Prestatyn

Monday : Up 07:00, away 09:45.

Today began again with a steep ascent (of course it did!) up Moel-y-Gaer. Another of the Glwydian hills that I walked on Saturday. I arrived at a crossroads near the top at the same time as a lady driving who looked lost. I paused to see if I could assist with my ?super? map reading skills, but could hear a telephone conversation so imagine she was being directed remotely.

This part of the route was called Sodom, harsh I thought.

A couple more miles of pastureland, lots of sheep and occasional cattle - a sign the altitude is reducing. Came across a couple sitting on a fallen log concealed by vegetation. Startled me when their dog barked, having heard me approach. The husband reckoned there was a pub at the bottom of the hill that appeared on his paper OS map that they had walked past. It was not on my electronic OS map and indeed did not exist. So much for some people's map reading skills! All the while traffic drone was getting gradually louder. Bottom of the hill, a footbridge took me over the source of the traffic noise - the A55 dual carriageway. Main east-west arterial road in north Wales. Amazing how far the noise of fast moving traffic travels.

Otherside of the A55 was the village of Rhuallt. The pub might not exist, but 1/2 mile off route, the White House caravan/campsite did. This had the smartest campsite bar/restaurant I have seen. I was served by smooth waitress Ceri, who was clearly in charge and successfully upsold me to add a portion of chips to my otherwise starter and pudding order.

Out of Rhuallt was what Ceri had described as the last big climb before Prestatyn - she was optimistic! It was a mile of ascent up Coed Cwm but certainly not the final ascent. Crossing fields down Marian Cwm before ascending Marian Ffrith I met two 20-30 something chaps from Bristol who had arrived in Prestatyn by train and were walking Offa's Dyke path north-south heading for Bodfair that evening. I left them envious of the days when I could do a Bristol-Prestatyn train journey then walk 12 miles all in one day.

Shortly after this, I passed the point where I had intended to turn off route to camp at Dyserth, but the mile off route and descent that I would have to ascend tomorrow convinced me to press on to the finish. 3/4 mile further I arrived at the outskirts of Prestatyn. Or more accurately, I arrived above the outskirts of Prestatyn. I was 400 feet / 125 metres above the town on Tan-yr'-Allt, an AONB (Area of outstanding natural beauty). I hoped from here route would be a level / descending path to town but before this, there was more ascent - araah! Some of it quite hairy on a narrow path with a steep drop to the suburb below. Eventually the path did descend placing me in an affluent neighbourhood. I had thought of the north Wales towns as being a dusty shadow of their once booming former selves. (Probably a typical south Wales prejudice of north Wales!). Prestatyn was anything but, it was clearly affluent and had quite a smart town centre. The standard dropped closer to the beach but otherwise I was impressed.

The bus I was going to take to my campsite east of Prestatyn in Gronant was in 55 minutes, so I pressed on to the coast and the very end of Offa's Dyke path. Part 2 of my Odyssey completed in 20 days (17 of them walking) - hurrah!

Bus arrived on time and delivered me to campsite in a few minutes at the very late time of 19:50. Wardens had briefed me to call at their 'static' (caravaners parlance for a static caravan) on arrival. I was given a fob to unlock facilities block (first time I have used one of these, a good idea I thought) and directed to camping field. After pitching I repaired to the nearby 'Bells of St.Mary's' for Cider.

13 miles from Bodfari to Prestatyn completed at end of 28th day of walking and 20th on Offa's Dyke path.
Total miles so far : 299
Average speed : 2.1 mph
Weather sunshine and glorious. Another warm day with a frequent Westerly strong breeze for much of the day.
Number of people passed : 5
Objective tomorrow : RhylRead more