LIFETIME of WALKS by DEREK HARWOOD

I left Sylvia reading a book in the car at the recommended car park and took the path to the coast rather than the wide new path directly to Ellin's Tower. There were excellent coastal views, including a view of the lighthouse tower which had been reconstructed as a bird watchers' paradise. I saw puffins nesting and watched rock climbers scale the 403 steps down to the lighthouse buildings on South Stack. I was confronted by a man emerging from a building wanting me to buy a £3 ticket required to visit South Stack. Paths had changed significantly from '7' and I didn't realise the low dishes on dumpy towers were a new installation. I tried to find the path on the cliff side of the compound but as there was no path it was too dangerous and I used a broad track on the topside of the fencing. There was a new stepped track to the trig point from the broad track, not as the map showed but predominantly from right to left rather than left to right. Good views of Anglesea and Holyhead at the top. It was difficult to find the correct path from the top because of many dummy tracks to the edge of the steep cliff, which was impossible to descend without climbing. The correct path continued almost to the end of the mountain with a reservoir clearly visible. I took the broad track to the right of the radio mast, the small track to the left of the radio mast was in close proximity to cottages. There was a broad track through a carpet of flowers from the radio mast to the road and a toilet block on the left of the road, just before the car park on the right. I forgot to visit the ancient huts opposite the car park.

Location Map: - www.streetmap.co.uk
Start & Finish: at Beside the road to South Stack.

Holyhead Mountain 720 ft.
England's hottest day ever at Gravesend 38.1ºC (101ºF)