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Anglesey Coastal Path – Here I Come

By Dave Roberts   

on March 12, 2012    No ratings yet.

Posted in Area Guides, Outdoor Articles, Walkingchallenges, walking, wild camping

Anglesey Coastal Path – Here I Come

OK, it’s not as if it’s the world’s biggest adventure. I can see the coastal path from my office window during the day job and if I crane my neck I can even see the Newborough Forest from the spare bedroom window.

Yet a seemingly stolen week off work before it really gets busy has crept up on me before I’ve known what’s hit me!

The only good thing is that the clocks change on the Saturday, so that gives me an extra hour’s daylight for the other six days, making the task considerably easier. This might mean an hour’s leisurely lunch break is a realistic option, even with a lazy 9am start.

With a challenging itinerary of completing the path in a gruelling 7 days, I’m wondering if I’m anywhere near being ready for it. That works out at an average of 30km a day, or 29.96km to be precise. The itinerary below is the  easier option – though we’re contemplating a 6 1/2 day trip with a few extra kilometres tagged onto the other days we can cut the final long day down to a more manageable 20km and enjoy a meal at Rhoscolyn into the bargain.

Itinerary

Distance – Km Ascent – M Hours Running Total
24/03/2012 Caergybi to Church Bay 24.5 215 5.3 24.5
25/03/2012 Church Bay to Amlwch Port 29 577 6.8 53.5
26/03/2012 REST DAY
27/03/2012 Amlwch Port – Red Wharf West 26.5 585 6.3 80
28/03/2012 Red Wharf – Llanfair PG 33.5 540 7.6 113.5
29/03/2012 Llanfair PG – Malltraeth 32.7 285 7.0 146.2
30/03/2012 Malltraeth – Four Mile 30 280 6.5 176.2
31/03/2012 Four Mile – Caergybi 33.5 685 7.8 209.7

Being relatively local however, means that these challenging days will be doable with daypacks in the main. Most of the campsites around the island are from what I can see, mainly tourist orientated and geared towards huge tents and caravanners. In that light, I’ve decided to either return home each night or stay out the odd night at a pub.

The only night that camping might be an option is on the first night at Church Bay, with a small campsite at Ty Newydd looking OK. I can’t seem to find another site I was reading up on last week which had more rules of conduct than actual information. While it sounded like a quiet site, I’m still not sure if a couple of knackered male walkers counts as a single-sex group? I’ll be ready to taxi out and name and shame if need be!

Then there’s a bizarre rest day on the Monday. Why’s that I hear nobody ask. Well, I can’t get the whole week off work, so this is the logical solution. I even finish on the Saturday with the Sunday available if we don’t get the distance in the 7 days.

Kit wise, I’m hoping there will be an opportunity to test out my Nemo inflatable tent along with a PHD bag if it arrives on time! There may, or may not, be a pair of Columbia  Master of Faster walking shoes that’ll certainly take a beating over 210km.

The trip will give me an opportunity to try out the awesome new Medusa 32 pack from Montane on the legs that need the  capacity, and possibly their Batpack 6 lumbar pack if there are any suitable days. Depending on weight, and above all, the available time, I might even take my packable barbecue which we hope to post a review of next month – weather permitting. A Montane Spektr smock might also make up the kit under review – but the active fit has left me needing to shed a kilo or two in order to fit into it! I doubt I’ll lose another 5 kilos in the next 2 weeks..

Other than the first night, food will be straight forward. Day 2 has a long leg without stocking up, but the remainder of the walk sees more than enough pubs and cafes which we’ll make good use of! Even if  I do fit into that Spektr by a week on Saturday, I probably won’t by the end of the walk!

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Dave Roberts

Dave Roberts founded Walk Eryri in 2004, with the aim of providing routes that are off the beaten track. Walk Eryri is now part of Mud and Routes which continues to provide more off beat routes and walks in Snowdonia and beyond. Dave has been exploring the hills of Eryri for over thirty years, and is a qualified Mountain Leader. Dave also established Walk up Snowdon, Walk up Scafell Pike and Walk up Ben Nevis just to mention a few.

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