Jo’s Monday walk : A Spring jaunt on Anglesey

After the sophistication of Italy, where can I offer you next?  Still a little disoriented, with my head full of Algarve ramblings, I’m going to opt for the simple life and a lovely little stone cottage in the Welsh village of Cemaes, far flung on the island of Anglesey.

I had hoped to take you along the shoreline from Beaumaris, with the smoky blue of Snowdonia as a backdrop.  Thanks to the antics of a lovable but very skittish Border collie, that notion had to be abandoned.  Cars made her nervous, as did the scrunch of pebbles and the swoosh of waves.  It was high tide and hard to avoid any of these, as we walked by the roadside.  What was needed was a gentle expanse of rolling country.  The soft lap of the sea would be a welcome addition.  Moelfre seemed to have all that we needed.

A pretty little harbour offered a walk around the bay, and sweetly undulating coastline.  Golden gorse tipped the bushes and lambs frolicked in the fields.  Almost idyllic!  Islay’s instincts to give chase had to be curbed, of course.  Pools and dimples in the shoreline just begged to be explored.

A small cove invited too, but those nasty pebbles were ever present.  Islay tiptoed across to dip a paw.  Not to be thwarted, we pressed on.

Steady, Islay!  They’re just playing.  Beyond a well kept caravan park, the masts of a cluster of yachts urged me on.  And sure enough, there was a reward waiting.  The perfect place for a spot of dog training!

Delighted with my small success, I had an eye on a further headland.  A little up-ing and down-ing brought us to this.  At last the tide had turned.

In the cottage in Cemaes, the owner had thoughtfully provided a range of books on walking and the geology of the area.  Lynne was interested in a particular rock formation and, as Islay romped giddily to and fro, I thought I might have spotted it across the bay.

But my dog loving friends were wreathed in smiles at the unbridled joy of their pet.  Time to quit while you’re ahead!  The walk was intended to be circular, turning inland, but we opted to return along the coast.  The views were lovely, and reminiscent in places of my familiar Yorkshire cliffs.

I have to admit to a little indecent haste on the return trip.  It was now well past 3 o’clock and we hadn’t eaten since breakfast.  Back in Moelfre I had spotted highly promising Ann’s Pantry. We did stop to ponder over some wild flowers, and I made a half-hearted attempt to get to grips with the Welsh language.  What a mistake!  We arrived to be advised that they had stopped serving meals at 3pm.  The menu looked so tempting and we had the perfect garden setting, but lunch would just have to be cake.

I was impressed with my first visit to Anglesey.  With 130 miles of Coastal Path even someone as restless as me could be happy.  You can download my circular walk, from Moelfre to Pentraeth, on the Anglesey website.  Tish Farrell has written some beautiful, and informative, posts on the island.

It’s good to be back walking with you again, though I have to admit I dithered a lot before selecting this week’s walk.  Thanks to all of you who kept the walks rolling in my absence.  It is much appreciated.  No breaks planned in the immediate future so I’ll be delighted if you have a walk to share. And if not, I’ll just enjoy your company anyway.  Details are on my Jo’s Monday walks page.  Time for a cuppa and a good read!

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Nice to find a new friend.  Small Step Closer reminds me of good times in Southern Poland :

Mount St. Ursula (Slovenia) – Urslja Gora

From new friends to old, but young at heart- thanks Drake!

A little bit wild

Masquerade in the streets

And talking of old friends, there’s a certain lady at Potato Point :

A daybreak walk by Coila Lake

Meanwhile, Lady Lee is still very much at home in the Philippines :

Batanes Trip, Day 3 – Batan Southern Tour

Woolly is another gentleman who often makes me smile :

Jo’s-Monday-Walk2017-Wk13-Lucerne3-Mt.-Rigi

Jo’s-Monday-Walk2017-Wk14-Salzburg-1

And what can you say about Jackie in La-La Land?

Day1 So Cal- La-La Land

Hmm… Cornwall… now who do I know in that part of the world?

Meander around Mevagissey harbour

Much closer to home, Becky reminds me why I love the Algarve so :

What a difference a few weeks makes

While Susan shares the natural beauty of her native California :

Walking with the Spring Bloom

And funnily enough, Kathryn does the same!

