trip, A493, Fairbourne
Sea views
Coastal Road Trip, Fairbourne, Setting Sun
And setting sun.

 

Daily Video

Day 03 – Pembroke to Cardigan

Off on our third day of travel.  We will cover about 130 miles of coastal roads today.  A grey sky, but we’ll bring some sunshine.

 

Photo of the day

Coastal Road Trip, Newgale Beach
Newgale Beach

 

Milford Haven

Coastal Road Trip, Milford Haven, Flowers, Statue, Harbour
Colour and thoughtful art above the industrial landscape of Milford Haven.

 

Dale

Coastal Road Trip, Dale, Rain, Julian, Jarno
Welsh summer, heavy rain at Dale Beach – time for a coffee to wake us up!

 

St Ann’s

Coastal Road Trip, St Ann's High Lighthouse
Stunning views, steep cliffs and choppy waters at St Ann’s High Lighthouse.

 

Martin’s Haven

Coastal Road Trip, Wooltack Point
Walkers at the National Trust’s Martin’s Haven.
Coastal Road Trip, Martin's Haven, Wooltack Point, Midland Isle, Julian, Jarno
And here are two of those walkers with Wooltack Point and Midland Isle behind us.
Coastal Road Trip, Martin's Haven, Skin Care Cymru’s Don’t Be A Lobster Flag
Skin Care Cymru’s alternative Welsh flag: ‘Don’t Be A Lobster’, flying above the coastguard’s hut at Martins’s Haven.

 

St Brides

Coastal Road Trip, St Brides
Julian stayed here at St Brides with his family 10 years ago, so was keen to visit again.

 

Little Haven

Coastal Road Trip, Little Haven
The cute little village of Little Haven, with 30min free parking, just enough time to do a mini tour.
Coastal Road Trip, Little Haven
And the view west from the top of the short cliff path walk above Little Haven.  Lush grass clinging to the rocky cliffs.

 

Welsh Roads

Coastal Road Trip, Windy Welsh Roads
We thought this Pembroke single track road was funny, double yellow lines on both sides, no chance to pass someone never mind parking!

 

Newgale

Coastal Road Trip, Newgale Beach
The tidy, wide and flat sands of Newgale Beach.

 

Solva

Coastal Road Trip, Solva
Looking down over Solva Bay with its boats waiting for the tide to return.

 

St Davids

Coastal Road Trip, St Davids
St Davids Cathedral in Britain’s smallest city.  Really impressive, except for the coffee in the Cathedral Cafe, too hot!
Coastal Road Trip, St Davids, Ceiling
The beautifully painted ceiling of St Davids.

 

Pwll Mawr

Coast Road Trip, Pwll Mawr
We took the wrong turn looking for Strumble Head, and ended up with this amazing view west from Pwll Mawr.

 

Strumble Head

Coastal Road Trip, Strumble Head Lighthouse
Getting addicted to lighthouses now… took 100 pics of Stumble Head Lighthouse in the fresh and bright late afternoon sunshine.
Coastal Road Trip, Strumble Head View
And again stunning views west along the Pembrokeshire coast from Strumble Head.

 

Fishguard

Coastal Road Trip, Fishguard
And the final stop of the day in Fishguard, before heading to our B&B for the night near Cardigan.

 

Daily Video