A run up Great Orme

[superstar_tradesman]

My first non-Scottish WH report, and while it may have been North Wales, I felt like I was in Crete or Croatia or California! This was a leaving day morning run after a brilliant few days based in Llandudno, the highlight of which had probably been a spectacular and exhilarating swim in Llyn Idwal under the brooding shadow of the Glyderau.

Another hot day was forecast, so I was up and away by 8, hoping not to get too fried. As it happened, I was only in the shadow for a couple of km or so, and had to turn my buff from headband into pirate cap to avoid heatstroke

I set off on a clockwise circuit, as usual hoping for a more gentle climb and steep downhill. I made my way through town streets to hit the west beach and then along to the fancy houses at Gogarth. Here, the road, now tolled and one-way anticlockwise, climbs the steep rocky hillside, thinking it's on the Cote d'Azur. As I rounded the NW head of Great Orme, I left the road and headed up short grass to pick up a path that would take me along towards the summit.

Looking west along the North Wales Coast

I wasn't sure exactly which way to go, but found myself on the northern path (there's an option that follows the crest of the crags further south). After a km or so, I turned SSW, following a path to, and then round the edge of, a farm and lots of sheep, before picking up another fainter path that took me to the summit car park, buildings and eventually the trig point at the summit.

Parched yellow grass, deep blue sea and mountains beyond

Back along the headland, with Anglesey in the distance

This was a hard 207m, but the views were spectacular, the parched grass making the views decidedly un-Welsh.

From the top, looking down to Llandudno town, with north beach hiding

I hadn't made a definitive plan for my descent, but did remember lots of arrows on the OS map indicating it would be steep! So I followed paths down across the tram tracks, then very narrow roads winding between some houses, down more steps and back to the road with the tramlines.

Steep hill and tram tracks—wouldn't want to cycle down here in the rain!

This took me down past the tram station to the town centre, and eventually back to our accommodation, ready to pack up and head north. An exotic wee hill, much to be recommended

[Sgurr]

This was husband's first Marilyn, done with his aunties about the age of 6, but we had to go back for me to do it. As usual with small hills, it got relegated to a poor day, in this case a day with gales, so we had to crawl up to the trig from the restaurant. Good to see what it would look like had we time to have treated it properly.