and yet time and time again I ’ ve come across walkers who simply take it in their stride .
When I �irst walked the entire Wales Coast Path I met �ive other coast walkers face-to-face and I heard about many more . Last year , I started walking on the very day that Covid regulations were relaxed , and I didn ’ t expect to meet anyone else walking the entire trail . I actually met two , which surprised me because the entire coast , not just the coast path , was eerily deserted for most of the time . The �irst time I walked the coast path I met Hannah Engelkamp leading a donkey in the opposite direction . The last time I walked the path , Hannah turned up on a remote stretch of coast to offer me lunch , walk with me and interview me for Country Walking magazine .
Again , looking back to when I �irst walked the coast path , I reached a place called Ferryside , where a ferry once operated a mere half-mile across an estuary . I ’ d spent the entire day wandering far inland to Carmarthen in order to cross a footbridge . It was the least coastal stage on the entire coast
The second edition of the Cicerone guide to the Wales Coast Path
Caernarfon Castle – one of several castles along the Wales Coast Path
path . There ’ s now a new ferry service , for those who just want to crack on with the coast path and save a whole day ’ s diversion inland . I can think of another handy place for a ferry , across the Dy�i estuary , which would save a two-day walk inland via Machynlleth , which is de�initely not a coastal town .
The Welsh Government have done a grand job of putting the Wales Coast Path together , and I ’ ve uttered words of thanks to them whenever a new footbridge has been provided across a tidal creek . Often , I don ’ t declare which are my ‘ best bits ’ on a long trail , but I have grown to love the Llŷn Peninsula , because apart from it being beautiful , rugged and interesting , it also has many miles of new coastal footpaths that were put in place while the Wales Coast Path was being created . In fact , additional paths have been created there only in the past few years , opening up even more splendid cliff walks and views . It takes a lot of patient negotiation , time , effort and money to get this level of coastal access , so all credit to those involved .
Here ’ s to the next ten years !
6 outdoor focus / summer 2022