Day 17: Menai Bridge to Caernarfon

We woke up to an absolute gorgeous day with not a cloud in the sky. The view from our room looked out over the still waters of the Menai Strait. We left the Isle of Anglesey this morning even though we have not completed walking around the island. As I had over-estimated the distance that we could cover in one day we are approximately 5 days behind schedule. However, as we had accommodation and a rental car booked we decided to carry on with our itinerary and then return to Anglesey at a later date.

View from our hotel balcony this morning

It was short days walk of approximately 15 km however with our heavy back packs on again, it still seemed like hard work on our legs and feet. After crossing the Menai Suspension Bridge we walked through the grounds of the Treborth Botanical Gardens so got to learn some of the native plants.

Walking through Treborth Botanical Gardens

 

We then followed the path through the grounds of Faenol Hall past a relic mausoleum and a number of fields. Somewhere along the way we lost the path and came to a dead-end when we were advised in no uncertain terms that the land ahead was private. In the meantime, two ladies came up behind us clutching a copy of the Wales Coast Path book. We assumed they knew the way however they informed us that they had been following us. A case of the blind leading the blind!

Gateway into Faenol Hall grounds

View from our morning tea stop across Menai Strait

Gate post outside relic mausoleum

 

Walking through the grounds of Faenol Hall

Plas Newydd as viewed across Menai Strait

In the end we had to retrace our footsteps until we found a hole in a large stone wall and make our way onto the rocky shore. It was a race against the tide to pick our way along the shore and find a way up the 2-3 m high rock wall.

The hole in the wall that we ducked under to reach the shore

Our route along the shore

After a lunch stop at a café adjacent to the marina at Port Dinorwic we carried along up a cycle path until we reached the historic town of Caernarfon. After settling in to our accommodation for the night at Totters Hostel, we made our way to the Black Boy Inn to watch the FA Cup final.

Port Dinorwic marina