Bangor to Porthmadog - a 9 day coastal walk of Llŷn

We’ve got this incredible 870 mile long coast path and now the second of 7 walking guides; Bangor to Porthmadog, the Llŷn. This 110 mile section is chunked into 9 suggested days of walking. The other 760 miles of the path are chunked into 68 days making an epic 11 week ramble from Chester to Chepstow.

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It looks good, both the path and the book, with a solid feel to it. Stiff covers with folds to tuck you into the relevant pages. There is nothing superficial and glossy about the book which is well researched and written without superfluous adjectives. Photos are stunning and taken at idyllic times just in case you don’t get to experience them in the finest of weather!

The content is well laid out with enough but not too much detail. Lots of pointers to where you can get further information about a story or on practical matters such as where to stay or how to book a boat to Bardsey.  The maps are enhanced Ordnance Survey and there should be no excuses for getting lost.

The book is the creation of Carl Rogers and Tony Bowerman and is published by Northeren Eye Books. The presence of a Natural Resources Wales logo suggests some degree of sponsorship from the government body that created the Wales Coast Path.

If you would like to know more about the creation of the Wales Coast Path there was a brilliant article in edition 45 of Natur Cymru written by Jane Davidson, the minister who conceived and delivered the project. You can read this online here. 

Natur Cymru winter edition

Artwork based on a papier mâché model
of Llŷn by Annie Horsley 

Coast Path – the idea of all-Wales coastal access becomes reality. Jane Davidson

Life after conifers – practicalities and rewards of removing a plantation. Celia Thomas

Ceredigion Coast Path – the making of a path, its wildlife and scenery. Nigel Kelly

Castlemartin Corse – restoring a great wetland and duneland system. Richard Ellis

Art Competition – the 2013 Inspired by Nature competition.

Wet, wet, wet: natural water treatment at Denmark Farm. Angie Polkey

Gwylio adar ar lwybr arfordir Cymru. Kelvin Jones

Snow on a Raven’s Wing – Writing competition winner. Liz Fleming Williams

Just do the walk – and write about it: the challenges of writing footpath guides. David Perrott

50 Years Ago – some Welsh Marsh-orchids. James Robertson

Woods and Forests – afforested deep peats in Wales, the 100,000 ha challenge.

Nature at large – taking a closer look at the National Botanic Garden of Wales.

Green Bookshelf – Andrew Lucas, David Saunders, Huw Jenkins, Gwenllian Rowlinson, James Robertson

Discoveries in Science – type fossils online.

Marine Matters – a legacy and a muddle.

Renewable Energy and Biodiversity Impacts - IEEM 2012 Autumn Conference - in Cardiff 7th to 8th November

In the face of climate change and targets to reduce carbon emissions, renewable energy technologies are globally recognised as a critical part of the solution. However, the siting, design and operation of many renewable developments often bring significant conflict with biodiversity.

 What you will learn?

1. Knowledge of the evolving policy context, economic constraints and incentives that apply to the renewable energy and how these influence decision making

2. Identification of key issues that renewable technologies raise for ecologists and environmental managers

3. How the latest research is filling gaps in our ecological knowledge

4. How renewable technology developments can apply best practice to protect and conserve the most ‘at risk’ habitats and species

Key speakers include Tony Juniper and Jane Davidson

Full programme info and details of how to book your place please visit the IEEM website.

Conference supported by Community Windpower

Easter week

Migrating tourists started to arrive and the weather put on a spectacularly varied performance. On the first wet day I was taken for an explore 600 metres or so into Rhosydd Quarry overlooking Cwm Croesor – it took the Victorian miners eight years to build the main adit on level 9, working in both directions and meeting at exactly the right spot without the aid of laser gadgets. Not much sign of wildlife inside except a few cavers emerging out of the inky darkness.

The following day we had blizzard conditions in the mountains giving a perfect excuse to catch up on office work and participate in my Natur Cymru meeting by audio conference. Sunshine broke through the following day and although the list of chores was long there was nothing for it but to go up the mountain and enjoy the snow drifts. I can’t describe in words how much fun that was but here’s the film: 

Dry and occasionally sunny conditions continued making for good progress in the vegetable patch. A passing bird watcher said she thought she’d heard a redstart but I’ve still not seen it. She pointed out a vigourous patch of opposite leaved golden saxifrage growing in the boggy bits outside our barn. Now I know its name it’s more special to me. 

opposite leaved golden saxifrage

One of the highlights was the weasel which hopped onto the kitchen window sill at breakfast time and brought a vole or mouse out of a drainage pipe. Subsequent slow motion analysis of the video footage revealed a bit of black on the tail so the majority think it was a stoat.

Monday was a wash out, the only redeeming feature a chance to catch up with Country Focus on the BBC iPlayer. This week was the second of an excellent five part series on the Wales Coast Path which is presented by Jane Davidson. The path opens on the 5^th May and there is a great article about it in the current edition of Natur Cymru.