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Somewhere to benllech - last day

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Yey!  We did it - 130 miles according to the official route, (or 140 depending on whose sat nav you look at).  The last day was as forecast wet and extremely windy; but we only had 10 miles or so to do. But before telling about the rest of today, I just need to back track to yesterday as the below photo has just come into my possession.  It is of course Stuey's legs underneath the Cemaes time and tide bell!  there are several of these bells around the country -  The first bell was installed in July 2009 at Appledore, Devon: the second on Bosta Beach, Gt. Bernera, Outer Hebrides in June 2010: the third at Trinity Buoy Wharf, London, in September 2010: the fourth installed in Aberdyfi, Wales, July 2011. The fifth was installed on Anglesey at Easter 2014 and our Lincolnshire coast could host the sixth. Proposals for the Berwickshire and Norfolk coasts are in preparation. And so to today; we all had to put coats and leggins on - Then we set off across some varied countryside an
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Cemaes to somewhere??

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We'll start with a picture from yesterday - all enjoying a drink at the Ship Inn at Red Wharf Bay. Well - actually stood outside it! Today we started walking from Cemaes fishing village eastwards towards Amlwch. Another great day for weather, not too hot or cold today.  We have been so blessed with the weather, hardly any rain - but tomorrow looks different. :(     The first part of the walk again was extremely hilly, no sooner had you walked up a massive steep hill than you had to go back down the other side!  This went on for about 3 miles.  Also at the beginning we scrambled over the rocks on the beach.  We were joined today by Joanne, Alan's niece, and Ali who helps Stuey in his French ski chalet, and is staying in Snowdonia for a week. At last though, the hills became less hilly and coffee was called for overlooking an old copper mine.  I think the only way you could reach this mine other than on foot was by boat as there was no access road.  We met Phil and
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Church Bay to Cemaes

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Felt better today - everyone has their tired moments, it's someone else's turn today -  it's not surprising when walking day after day and in the fresh air and cold wind.  Only two days walking left to do now, we have walked a good 3/4 of the distance, and today turned onto the north coast.  The weather was good today, not so cold and not so windy. At church Bay, there is one of the oldest houses on the island, and outside is a mangle - look what Stuey and Steve got up to! Skerries lighthouse on a small island just off shore Perfect scenery, clear blue sea and sky, no seals here, but a couple were seen later. We walked just under 12 miles today, and the first part was much more hilly - the walks from now on will be more up and down, a bit like the typical Dorset coastal paths.  The scenery was fabulous as usual, and there are so many little coves and beaches that are just deserted.  After about 3.5 miles it flattened out a bit and we stopped for coffee by a
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Holyhead to Church Bay

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Another mainly sunny day, but with that cold wind again.  We walked 14.5 miles today - to me it felt like it too!!  I must admit to being somewhat tired; feet are ok but legs ache a bit. Anyway, it was beautiful of course, in and out of all the sandy and rocky bays and estuaries.  To start with we walked through Holyhead station, and then around the coastline eventually to the causeway, known as Stanley embankment, that joins Holy Island to the main Anglesey island.  This was built  by Thomas Telford to carry the road and railway from Holyhead.  I was surprised that it wasn't a bridge as at Four mile bridge, but there  was only one part where the water flowed under and it was like a plug hole! The bridge from Holyhead station The plug hole! I'm afraid no Steve and Stuey antics today, basically just a lot of walking, although we did stop for a nice cup of coffee at the Toll house just by Stanley embankment and we did meet Phil and Carol half way round their walk.
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Porth Dafarch to Holyhead

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Steve Y sheltering from the wind! Today's weather forecast was sunny but with a very cold north wind - and they were right!  As we were driving to the start, we could see snow on the mountains of Snowdonia. Wrapping up against the cold! What a stunning walk though - along some spectacular coast line.  We made our way slowly upwards towards South Stack; about 41/2 miles.  Steve Y soaking up the sun with South stack lighthouse in the background. At south stack we spent quite a lot of time at the bird sanctuary, there was the Elin's tower which had a couple of CCTV cameras on nests and plenty of binoculars to look at the cliffs.  We also then walked down a LOT of steps to the lighthouse to see if we could see any puffins, but unfortunately there were none, but lots of Guillemots and razorbills.  Phil and Carol sat on sheep!  With Elin's tower behind. Guillemots and razor bills on the cliff. After South stack, it was quite a scramble over rocks, steps a
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Four Mile bridge to Porth Dafarch

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Today started dry, and carried on being dry, but there was quite a chilly wind on exposed paths.  When you were sheltered away from the wind it was quite warm .... coat on? or coat off?  problem! We crossed 4 mile bridge onto another island, which is Holy island where Holyhead is.  in effect today we walked about 10 miles to go about 2 miles if we were going by road - see map. Our route took us from the yellow box at 4 mile bridge around the bottom peninsula and back up the other side to Trearddure.  Fortunately it was absolutely beautiful. Me talking to a friendly cow!   We spotted a seal - it just seemed to be looking at us, i don't know if you can see a spot in the sea, but that was the seal! As I say, some stunning coastline, and we came across the white arch and another arch too. And lunch was a great sheltered spot by some rocks that Steve W just had to climb! We made a decision yesterday to walk another couple of miles today as it was
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Aberffraw to Four mile bridge

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Now own up - who shouted that we hadn't had any rain!  We had to put waterproofs on for the first time, and we had rain for 2 or 3 hours.  Then it cleared up, but was still quite windy.  Sitting here now though back at the house it's beautifully sunny and I can see clear blue sea out of our window. Alan having his hood adjusted! We started walking along the estuary and along by the sea, clambering over a  few rocks; we also walked along some beautiful paths that were grassy, and apparently they have 'silver slashers' on Anglesey who are wonderful people - probably ramblers, who come along and cut all the grass on the paths so keep the paths up-together and accessible. There were a couple of interesting things we saw today, the church on a little island dedicated to  Saint Cwyfan, who died of a broken heart! Church dedicated to st Cwyfan, they do weddings and baptisms there. We then saw the burial chambers at Barclodiad -  Barclodiad
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