Day 42: Llanbedr to Barmouth

We continued our journey today walking from Llanbedr to Barmouth, a distance of 20km. From Llanbedr we walked along the road towards Mochras (Shell Island), famed for its variety of shells. The road to the island was closed as it was high tide and the adjoining estuary was up and over the road. As such, we walked along a raised footpath across the tidal marshes until we reached the campsite on Shell Island (the largest campsite in Europe).

Estuary at Shell Island

Elevated path through the tidal marshes to Shell Island

Marshland with Shell Island to the rear

From here we walked onto the beach at Morfa Dyffryn with its massive sand dunes. The beach is an important habitat for wading birds and has been a Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI) since 1953. We followed the beach for over 3km, the middle section of which has been used as a naturist beach since the 1930s. We came across two fellas who were making the most of it even though it wasn’t the warmest of mornings!

Entrance into dunes at Morfa Dyffryn

Dunes at Morfa Dyffryn

Walking along the extensive beach at Morfa Dyffryn

The path eventually made its way back into the dunes before coming out onto some farmland covered with stone walls and old stone buildings.

Path through dunes at rear of Morfa Dyffryn

Rock walls and old stone buildings near Tal-y- Bont

Style over old rock wall near Tal-y-Bont

Vast stone walls throughout the countryside near Llanaber

From here the path follows the road for several kilometres into Barmouth however after a while of this we decided that we didn’t want to walk along the road, so we diverted off the path and made our way down to the beach via some rather precarious paths.

St Bodfan's Church, Llanaber

As we came into Barmouth we noticed the extensive coastal defense work which Greg was highly interested in given that he is Chair of the New Zealand Coastal Restoration Trust.

Groynes along the beach at Barmouth

Groyne at Barmouth Beach