Friday, 8 July 2005
Coastwalk
Dovey Junction → Ynyslas
Distance: 8.75 miles
Ascent: 119 metres
Duration: 2 hours 21 minutes
The furnace
« Aberdyfi | Borth »
At one point I'd planned to catch the train to Aberystwyth for Emma's birthday celebrations tonight. It turned out cheaper, faster and more convenient to hire a car. And of course when I booked the car I wasn't aware that yesterday driving would be the shrewd move.
However I got here the result was the same: a day to kill while Em works. You know me well enough by now to realise there was only one thing to do.
The walk up and down the Dovey Estuary is horrible. I can say that with confidence even though I've only completed the southern half - I've taken a peek at the map and the north is no better. Eight miles pounding along a busy, fast, narrow, pavement-less road isn't my idea of fun. But since there's no ferry across the river-mouth what alternative did I have?
Walking it did at least provide a different perspective on what is becoming a familiar road. I enjoyed exploring the huge water-wheel and abandoned furnace at Eglwysfach. I found an abandoned truck turned into a greenhouse. I saw three old graveyards and lost count of converted chapels.
Come back in a couple of months to see what the A-road along the north bank holds.