Welsh Wander

4th -5th April 2016

A few days away to visit Aberystwyth (where Kate studied in the mid 1999's) and climb Cadir Idris.

We ventured cross country in the rain stopping at Builth Wells for some lunch.  Next stop was Devils bridge before driving onto Aberystwyth on a lovely sunny afternoon.

We popped into town and had ice creams from the shop on the pier (Kate couldn't believe it was still there and it had to be turkish delight of course!).

We then walked Billy along the beach and up Constitution Hill - fab views this afternoon!

We even managed to get the lady to let us in to the camera obscura for a quick visit as it was just closing.

Then it was back down the hill, picked up some supplies in town before heading up to Machynlleth for a yummy Chinese.  A quick stop off at the Centre for Alternative Technology and then on to Minffordd and a wild camp just outside Castelly Bere - with a fun walk up to the castle in the semi dark.

On Tuesday we parked up at the car park Minffordd and then climbed.......

..............and climbed.....................

...........and climbed some more..................

..........into the snow...........

...........and a foggy top!  And a nice warm, cosy stone hut.  All back safely with some serious compass work taking us down from Mynydd Moel.  Then it was the long drive back cross country back home.

Easter 2016

Saturday 26th March to Tuesday 29th March 2016

An after Uzbekistan bag-pack-for-Sarah trip up to Chorley to spend the evening with Dave's dad. On Easter Sunday we ventured out to Crosby to see the 'Another Place' statues in the sand - they are fab!

We walked along the beach to the end of the statues and bought a creamy hot chocolate at the hut at the end.  Creamy top on a windy day proved not to be the best idea - and we ended up wearing a lot of the cream rather than eating it!
In the afternoon we tracked down the 'candy boat' which is sweet shop on the canal barge - yummy!

After a Chinese for tea we drove up to Horton-in-Ribblesdale where we camped the night for an easy set off in the morning.

The next morning we set off for the Yorkshire Three Peaks Challenge.  We 'clocked' in at the cafe at 7:55 am by putting a slip through the cafe door.  Then it was off to Pen-y-Ghent in the snow!

Then it was a decent down to the boggy bit on route to Whernside with the challenge of a river crossing with stepping stones that were no longer there.

Bog over and done with it was a walk along the road with a very welcome tea van at the junction for a lovely cup of tea.  Then it was on wards past the viaduct and a climb up Whernside.

Then it was a steep drop off Whernside and up to the top of Ingleborough - very fogy up the top this afternoon and not the fantastic views we were lucky enough to have from Whernside.  From Whernside it was a steady drop down from the top back to Horton-in-Ribblesdale, and a 'clock out' out the cafe clock at 19:21 - 11 hours and 26 minutes to do the 25 mile route.

Stiff legged in the morning we drove South and back to Somerset for a well deserved rest!