Where: Llŷn Peninsula
When: March 16, 2013
With: Nic
After leaving Caenarfon Castle, we headed west to explore the Llŷn Peninsula (we called it the Lynn peninsula the whole time and only found out the next day it was pronounced thlain. Welsh is a weird language). We had no GPS and no agenda. We just had a poorly drawn map and a "follow the setting sun" approach to our drive. We wanted to reach the tip of the peninsula before the sun hit the ocean.
The area was so rural and untouched. From high up on the road, driving on the northern side of the peninsula, we could see ocean to our immediate right and distant left, with rolling hills spread out in front of us. There was almost no one on the road, and other than the sheep, the mountains and clouds, we were on our own.
Eventually the two-lane road morphed into a one lane paths. Four foot walls made of stone rose up from the side of the road at some points, and it appears the Welsh have never heard of the concept of a shoulder. When you added the gradually darkening sky, the curves and the hills, you can imagine how we held our breaths around every turn, hoping that no one was approaching from the other direction.
As the sun went down, it felt like we wouldn't make it on time. For being so close to the sea, we could never seem to make it to the end of the peninsula; there was always another mountain in the way. But eventually, we reached the last hill as the road started to climb and curve up in a steep and terrifying way (especially given that our boat of a car had a manual-like, jerking, automatic transmission).
However, we made it to the top, and with minutes to spare! The sun was just about to go down, and we leapt out of the car, braced ourselves against the bitter cold wind that was whipping up from the sea, and enjoyed the gorgeous scenery.
When: March 16, 2013
With: Nic
After leaving Caenarfon Castle, we headed west to explore the Llŷn Peninsula (we called it the Lynn peninsula the whole time and only found out the next day it was pronounced thlain. Welsh is a weird language). We had no GPS and no agenda. We just had a poorly drawn map and a "follow the setting sun" approach to our drive. We wanted to reach the tip of the peninsula before the sun hit the ocean.
The area was so rural and untouched. From high up on the road, driving on the northern side of the peninsula, we could see ocean to our immediate right and distant left, with rolling hills spread out in front of us. There was almost no one on the road, and other than the sheep, the mountains and clouds, we were on our own.
Eventually the two-lane road morphed into a one lane paths. Four foot walls made of stone rose up from the side of the road at some points, and it appears the Welsh have never heard of the concept of a shoulder. When you added the gradually darkening sky, the curves and the hills, you can imagine how we held our breaths around every turn, hoping that no one was approaching from the other direction.
As the sun went down, it felt like we wouldn't make it on time. For being so close to the sea, we could never seem to make it to the end of the peninsula; there was always another mountain in the way. But eventually, we reached the last hill as the road started to climb and curve up in a steep and terrifying way (especially given that our boat of a car had a manual-like, jerking, automatic transmission).
However, we made it to the top, and with minutes to spare! The sun was just about to go down, and we leapt out of the car, braced ourselves against the bitter cold wind that was whipping up from the sea, and enjoyed the gorgeous scenery.
Looking off to the south/southeastern part of the peninsula.
I loved the small farmhouses dotting the hillsides with specklings of sheep in a back drop of orange sunset.
As we made our way back down the mountain, we took one last look in the fleeting light of our surroundings from the car: sheep and hills. A stunning combo.
While we didn't get to enjoy any of the coastal towns this peninsula has to offer, we felt we couldn't have better planned our whirlwind journey to this lovely peninsula.
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