‘Llandegla to Llangollen – too many L’s for my liking

Funny innit that the Welsh and the Spanish both have these double L features in their languages, including place names, and they are both pronounced similarly. Thle. I think. Therefore I am.  

I had a rest day yesterday in Llandegla because it had a shop and a cafe and my bloody feet (blistered as well) needed a break after a week. It was lovely with a lie in and a great all day breakfast in the community shop and cafe, staffed by volunteers and well deserving of support. The local pub was closed until late afternoon but I needed a seat in the shade so I sat outside and read the free local newspaper. The landlord summoned me in and suggested that I sit in their enclosed beer garden where I could stay until they opened. They opened at 5pm and although they weren’t serving dinner they gave me cheese and crackers and a big slice of home made pizza. I went back to my tent after a couple of beers for a tin of cold beans. Then I watched Gold Rush on my iPad in my sleeping bag in my tent. Frickin awesome (even though this phrase is banned on this blog). Frick Frick. 

The Welsh people in these borders are so kind and pleasant. Really nice folk. 

I upped tent at 9.15 and packed all my gear. Off by 9.45 and walked to the community cafe for another cooked breakfast. Lovely. By 11.00 I was back on the Path up from Llandegla into the hills. 

The forest hid any views of Llandegla but created some good ones looking forward.

Up on top of the hills the moor was bare of trees and the Path headed over to a steep escarpment that wound its way west to east, passing Llangollen in the process, nestled in the valley to the south. I spotted the start of the scarp from a distance.

Luckily today was cooler than of late and I made decent time. Dropping part way down the valley the Path cuts left to run across the middle of the escarpment. Keep your footing old lad.

The path eventually dropped down and met the road, which I followed down into Llangollen two Coors and momentous fish, chips, curry and mushy peas eaten inside for under £6. I like Llangollen. It’s relaxed and rural with a bit of sophistication, but not too much to hike prices.  I walked up to the campsite.

Walking uphill the ruins of Crow Castle stand out solidly on the skyline. Originally an Iron Age fort, then Norman, then rebuilt in the 13th century by Welsh princes. 

And beauty in the hedgerows. 

The view from my tent was better than Gold Rush. That good! 

Night night.