Sometimes circumstances dictate that we have to walk anti-clockwise rather than clockwise – its all to do with availability of public transport and where to leave the car. Today is one of those days where we start east of Colwyn Bay and walk west with the sea on our right.
At Abergale we are detained somewhat by a gathering of classic car enthusiasts in the carpark next to the station. For those who do not know, Damian is the proud owner of two old, not quite classic Mercedes (young timers apparently) so any opportunity to talk to fellow enthusiasts cannot be missed. I busy myself with train and bus timetables.
The path continues as expected along the shore but instead of tramping along the concrete sea wall we opt for the grassy bank that runs parallel. Over to the left a seemingly unending row of caravans stretch out into the distance. It is chilly as you can see – gloves and hat in April.
Battered breakwaters appear at intervals – I don’t know how effective they can be when they’re in this state.
And when we reach Llanddulas the path takes us over a footbridge to cross the River Dulas which by now is no more than a small stream.
A little further on we meet some very sculptural sea defences – they look like concrete anchors tipped on to the shoreline and remind me of the game of jacks we used to play as children. They are also individually numbered. Did this make it easier to position them? Who knows.
As these strange shapes peter out we reach what looks like a derelict per but is in fact a jetty for a working quarry. Limestone from the quarry on the other side of the A55 is fed down to the jetty to be transported by coastal freighter to other parts of the UK.
As recently as 2011 one of the freighters, MV Swanland, sank in stormy weather on the Irish Sea after collecting 3,000 tons of stone from Raynes jetty bound for the Isle of Wight. Two crewmen were rescued but five, all Russian, were lost.
As we get closer to Colwyn Bay the cycle path we’ve been following is diverted and we suddenly find ourselves directed down the back of houses on the outskirts of the town and a little later to a major crossroads where we manage to catch a bus to the station. Time to drive back to London.
Distance: 7 miles
Joining the Dots 
It was a great walk. Thanks for the big up on the old bangers! It’s an old banger that gets us to Wales and back each time. Better not tempt fate here…..
It’s quite sobering to thing that ships are going down with the loss of most of the crew as recently as this. In the Irish Sea. As you know we’ve been talking about taking a ferry to Ireland later this summer. I wonder if the suggestion is that the freighter was overloaded ? Terrible thought.
Those sea defences made my day, so sculptural. I wonder who got the job of placing them. It was a work of artistry.
C’mon Tricia, only one more report to go and then we can start on a new batch of walks next week.
Can’t wait!
Brilliant images of the sea defences. Never in my days, seen the like. Abstract artists will be all over them.