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. Islay sounds like a fun companion. Such beautiful scenes – flowers, sheep, the gentle shore. I know what it’s like to get lost in a walk and forget to eat. Have a beautiful week, Jo.

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  2. Just gorgeous Jo. Love all of those photos. Years since I was there as a kid, I seem to remember good weather though. Not sure which caravan park we stayed at. Going across the Straits is great too. Your pix remind me of the Isle of Man where I walked along the coast, spoke to the cows (as you do) and generally had similar lovely views.

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    1. I liked what I saw, Andrew (there was a power station just around the coast from where we stayed, but I won’t hold that against them- we have one here too 🙂 ). Cemaes was really lovely.

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  16. The light in these photos is running. If I had to pick a favourite it would be … um! … the early one framing the view to the mountains with foliage and yellow flowers? … the first one with cows and car? … dog frolicking with red ball? … looking across rocks to cliffs? … um ….Can I have them all please? A lovely part of the world. Hugs from my own headland with wallabies.

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    1. That’s exactly what was missing, Meg! The wallabies 🙂 🙂 It’s a very pretty island and I was pleased to make its acquaintance. Reminded me a little of Jude’s Cornwall in my memories of long ago. Don’t think I even have photos that far back.
      Full on day today! Out with the walkers this morning then scurrying about getting last minute Easter cards and stuff. 🙂 I posted some from the Algarve to Poland… who knows when they might land. Ironing and James’ arrival imminent.

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      1. Running light??? Of course I meant stunning. Enjoy your Easter. My son’s birthday on Saturday, and off to Latin American music on Sunday – three dancing lessons leading up to it, but I’m marginally better at listening than dancing. Weeding this morning, wearing my bouffant shower cap to deter ticks!! You wouldn’t have wanted hugs from someone thus garbed, so I’ve sent them with a choice to receive or not.

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      2. What a very sensible purpose for a shower cap, but I ought to tell you that I have never been known to reject a hug of any description. Dancing! One of life’s huge joys for me (though it doesn’t work too well in tandem with my partner for life 😦 ). I had forgotten that at Christmas he bought me tickets to watch Remembering Fred (song and dance with 2 of the stars from the Strictly TV series 🙂 ) tomorrow night, at the Sage Theatre in Gateshead. I’ve never been there but have passed it’s distinctive short caterpillar shape many times on the train. The acoustics are said to be superb so I expect to come tap dancing home, twirling hugs as I go 🙂 🙂

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