Lake Vyrnwy

Saturday 20th April

Today we vacated our peaceful parking spot at Fairbourne Point. We shared our spot with a number of fellow motorhomes last night, all here to enjoy the scenery.

Since we are wilding, or parking up with no services, there is a limit to how long we can last without services. Normally we would just book a night on a campsite and get sorted there, but as it's an beautifully warm and sunny Easter bank holiday I'm assuming that all campsites are fully booked up. I've not actually tried to get in anywhere, but Sues not feeling too good so we're heading in the direction of home.

First stop though is to be at Lake Vyrnwy where there are some waterfalls I've read about and I want to visit.

The route TomTom took us was through Llanymawddwy. I must admit to not checking before we left but the route was not really suitable for a motorhome ! Single track, sheer drops, extremely steep. Need I say more. 

But oh so stunning scenery.

I'll try and attach a dashcam video to reveal the full horrors. Needless to say I wasn't very popular, but hayho, what's new ?

Anyway we reached Lake Vyrnwy and Louis and I took a walk up to the waterfalls, it was well worth the effort, not quite Niagara but still worth seeing, with some lovely Welsh scenery on the way up looking at it`s best in the Spring sunshine.

With weather like this, who needs to go abroad ?

This dashcam video is of our journey to Lake Vyrnwy via Llanmawddwy, along a not entirely suitable mountain road.
It was very scenic but steep with sheer drops to make for a butt clenching journey.
The most challenging bit was when I met cars coming the other way.
I pulled over to allow them past, but the road was very steep and it took plenty of revs to get moving again and I think the clutch lit up a little more than I would have liked.
There was a bit of a burning smell in the cab afterwards but no long term damage done, hopefully.
I should confess to spoting a 2 Tonne limit sign, (we`re 3.8 Tonne) but turning around looked too difficult and I thought it`d only be a warning for a small stone bridge or something, nothing to stress over, ah well, it all ended without harm.

Sunny days

Friday 19th April

Today we awoke to bright sunshine as had been promised by the weather forecasters all week. What they hadn't told us about was the strong wind blowing. But I guess that's just a west Wales thing ? It always seems windy here.

After getting ourselves sorted out, we walked the short distance to the point of land facing Barmouth where there is a little ferry boat crosses the Mawddach Estuary to Barmouth Harbour. £2 each sees us safely transported across the fast moving tidal river and into the harbour.

Barmouth is a typical seaside town with lots of attractions for children and plenty of pubs for the grown ups. We had a wander around the shops and Caffe latte in a beachfront cafe.

The beach is lovely with soft golden sand, perfect for sand castles !

I remember coming here years ago when Lauren was small and we bought a kite to fly off a beach seller. So it must have been windy then too !

Later, we crossed back to Fairbourne Point and spent the afternoon relaxing in the warm sunshine and watching the comings and goings at the boat launching slipway directly in front of where we're parked, it's quite comical watching people trying to launch boats ! Especially the townies who are just here for a holiday, all the gear / no idea some of them.

An evening walk along the beach followed by sitting on the sand dunes watching the sun set below the sea was a perfect end to the day.

There was a full moon which I tried and mostly failed to get a photo of.

A short escape to Fairbourne Point

Thursday 18th April

With the promise from the met office of an Easter bank holiday heatwave, when does that ever happen ? I decided to book an extra days annual leave to tag onto the Easter holiday and make a long weekend somewhere.

Discussions were had, I fancied Snowdonia, Sue fancied Cardiff.

It actually looks like a really interesting city to visit for a weekend, lots to do and see but the campsite was full and alternative parking options looked uncertain, particularly as it's a bank holiday weekend. 

Also the prospect of navigating the M5 and M4 made me queezey at the thought of the queue's.

A compromise was decided upon and we (I) settled on a nice parking spot at Fairbourne Point near Barmouth, Wales.
It`s not a campsite, just parking next to the beach and with a ferry into Barmouth.
Best of all it`s free so a cheap get-away, just the sort I like.
The only downside is no services but fortunately we`re self sufficient so it shouldn`t be a problem.

It's on the opposite side of the Mawddach estuary from Barmouth and is a lovely spot with views over the estuary and over to Cadet Idris and Snowdon beyond, and best of all it's completely free !

Nearby is the walking and cycle trail that leads to Dolgallu which has spectacular views. Lauren and I cycled it a couple of years ago and it is stunning, I`d definately recommend it.

Ed was loaded up for his first proper outing of the year and off we set.

We arrived about 1130 and whilst it's warm and sunny, it's also a little hazy with must over the hills limiting the view.

After lunch Louis and I had a lovely long walk along the sandy beach and spent the rest of the day admiring the scenery.

A little ferry boat operates a taxi service across the river to Barmouth, do that's the plan for tomorrow.
I think I could sit here watching the tide go in and out for ever, I never get bored of it !

The weather forecast is excellent for the next few days so I hope it proves to be accurate.