PaulAshton
Well-known member
I’ve just spent a 'Sunny Week' in Snowdonia staying at Harlech in my friends flat. I took the family – My parents, my daughter Bonnie (1 year old) and my missus Jacquie. I say again 'Sunny Week' - We did not need the water proofs!!!!
The following details our trips and what wildlife we came across. All of the trips are easy for those with a young family like myself and with the appropriate caution and clothing for all (including me babee) a good time can be had.
Although we had a car lots of routes we took also had Arriva bus services (www.arriva.co.uk) which seemed regular enough and also Harlech has it’s train station (for stations to Birmingham etc.). Thanks to all those forum members who gave me tips on places to go.
On Monday we went along the Morfa Harlech beach. Lovely dune system (mostly fenced off behind the initial beach dunes for its protection). Magnificant views of Snowdonia with Harlech castle behind us. Windy day brought good waves and plenty of sand blowing along the beach at feet level. Not the day for Bonnies sand castles. Ravens were around as well as Buzzards in the land behind the beach. A party of 5 waders flew past us along the tides edge (medium sized, white bodies, pale legs, pale beaks, blue/grey wing colouring – maybe Knot in winter colours????). And a smaller Dunlin was feeding amongst the group of oystercatchers on the tides edge. Towards Harlech Point (and the estuary) I could see a group of 50+ Oystercatchers flying along the tidal edge almost merging with the waves from my distant view.
Also managed to make the short trip to Ynys. At Ynys (past the three storey house) we saw Curlew, Redshank and Oystercatchers on the mudflats and also enjoyed a short walk along the dike footpath (next to big house) which has mudflats on the estuary side and wet boggy pasture to the other. We spooked a few waders from the reeds and flooded pasture land.
A little way along (by car) we crossed the Ynys Gifftan toll bridge. The toll bridge is a good location for viewing the estuary and also there is a train station platform (no station just the wooden platform) on the south side of the bridge that would probably give good slightly elevated views of the estuary for the scopers.
On Tuesday we headed for the Lleyn Penninsular specifically to reach it’s end at Braich Y Pwll nature reserve and take a look across to Bardsey island. While there apart from enjoying the scenery and nearly being blown off our feet we saw Stonechat, Kestrels wizzing around in the high winds, Oystercatchers flying across from Bardsey and Cormorants resting up on the low rocky cliffs. A beautiful place with very choppy currents between the headland and Bardsey Island. Not sure if that day would have been a good one for boating across to the island. It’s another one of those places (like Skomer) where the tide waves jump up and glare at you (in your tiny boat).
On Wednesday we walked part way up the south side of Snowdon along the Watkin Path as far as the old slate mines passing some wonderful waterfalls and scenery on the way. Up to the slate mines this is an easy route which won’t tire most people. We managed to do it with my Bonnie papoosed on my back (and she ain’t light). We had a close encounter with a pair of Ravens (Good views as they came close), sadly didn’t spot any Choughs. While hiking we saw some lovely Buzzards with one nearly coming a-cropper when a Wessex helicopter came through the range. We watched a dozen mountain goats scaling the heights, very impressive and probably very tasty if you're into Caribbean food. On the way down as the sun was about to set we saw bats out hunting in the branches of oak trees on the lower wooded slopes.
On Thursday we visited Portmeirion (Italian style hotel village) where the ticket also gave us access to estuary and sand flats. This would be a good place to scope across for birds in the direction of Ynys and Harlech Point. We also had some very close up views of tame garden birds (Robins, Chaffinches etc.) in the gardens especially by the tea rooms.
On Friday we visited Shell Island south of Harlech. While the family sat making sandcastles with Bonnie I scoped up to a gathering of birds on the sand banks at the tidal edge. They were mainly medium sized gulls but they were also sharing the patch with 20 terns. These terns were much smaller than the gulls, having black caps and pale beaks, Id guess Little Tern???. They were also actively fishing hovering and diving just off shore past the breakers (A lovely site). The Oystercatchers were also feeding closer at hand in the rockier shore line. A smashing place for families with access from car parks to the whole island, rocky shore, beaches and sand dune complex. It’s a popular camping location in the summer.
On Saturday we all piled onto the Snowdon Mountain Railway (a tight fit – for other parents – leave the papoose or pram in the car for this trip). We had tremendous views on the journey up. We only had half an hour at the top (unless you fancy walking down). Luckily for us the fog on the top cleared a few times to allow us some good views of the lower mountains and south to Harlech, west to Bardsey Island and north to Anglesey. We had our short ½ hour of fresh mountain air and the “I’m on top of the world!” kind of feeling. On the way down (in the small enclosed carriage) my 1 year old let a stinky one go, luckily there were no fatalities, just a lack of fresh mountain air for the rest of the journey down.
On our return journey we drove through Llanberis pass with the cars we’d previously seen from above as specks and the rock scramblers who populate this valley. After this we took in the viewing spot /car park below Snowdon on the A498 and onto Beddgelert where we used the paths along the fast flowing river to view Dippers.
On Sunday as it was our last day we finally visited Harlech Castle with lovely view from the highest tower and walls and a close looks at the resident Jackdaws. While in the car park we spotted the swings for my Bonnie and I checked out the sculpture which is inspired by a story from the welsh medieval stories of the Mabinogion. The Mabinogion is the book to read if you’re in Wales as many of the places can be easily found. I read my copy between nappy changes and planning the next days adventures.
