On The Run...

Having been on a few good runs while in the Alps and away from home this summer, we thought we ought to try and keep up some momentum and get out and about from The Cottage. Actually, we did drive the few minutes over the the other side of the valley so that we could run straight up onto the hillside and access the lower peaks of the Carneddau. 

After a pretty drizzly morning at The Cottage, it was wonderful to be up in the mountains and in the warm sunshine too!

From the summit of Moel Winion, we had some incredible views out to sea, with the exposed sand bars of the low tide producing all sorts of shapes and colours.

And inland, a distant Aberfalls reminded us of our Austrian days...

After a good 6 or 7km, we returned out of breath, yet refreshed, and ready for a hair cut!

Climbing at Bull Bay

Wanting to get on to some sunny rock climbs, but also wanting to avoid any of the crowded holiday areas, we ventured up to the north coast of Anglesey to the lesser frequented Bull Bay. After scanning the guidebooks, Clare located a couple of cliffs that we'd not visited before. It was time to go exploring!

Equestrian Wall (photo above) is 'the' crag of the area, with some impressive lines up it. The guide describes the rock as 'hairy and in more than one sense of the word'. It's covered in lichen, but also a steep and friable making it less of a top choice for a chilled afternoon out! (in fact we later met the guidebook author who described it as climbing on rotten wood at times!).

Further along the coast, a smaller, cleaner version can be found - Sunset Wall.

While getting the ropes out and reading the route descriptions, we realised that the description and topo didn't match up - they were numbered in the wrong order - worth finding out before setting off up the hardest route on the cliff by mistake!

Clare led the first route, which was a little gem. Very enjoyable and a good intro to the cliff.

We only saw a couple of hikers on the coast path the whole time we were there. We also kept a look out for dolphins, but didn't see any this time.

I led the next route, which was just as good and with loads of places to put gear in, making for a very enjoyable journey.

With that, and a little cliff top picnic, we decided that we'd head back...

Bull Bay harbour was sheltered from the winds and still catching the last of the sunshine, so we got the brew kit out and enjoyed a coffee on the wall and a chat with several passing locals - one of whom, by chance, we knew as he'd recently moved there. 

Given the sheltered nature of the bay, the water did look enticing, despite it being nearly 7pm. 

We were told by a local diver that it was 17 degrees in the water, so we decided we didn't really have an excuse, so got in for a lovely evening swim.

To warm up we extended the holiday vibe and went straight into the local pub for some hot food! A brilliant day!

Bull Bay Climbs:

- Nautical Mile, HS (4a)*

- Bull Rush, VS (4c)*

The Van Bivi Logbook - Book Reviews

Have you read my book entitled The Van Bivi Logbook? If not, don't worry - it is still available to buy in paperback or on kindle by clicking here. It's is a quirky collection of unique travel stories, friendships and adventures that were all born from real journeys and explorations that were transported and housed in the unlikely confines of our old Ford Escort Van. 

 

In a way it's a bit like reading tales from this blog - just from before the word 'Blog' had been invented! The book tales you around Europe, from the highs of climbing remote mountains, to the lows of finding yourself on the back of a pick up truck in a foreign country.

Believe it or not, we were able to live and work in the back of the van while travelling through Europe.

The little van even transported us on multiple winter ski touring adventures - although living in the van in these conditions is not recommended!

If you have read the book, then I'd appreciate it if you'd take a couple of minutes to write a review on Amazon (or anywhere else for that matter!) and/or pass on this blog link to anyone else who you think might in interested in such things. 

 

And if you need any further incentive to take a look inside the book, here's a handful of quotes from appreciative reader reviews...

Reviews of The Van Bivi Logbook:

"Have just read it cover to cover as I couldn’t put in down. Each adventure is beautifully described such that you feel you are there sharing the experience. Ian manages to educate, inspire and entertain - a Bill Bryson in the making. Looking forward to the next adventure!"

"This is an inspiring book which shows just what can be achieved, even on a limited budget, if one has determination, ingenuity and a spirit of adventure. As Ian recounts his travels in the van one is compelled to read on in admiration at his achievements"

"Ian and his partner Clare have been 'out there' and quietly exploring all four corners of Europe based from a small Ford Escort van. They have explored from wavecrest to mountain top, and retreated to comfort of their small vehicle at the end of each day! The writing is fantastic; there is a smooth, poetic, lullaby like quality to the prose. I couldn't put it down. Highly recommended"

Thanks so much! See you out there....

Fort Martin Days

Our final few days at Fort Martin were spent enjoying the grounds and local areas. The gardens are bursting with fresh produce, which we enjoyed each evening and lunch - all bar the grapes, which are having a bumper year and almost ready to be turned into fine wines!

Local explorations, plenty of chat on the terrace and even a cream tea in the shade of the  'Mediterranean Zone' all made for a lovely visit.

As we arrived back to the mountains of Wales on Saturday night, the same moon we'd been watching each evening at The Fort, was coming up over the Glyders.

Rutland Water Cycle Circuit

While we've been staying in the less mountainous terrain of deepest Northamptonshire, we been seeking out some bike rides and set out today from the (very nice) village of Oakham to complete a circumnavigation of one of the bigger bodies of water in the area - Rutland Water.

There are loads of car parks scattered around the Reservoir, (which all vary in price between £3-6). We opted to start in the village as there looked to be a good pub nearby to finish in!

The route is all traffic free, which was great, but the surfaces vary from smooth tarmac, to rough hardcore (i.e very bumpy!).

We went clockwise around the lake from the village of Oakham as this had the advantage of us passing another pub in Manton just before the end!

Crossing the dam at the far end, got us up to top speeds - we'd also chosen to got late in the afternoon, so it was actually not that busy too.

Normanton Church is situated on a small peninsula and well worth the tiny detour.

It's a fine place to take a break and enjoy the views - and there's a water side bench at it's far end.

We carried on at a leisurely pace, stopped here and there to a sip of water as it had been a very warm and muggy afternoon.

The owners of the lake are clearly not cyclists, because at any slight incline, there were signs to get off and push! Some of them really were funny, compared to the 'hills' we have back home.

The Horse and Jockey at Manton, came into view just in time - we were both starting to tire! We had a cold drink in by the road side and stayed long enough to start stiffening up before moving on.

There is an extension of the ride onto a peninsula, be after setting off, soon decided that we'd rather go for dinner at the pub as it was getting late! The Angler in Oakham comes very much recommended for food and drink for tired cyclists.

Soon enough we had the bikes back in the van, were changed and around the corner, into the pub! A cold drink awaited to celebrate!

After a big and tasty meal, we were ready to make our way back to Fort Martin for the night - a cycle tour with no camping! How luxurious! 

Loddington Living

This week we’ve been spending a bit of time in the depths of the Northamptonshire countryside, in the tranquil surroundings of Fort Martin in Loddington.

The fields have been harvested and hundreds of Canadian Geese turned up to hoover up any of the left overs before moving on with a cheer of ‘honking’.



We went camping with the ‘smallest family members’, and Clare and I had to sleep in the tent as the comforts of the van were taken over by the boys.



It did mean we got to see a good sunrise though, from the comfort of our sleeping bags.





Visited Pitsford Resviour on an especially hot day.

No swimming allowed, so a very sweaty run kept us active instead.



Between the socials, fine dining and general chat, we’ve also explored plenty of local footpaths covering old and new ground for me and some that I last visited aged about 14! Even went down to get the view back up towards The Fort from the waters edge.