Wales - two days, one night.

[Flintlock]

Was keeping an eye on the weather for a quick fix for an overnighter on the GS & a bit of camping. I had been looking around on google maps & had earmarked a nice looking site in Wales.
So, a weather check looked like Wales was looking good, Stena from Dublin to Holyhead booked for Sunday 20th 10.30am sailing.
Quick run down on a quiet M1 & Dublin Port Tunnel & straight into the port & Terminal 2 to await boarding

Two coach loads of Chinese tourist pulled up alongside & lost count of the amount of photos they took of the bike - should have charged a pound a photo!

I was one of the first on board, so was able to get my brekki & a good seat at the front

 

[Flintlock]

A pleasent crossing, off at Holyhead & headed off to meet a mate who was coming up from Kidderminster to join me. We arranged to meet at Beaumaris. Along the A55 and a left onto the A5025, then right through Llansadwrn and continued the B5109 into Beaumaris
Nice Castle No1

 

[Flintlock]

So, after a quick catch up, we headed off along the A545 & over the impressive Menai Bridge, south on the A487, then left onto the A4085 to Beddgelert, continued right over the bridge & continued south on the A498.
It's been a few years since I had been here, but again, the natural beauty of beautiful rivers & lakes, mature native woodlands, mountains & pretty villages & hamlets impresses me as much as the 1st time I visited many years ago, not forgetting of course the quality roads.
Anyway, further along and another right back onto the A4085 at Pont Aberglaslyn

 

[Flintlock]

We continue south on the A4085 through Garreg and Penrhyndeudraeth and along the A496 & B4573 to Harlech, past the castle & down a very steep, narrow and twisty road back onto the A496
Castle No 2

Purchased some supplies before we headed to the campsite, not too far from here.

 

[crumbles]

Great write up so far...

 

[JohnnyBoxer]

Superb

 

[Flintlock]

Not far down the A496 to Llanbedr and a left into a single track un-named road that ran alongside the Afon Artro river. A great wee road, again running through a beautiful Glen for several miles

One gate to open & close behind us on the way

 

[Flintlock]

Soon, we arrived at the campsite. A beautiful spot on the edge of Llyn Cwm Bychan, a lovely lake surrounded by un-spoilt Welsh scenery

 

[Flintlock]

Guess it could be described as more of a wild camp, no facilities here, just a well grazed field with accompanying sheep. The landowner has an honestly box, £5 per person per night.
Guessing it is probably quite busy during holiday time, but for our night, it was us and two other vehicles.

£10 put in the honesty box & up with the tents

 

[Tinytim]

Soon, we arrived at the campsite. A beautiful spot on the edge of Llyn Cwm Bychan, a lovely lake surrounded by un-spoilt Welch scenery
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Good find

 

[Flintlock]

I was duty cook for the night. I had brought over a pound of mince, frozen peas & onions, some gravy granules so Jon had brought his decathlon stove, fired it up and on with the pot

Fried up some potatoes, whilst the mince stew simmered on my IKEA tea light stove

So, a good feed, washed down by a couple of Zero Guinness & a great evening chilling with Mother Nature.

 

[Robbi]

Zero Guinness

 

[Flintlock]

Fraid so Robbi. There was some red wine in the stew tho lol.
Anyway, just nice sitting & watching the sun go down in this great location

and feeding the stove


I had recently purchased a new Highlander inflatable sleeping mat, as recommended on this site & this would be it's 1st outing.
Three hand warmers in the sleeping bag for a bit of extra heat and into the tent for the night, just the sound of the stream beside us & the odd baa from the sheep that were sharing the field with us.

 

[Flintlock]

Monday morning. Had a great night's sleep, the Highlander sleeping mat was a game changer for me, worth every penny, so a big thank you to this site & DJ123 for posting it up.

A wee bit damp this morning but not too bad. Porridge & coffee for breakfast and packed up & back down the wee road

A quick stop to fish a pool on the way down


Just one very small Brown Trout caught & released

 

[Flintlock]

Back up to Beddgelert for breakfast



2nd breakfast here

Google Maps

Find local businesses, view maps and get driving directions in Google Maps.

maps.app.goo.gl

Recommended.

 

[Aidan1150]

Wales is a mighty wee country. Many folk from here can see no further than Scotland which is their loss and leaves this gem of a place to the rest of us.

 

[Flintlock]

Headed out the A498, another great road.
Stop along the way at Llyn Gwynant


Joined the A4086 to Capel Curig & the A5. Turned left onto the B5106 & then the A470 to Llandudno

 

[2 wheel humvee]

Fair play to you for your accurate spelling of place names, for a non native I mean

 

[Flintlock]

1st time in Llandudno, the old town is lovely, lots of Victorian houses & and old pier. We did the coastal toll road which was fab


Availed of an ice cream at a nice cafe at the top

 

[Flintlock]

So, from here we made our way along the coast towards the border with England, and said our goodbyes at Flint. I was heading to Birkenhead to catch the night ferry back to Belfast & Jon was heading back down to Kidderminster.
Took a detour down to the Dee Estuary & marshes

and continued along the coast to Birkenhead to board the Stena ferry back to Belfast.
A brief but most enjoyable break, a new campsite discovered & will return to for a couple of nights to combine biking with a proper bit of fishing on the lake.