Just a few days away over half term break and yet again in Mid Wales but with a difference … we stayed in Barmouth, not Tywyn. Had a pleasant drive, and found a road we’ve never been on before from Brecon up to Newbridge-on-Wye. Finally over Nat y Moch Reservoirs with its fine views of Cardigan Bay in the distance as you drive down the other side. Our lovely guest house was just round the corner from the harbour. (And better still, less than 10 minutes walk from the best pub! First evening was open mike night and as it happen
ed the co-owner was playing his sax, and persuaded me to sing. Did Fever which went down very well despite, or possibly because of, all the interesting words I made up!)One slight disappointment was that the train line was closed as they were doing repairs to the bridge over the Mawddach Estuary which put paid to our planned ride round the coastline. But we actually managed to do a bit of
walking instead (“surely not?” you all cry in unison!) Firstly just round Barmouth, with a ferry trip over to & back from Penryn Point. And the next day we used a book from the B&B and picked a walk which was, needless to say, one of the shor test, easiest, and all on the flat, but with the possibilities for seeing birds - we were lucky enough to see some Jays, and more unusually Reed Bunting in winter plumage. On the way h
o me we went via Penmaenpool, a good vantage point for birds on the river where it is still tidal, which was very evident and we’d certainly never seen the banks so flooded before. And of course we dropped in on the Talyllyn Railway, Wharf Station to be precise. Saw Edward Thomas pull in whilst we sipped coffee, sitting on the platform in the sunshine.
Les X
PS Because of Jeff’s late start and working til 9 in the evening, we tend not to get up too early, so it was quite a shock to the system having to get up each morning so as not to miss breakfast. I need another holiday to get over it!
