Circuit from Borth

Day 5 October 13^th – Borth to Dyfi Ynyslas

On the trail 12,366  steps   5.6 miles 

Off the trail 11.046 steps 5 miles       

TOTAL 23,412 steps, 10.6 miles               

A short drive over the hill to Borth from base camp, and I parked in the road just above where I had caught the bus. It was overcast and sufficiently cool to warrant a woolly hat and gloves. As I looked to the hills and towards Aberdyfi I could see bright blue sky so I hoped that I would walk into the sunshine!

I availed myself of the conveniences, and found my touching board from Wednesday and set off! It was a walk through Borth, which was quite interesting and in places very colourful with artwork and a selection of dragons! It then cut out on the promenade. I was presented with an interesting dilemma of needing to choose between the Wales Coast path and the Ceredigion one. Decided on the latter, which takes me right to end of the coast here (less than a mile and a swim from Aberdyfi!) rather than a long inland loop to Machynlleth – which I am unlikely to be able to finish on this trip).

I was directed off the promenade and across the golf course, to a section on over grassy (and wet paths) through a reed bed and along the side of the Alon leri. This was long and heavy going as the grass was too long and a bit slippery and wet under foot. I eventually came out by a foot bridge along side the railway and over the Alon Leri.

I was in need of a coffee stop but I carried on after a section on road and a bridle way through to a nature reserve. Here I found a rock to sit on and took in a much needed coffee. The weather was definitely perking up and I seemed to have picked my time well as the tide was well out. I walked around the dunes to as close as I could to Aberdyfi (without getting in sinky sand!) and marked that as the end of the on the trail section.

I had a lovely walk back along a long stretch of sandy beach, seeing the occasional dog walker, lots of groynes and sea defences, the remnants of an ancient forest at the waters edge. I climbed back up on the promenade at Borth to have some lunch! It was at this point I was asked a couple of times to do a questionnaire by some teenagers on a geography field trip.

I did the final mile back to the car feeling rather stiff even though it had all been very flat! as I realised the distance I had covered in total was just over 10 miles!

Final running total for this few days!

On the trail 15.5 miles, off the trail 8.1 Total 23.6

448.7 miles on the trail!