I’ll be going back to Snowdonia as soon as possible.
The following details our trips and what wildlife we came across. All of the trips are easy for those with a young family like myself and with the appropriate caution and clothing for all (including me babee) a good time can be had.
Although we had a car lots of routes we took also had Arriva bus services (www.arriva.co.uk) which seemed regular enough and also Harlech has it’s train station (for stations to Birmingham etc.). Thanks to all those forum members who gave me tips on places to go.
On Monday we went along the Morfa Harlech beach. Lovely dune system (mostly fenced off behind the initial beach dunes for its protection). Magnificant views of Snowdonia with Harlech castle behind us. Windy day brought good waves and plenty of sand blowing along the beach at feet level. Not the day for Bonnies sand castles. Ravens were around as well as Buzzards in the land behind the beach. A party of 5 waders flew past us along the tides edge (medium sized, white bodies, pale legs, pale beaks, blue/grey wing colouring – maybe Knot in winter colours????). And a smaller Dunlin was feeding amongst the group of oystercatchers on the tides edge. Towards Harlech Point (and the estuary) I could see a group of 50+ Oystercatchers flying along the tidal edge almost merging with the waves from my distant view.
Also managed to make the short trip to Ynys. At Ynys (past the three storey house) we saw Curlew, Redshank and Oystercatchers on the mudflats and also enjoyed a short walk along the dike footpath (next to big house) which has mudflats on the estuary side and wet boggy pasture to the other. We spooked a few waders from the reeds and flooded pasture land.
A little way along (by car) we crossed the Ynys Gifftan toll bridge. The toll bridge is a good location for viewing the estuary and also there is a train station platform (no station just the wooden platform) on the south side of the bridge that would probably give good slightly elevated views of the estuary for the scopers.
On Tuesday we headed for the Lleyn Penninsular specifically to reach it’s end at Braich Y Pwll nature reserve and take a look across to Bardsey island. While there apart from enjoying the scenery and nearly being blown off our feet we saw Stonechat, Kestrels wizzing around in the high winds, Oystercatchers flying across from Bardsey and Cormorants resting up on the low rocky cliffs. A beautiful place with very choppy currents between the headland and Bardsey Island. Not sure if that day would have been a good one for boating across to the island. It’s another one of those places (like Skomer) where the tide waves jump up and glare at you (in your tiny boat).
On Wednesday we walked part way up the south side of Snowdon along the Watkin Path as far as the old slate mines passing some wonderful waterfalls and scenery on the way. Up to the slate mines this is an easy route which won’t tire most people. We managed to do it with my Bonnie papoosed on my back (and she ain’t light). We had a close encounter with a pair of Ravens (Good views as they came close), sadly didn’t spot any Choughs. While hiking we saw some lovely Buzzards with one nearly coming a-cropper when a Wessex helicopter came through the range. We watched a dozen mountain goats scaling the heights, very impressive and probably very tasty if you're into Caribbean food. On the way down as the sun was about to set we saw bats out hunting in the branches of oak trees on the lower wooded slopes.
On Thursday we visited Portmeirion (Italian style hotel village) where the ticket also gave us access to estuary and sand flats. This would be a good place to scope across for birds in the direction of Ynys and Harlech Point. We also had some very close up views of tame garden birds (Robins, Chaffinches etc.) in the gardens especially by the tea rooms.
On Friday we visited Shell Island south of Harlech. While the family sat making sandcastles with Bonnie I scoped up to a gathering of birds on the sand banks at the tidal edge. They were mainly medium sized gulls but they were also sharing the patch with 20 terns. These terns were much smaller than the gulls, having black caps and pale beaks, Id guess Little Tern???. They were also actively fishing hovering and diving just off shore past the breakers (A lovely site). The Oystercatchers were also feeding closer at hand in the rockier shore line. A smashing place for families with access from car parks to the whole island, rocky shore, beaches and sand dune complex. It’s a popular camping location in the summer.
On Saturday we all piled onto the Snowdon Mountain Railway (a tight fit – for other parents – leave the papoose or pram in the car for this trip). We had tremendous views on the journey up. We only had half an hour at the top (unless you fancy walking down). Luckily for us the fog on the top cleared a few times to allow us some good views of the lower mountains and south to Harlech, west to Bardsey Island and north to Anglesey. We had our short ½ hour of fresh mountain air and the “I’m on top of the world!” kind of feeling. On the way down (in the small enclosed carriage) my 1 year old let a stinky one go, luckily there were no fatalities, just a lack of fresh mountain air for the rest of the journey down.
On our return journey we drove through Llanberis pass with the cars we’d previously seen from above as specks and the rock scramblers who populate this valley. After this we took in the viewing spot /car park below Snowdon on the A498 and onto Beddgelert where we used the paths along the fast flowing river to view Dippers.
On Sunday as it was our last day we finally visited Harlech Castle with lovely view from the highest tower and walls and a close looks at the resident Jackdaws. While in the car park we spotted the swings for my Bonnie and I checked out the sculpture which is inspired by a story from the welsh medieval stories of the Mabinogion. The Mabinogion is the book to read if you’re in Wales as many of the places can be easily found. I read my copy between nappy changes and planning the next days adventures.
I’ll be going back to Snowdonia as soon as possible.
