Pembrokeshire Coastal Path

The Pembrokeshire Coast Path runs for 186 miles along the coast and part of it goes from Abeireddy on to Porthgain, this is the only part of it we walked. It's said that you could walk it in one go taking about 10-15 days but the rate we walk it would take us at least double this!!

Walking along from the Blue Lagoon there is a hidden away beach, Traeth Llyfn, which has rock pools, sand and beautiful sea............and a lot of steps to get down to it!

The cliff tops were covered in butterflies - Painted Ladies, Wall, Gatekeeper, Meadow Brown, Blues.......

I think these are all Common Blue

A rather worn out Painted Lady

A less worn out Painted Lady!

Meadow Brown

Small Copper

Gatekeeper

Peacock

Meadow Brown

......and birds - Linnets, Meadow Pipits, Wheatear, Stonechats, Gulls, Raven, Crows, Sparrows and Oystercatchers, though we heard those long before we managed to spot them.

Oystercatchers

Linnet

Meadow Pipit

Wheatear

House Sparrows

Plenty of other insects buzzed around, lots of Bees, Crickets/Grasshoppers, Shield Bugs and Beetles

Pied Hover Fly?

Meadow Grasshopper?

Field Grasshopper

Sawfly?

Hairy Shieldbug

We walked on to Porthgain - lots more steps down to it and they were having a local 5 a side tournament so it was quite busy. The lady we rented the cottage from had recommended The Shed - the local Fish and Chip shop here but in the end we weren't really in the mood for fish so decided on lunch in The Sloop Inn instead, lovely big plates of food and a nice cold drink! We got ice creams for the walk back and had to eat them quickly as it was so warm. 

I've got to say the walking is fine, I can walk for hours usually but throwing in all the steps today was painful, my poor calves!! It was all worth it though. 

The view looking away from the sea

and towards it

So our little bit of the Coastal Walk took us a good few hours and it was just beautiful. I'd love to go back to walk other parts of it some day.

Whitby

I took a trip to Whitby at the weekend, i've only passed through before. My husband and daughter have never been at all so it was a fun new place to explore. It was also the first time out properly with my new camera which i'm still getting to grips with.

 Taking a walk along the east pier just about froze our ears off but there's always something about being by the sea that makes me not care so much about the cold!

We had to make a stop for a  disgustingly unhealthy but delicious breakfast!

Walking along the beach didn't take long, the walk up the steps by the beach huts probably took longer!! We spotted Fulmars up on the cliffs.

The view at the top is worth it of course!

Back along the front and we crossed the bridge into the cobbled streets and quaint shops as we made our way up to the abbey. The steps up to that are a killer but the views again were beautiful and to top it off a male and female Stonechat flew into the graveyard. A new bird for me and quite obliging as they both hung around a while.

We saw the usual Herring and Black Headed Gulls, Turnstones were scurrying in and out all along the front and there were a few Oystercatchers on the beach.

A visit to the seaside isn't right without chips and time spent in the amusements!!

As for the drive home through the moors well it was stunning.......