It took a lot of deliberation but I finally decided to walk over the bridge rather than up the estuary to Chester – life is too short. So, here we are in Shotton and on our way over the railway bridge, through the playing fields and up onto Hawarden Bridge.

The car is still holding up after yesterday’s trauma – we are back in the carpark at Flint Castle. I walk over to a nearby bench to change my footwear and as I’m struggling with my boots a young girl appears out of the bushes and starts walking, rather unsteadily, towards me. She is very suntanned, her hair in braids knotted with coloured glass beads and is carrying a massive backpack.

This is the walk that may never have happened, but there must have been a few angels about on that fateful morning.

What a difference a day makes….Prestatyn Beach or Barkby Beach as it’s marked on the map, is deserted this morning, apart from a couple of dog walkers. It’s a grey day.

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.

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.

Llandudno does have quite an impressive promenade but as soon as we can we take the opportunity to walk down on the beach – not for long however.

From the station we take an early morning walk around the walls of Conwy Castle before heading off across the road bridge in the direction of the Great Orme.

I admit I am not looking forward to this walk since the map shows a long stretch alongside the very busy A55. It is however a lovely day as we set off from the seafront of Llanfairfechan and I’m looking forward to seeing Conwy, a walled market town with what I’m told is an impressive 13th century castle.

So here we are in Bangor after a seven month break from walking – goodness knows what we’ve been doing, a lot to do with a new flat in Copenhagen I think. Back to the lovely pier and its small jewelled towers.