Part two-Wales weekend 22.02.26-a lesson well learned

 On to Sunday now and the weather forecast had given it out for a nice start to the day-Yeah!!

With the troops ready to go on the adventure for the day, it was all planned out!-read on to see why plans do not always happen as we would like them.

Today's trip was going to take us over to Anglesey, in Welsh: Ynys Môn, it is an island off the north-west coast of Wales. It forms the bulk of the county known as the Isle of Anglesey, which also includes Holy Island (Ynys Gybi) and some islets. The county borders Gwynedd across the Menai Strait to the southeast, and is otherwise surrounded by the Irish Sea. 

Our first planned port of call was Newborough Forest and Warren, it is one of the largest and finest dune systems in Britain, and together with Ynys Llanddwyn island it was declared the first coastal National Nature Reserve in Wales in 1955.The warren is made up of active and fixed dunes and provides an important habitat for many rare plants and animals.

It was a beautiful if a bit windy morning, the area was quite deserted at the start so we all enjoyed the walk in the peace, just listening to the sound of the water. We made our way along the vast beach towards Llanddwyn Island, located at the far end of the beach, Llanddwyn is not quite an island as it remains attached to the mainland at all but the highest tides!! It provides excellent views of Snowdonia and the Llyn Peninsula and is part of the Newborough Warren National Nature Reserve.

We arrived at the causeway to the island to Ynys Llanddwyn (Llanddwyn Island), renowned for its natural beauty, historic ruins, and association with St Dwynwen, the Welsh patron saint of lovers. The water was higher than i had seen it before, but never had an issue with the tides, you can tell what is coming later!! so we all wondered over for some photos and a wonderful view. 

Twr Mawr Lighthouse. It is situated at the far end of the Island, marking the western approach to the Menai Strait.

Photos taken, walking back now and planning our next visit for the day, had a weird feeling and to teach me a lesson when we arrived at the causeway, it was no longer there and had been replaced by the sea, i don't think i will ever live this down with my family, as going was my idea.

A lesson well learned, to check tidal flows, a bit late but i checked these now and found out high tide was still another 45 minutes away. It was too cold and choppy and did not look safe to attempt a swim, so wait it would have to be, there were three other people stranded too, not that it made things better.

We were safe, consider us very fortunate for that, we had an amazing view, pretty good weather, so worse places to be stuck.

After over three hours, the weather was changing but the tide was out enough for a hop and a skip to get back over, people had started wading over a bit earlier, but i don't think up to the thighs was low enough for me!!

So that was it on the day, the rest of our plans were no longer going to happen, learned a valuable lesson, all there was to do was go back to our rental accommodation, and get a nice hot cup of tea.

Part one-My Wales Weekend Saturday 21/02/26

 A usual work week in the office Monday to Friday, then over to pick the daughter up from the train station after work, as she would be spending the weekend in Wales with us, thereby giving us a good chance to be up early on Saturday and start the road trip.

All according to plan, up and away, with the first stop being in Betws-y-coed, picture perfect for a breakfast and a freshen up stop.

Then back in the car to complete the rest of the journey into North Wales

Next stop will be the west side of Llandudno, parking up we all get ready for a walk around the Great Orme, usually we walk to the top but fancied a change and it is a lovely route to do, bit of an up and up a bit more at the start this way around, but wonderful places to stop and admire the view.

An unexpected sighting of some seals, just over half way around, which was typical and taught me the lesson to carry more of my lenses for the cameras with me, i only had my smaller lenses so had to be pleased with the photos i obtained. My family spotters did pretty good, some were not so easy to see!!

The walk was nearly completed, some portrait photos of my daughter taken from the day

Plus there were some early signs of spring, which is wonderful to lift the spirits

Once down in the town, it was a spot of a well earned lunch and timed so perfectly as the rain let loose, still going when we finished lunch and it was a nice mile walk back to the car, got a bit soaked but our home for the weekend was ready, so a short drive around the coast, a bit of unpacking and settled down in a nice warm and comfy house, a place we love to stay when in the area, a nice coffee and some cake too-WONDERFUL

That was about all the adventures for this day, just a bit of relaxing and an early night, stay tuned for the rest of the adventure tomorrow!!

Beautiful little birds

 One of the new things i have discovered i enjoy taking with the camera, are the birds.

Not an easy thing and my hats of to the photographers who have stunning photos and make it look so easy.

You need so much patience, not something i have in abundance but i am learning. Some amount of luck, then the cutest subject matter when you need them the most. I don't have expensive equipment but i think the passion and joy you can get from your own photos is a lot of what you need. Take them enjoy them, they are your own special moments.

These are a little selection i took recently at Lake Vyrnwy in Wales and RSPB  site, hope you enjoy them too.

After breakfast walk at Lake Vyrnwy

 A visit to Lake Vyrnwy is never complete without an after breakfast walk

A walk up to the Pistyll Rhiwargor at the northern end of Lake Vyrnwy within the RSPB Lake Vyrnwy Reserve is one of the highest waterfalls in Wales with a drop of 100 metres, They are fed by Afon Eiddew in Eryri (Snowdonia) National Park and its tributaries feed from the Berwyn Mountains above LLyn Tegid (Bala Lake).

Then a nice drive around the shore never fails to impress, the far side of the reservoir still has some of the road closed after storm damage

Staff at the Lake confirmed that the road would remain closed until at least spring next year as the site continues to deal with the damage caused by the storm in December 2024

Storm Darragh devastated the forest around Lake Vyrnwy and felled almost 150 acres of trees after wind speeds reached as high as 90mph.