The station is very quiet on this beautiful morning – no classic cars this time, just an almost deserted beach that stretches out as far as the eye can see.
The pebbles are very difficult to walk on but I do not want to use the tarmac cycle route which runs parallel to the beach – there’s nothing more annoying than having to hop out of the way of bicycles coming from both directions. Instead we find some hard sand down by the water’s edge, which is more than fine until we realise we are walking on the wrong side of a tidal stream which is getting wider and wider. Fortunately it is not very deep although I am slightly worried about the split in the side of my boot which Damian recently mended – it holds.
Up on the cycle path now we pass a footbridge over the railway line and climb up to have a look at what we can see……….and this is it – hundreds of caravans squashed in together with no view apart from their neighbours windows – think I would rather stay at home but I suppose it depends what home looks like.
On we go along the tarmac path, along the sea wall. There are very few people about and the funfairs on our right are deserted.
No matter how old I get I still feel a slight twinge of excitement when I walk past a funfair, even though most/all of the big rides are now beyond me. The arrival of the fair in Llandrindod, the small town in mid Wales where I come from, was always a thrilling event, especially the dirty, disheveled, slightly dangerous fair boys that would appear at our primary school for a few weeks.
By this time we are reaching the outskirts of Rhyll and in need of a cup of tea and something sugary – Welsh cakes do the job nicely. We sit outside the cafe which overlooks the harbour watching children and dogs do their thing – I mean, whatever next?
…………..and then walk over the impressive pedestrian/cycle bridge facing us. The construction of the bridge seems to imply that it is a bridge that can open to allow ships to pass but we can’t work out how.
I later do some research on the net and find this video which explains it all…………it is very beautiful.
On the other side of the bridge stand three metal statues very similar to the three we walked past on our walk to Conway. This time they also represent three local icons – a scientist, a rock star and a footballing legend – and also provide a photo opportunity.
It doesn’t take long before we are sucked into the mayhem of Rhyl seafront – amusement arcades, funfairs, fast food joints, a cinema and a massive building housing an indoor pool, climbing frames and zip wire experiences. We walk through as quickly as we can……
……………..and end up in the relative calm of the beach and the lifeboat station where Damian stops for a chat.
About half a mile up the concrete promenade we are faced with a diversion sign due to work on new coastal defences. Cranes and diggers are rolling massive boulders from one spot to another – it looks like very laborious work.
Unfortunately this means we are going to be directed up onto the very busy A548 for quite a while – I mentally slip on my anti traffic armour.
After what seems like a very long time we turn off left back onto the beach and sink back into soft sand which is in fact too soft to walk on so we move down to the waterline and come across these on the way. No idea what they are – remnants of breakwaters maybe.
….or a latter day version of this reef marker.
Up until now the beaches since Rhyll have been quiet but as we approach Prestatyn it gets busy – windbreaks, parasols and small tents – the wonderful paraphernalia of the seaside.
Outside the beach cafe is a metal sculpture which apparently marks the beginning or the end of Offas Dyke path depending on where you start.
…….and here is another metal sculpture just outside the railway station where we catch a train back to our car waiting for us at Abergele. It’s not always this easy but sometimes it is.
Distance: 10 miles
Joining the Dots 
I remember the fair arriving but we’re we ever allowed to go? Wonderful bridge design. Don’t see windbreaks on Aussie beaches, it is all cabanas and umbrellas.
Hi Sue – yes I remember clearly going on rides – particularly the bumper cars where the fairboys would jump on to the car and take over the wheel for a few minutes – made it more exciting. Also remember the swing boats ……but I know we were never allowed to visit the fairground at Porthcawl – Dad didn’t like them, don’t know whether he didn’t like the noise and crowds or was terrified he’d have to go on the rides with us or whether it was financial. Too late to ask now x
To balance things up a bit for cyclists using cycle lanes, there is nothing more annoying than other users hogging the middle of the lane and looking outraged that they have to move out of the way a bit. I ring my bell to let people know I’m coming and more often than not they’ll jump and exclaim loudly that they’ve been startled and glare at me accusingly.
Fair enough – I don’t mind cyclists ringing their bells – it is common practice here in Denmark but I remember when I first moved here I thought it was a bit rude (I think a lot of Brits do) and there doesn’t seem to be an alternative apart from a polite cough. 😂 There should really be a white line down the middle, then we would all learn to keep out of each other’s way.
Beautiful blue sky. I have always avoided Rhyl and Prestatyn because of those caravans! Amazing the way the bridge opens. I thought the fair came to Builth not Llandrindod. I like the metal statue outside the railway stationxx
Maybe it decided to move to Builth by the time you were old enough to go – I remember it being down by the Baptist Church. xx
Perhaps it had moved to Builth by the time you were old enough to go . I definitely remember it being on the other side of the station, near the Baptist Church xx
That must explain itxx