Wildflower Hike

Eunice rounds me off with some wonderfully English moorland :

A walk in two parts and some more local history

Hope that Spring is being kind to you or, if you’re Down Under, that Autumn does the same. Happy walking and see you soon!

139 comments

  1. Fabulous pics. I know the coastline well, having Summer Holidayed there a bit recently. I plan to walk the entire coastal path this Easter with my Labrador. Then blog about it. Cannot wait. You’ve just inspired me some more…

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  2. What a gorgeous walk, Jo! Funny, I just read about the Pembrokeshire Coastal Walk in Wales (from Robin at Breezes at Dawn) and now you’ve introduced me to another. Wales is becoming more fascinating by the minute! Your pictures are fabulous and now I’m itching to do a coastal walk. Wonderful! 🙂

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    1. Wales and Cornwall both have very similar coastlines and they’re lovely. Especially if the sun shines on you. Thanks for spending so much time here, Cathy. I’m very limited at the minute. Today was lots of fun with a 5 year old at the beach. 🙂 🙂

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      1. I bet you’re having fun playing with the five-year-old, Jo. I just visited my 9-month-old great nephew yesterday for the first time. So cute! I hope to do the Wales or Cornwall coast walks one of these days!

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  3. A lovely post dear Jo !
    I hope maybe to revisit Anglesey in the near future .
    I’ve buried myslef in the past as it were here with this comment … as I’ve been a rather absent persona on WP but ChillB mentioned that you’d asked if all was well . It is thankyou Jo … just … pfft busy with life, as you are by the look of some posts which I take a peek at every now and then . I totally understood your post things have got to change … too easy to get bogged down with it all and that’s not the point of blooging at all . Takes time, energy amd so much more to engage properly I know that x I’ll be back sooner rather than later perhaps or else I’ll go permanently AWOL lol … in the meantime take care Jo … love Poppy x

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  7. Idyllic Jo – such beautiful photos and set off so well by the beautiful weather! I have been to Anglesey on a couple of family holidays many years ago and this post makes me want to go back there again. A rural cottage sounds the perfect retreat. Hope the weather continues in this vein for the next few weeks as we’ll be over in a couple of weeks time! Wishing you a very happy Easter 🙂

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    1. Sadly the weather has reverted to type for the Bank Holiday, Rosemay, but I’m sure it’ll pick up again for you. We’ve got the Flower Show at Harrogate on Friday so fingers crossed. 🙂 Sending Easter hugs!

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  8. Hi Jo, what a super post. I could walk those coastal paths all day … until I got tired, of course. I remember camping in Anglesey and enjoying the sunshine, after getting rained on all week in Snowdonia. It was great to be sitting in the sunshine and looking at the clouds on top of Snowdon! Here’s an entry for your next Monday walk, should you be so inclined: https://discoveringbelgium.com/2017/04/08/gr-121-stage-1-waver-to-la-roche/ Thanks a lot.

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    1. I read somewhere that the climate was milder on Anglesey than on the mainland, Denzil. I have to say my past experiences of Wales were mostly wet too. 🙂 Yes- a holiday doing the coastal path would be my cup of tea too. Thanks a lot. Be with you soon.

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  10. Great photos as usual Jo, I’m glad you enjoyed Anglesey even if your visit was only brief. It really is one of my favourite places and almost my second home as I’ve been there so often since 1997 – I’ve got two trips planned already for a couple of month’s time 🙂 No walk from me this week even though I’ve done one, I’m away now so not had time to post it but I’ll catch up with you next week. Have a great Easter 🙂

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  14. Jo, what charming walks you find! Have you kept count of the number of miles you have walked? I feel sure you must have walked the equivalent of the entire British coastline…almost. 🙂

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    1. Funnily enough, I was introduced to the blog of a walker who’s trying to do just that the other day, Ann. 🙂 🙂 Far more intrepid than me. I don’t wear one of those Fitbit things. The very idea wears me out 🙂

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      1. Yes, I don’t want or need a Fitbit. I wonder though if after a certain number of footsteps it suggests you should change your tyres (shoes), or take on fuel (food)? Or suggest it’s time for a warrant of fitness.

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  19. Magnificent frames for those lovely photos of yours! Pooches always call the shots on walks with them, so giving in was just what humans do (I hear there are actually people who try to be the boss of dogs, but I haven’t yet met one in person) … still reveling in that beautiful coastline… 🙂 Susan

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