NORTH WALES COAST PATH

CHESTER TO THE MENAI BRIDGE

DAY THREE - FFYONNONGROYW TO RHYL

We drove to Rhyl and left one car in the car park on the sea front just east of the Pavilion and then went back in the other car to Ffyonnongroyw. It was going to be a hot fine day and that was evident from the start

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We had parked at the north end of the village where we left off the previous day and then walked the full length of the village. How did it ever support so many pubs and churches?

 

 

After crossing the A548 we went along a  lane that had been reconstructed as a cycleway until we reached  a railway crossing.

After initially following the railway the route then crosses a drainage channel and then works its way around the Point of Ayr Gas Terminal. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Point_of_Ayr_Gas_Terminal

All the pipework gleamed in the sun.

This is the path to the east of terminal. It was on the left, to the right was a vast marshland nature reserve with just a glimpse of the Irish Sea ahead. http://www.rspb.org.uk/discoverandenjoynature/seenature/reserves/guide/d/dee-pointofayr/

After passing the caravan parks and holiday resort of Talacre it was out onto the sand dunes on the Point of Ayr.

Bright sunshine and golden sands  as we walked towards the lighthouse. 

The sea was so calm and out at sea there was the sight of the wind turbines

http://www.britainexplorer.com/articles/item/202-talacre-point-of-ayr-lighthouse

The coast path follows the sea for about three miles, the sand near the seas was firm and the beach littered with star fish.

These swans did not mind being in a thick black muddy creek

The second section was through the Gronant Dunes Nature Reserve and this is the footpath into the dunes. http://www.greenlinks.org.uk/things-to-do/gronant-dunes-p314361

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0LLqP8N4bYw&feature=player_embedded

A beautiful walk through the dunes before we were to encounter 10 miles of sea front promenade.

We arrived in Prestatyn and had a fish and chip lunch in a bustling seaside café and also recalled another adventure as here was the marker at the northern end of the Offa's Dyke Path.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Prestatyn

 

A flash back to 20th June 2009 Dave, Peter, Bob and me on completing the Offa's Dyke Path

http://www.nationaltrail.co.uk/offas-dyke-path

 

The long sea wall at Prestatyn

The wall continues along the gap between Prestatyn and Rhyl where there is a golf course inland.

At the end of this curve in the wall Rhyl is reached. http://www.rhyl.com/

 

We collected the car near the Pavilion Theatre ( http://www.rhylpavilion.co.uk/ ) and returned to Chester after an 11-mile walk on a hot sunny day.