Having delivered many First Aid courses for National Park Authority staff since 2002, it was a pleasure to offer this First Aid training yesterday by Bryn Walking. Alan Ward (International Mountain Leader) was the course tutor.

Core subjects delivered:

• Primary & Secondary Survey D*RS ABC DE
• Choking
• CPR
• AED

Bryn Walking's two instructors have delivered over 250 REC Outdoor First Aid (including EFAW & FAW) courses in addition to specialist courses such as:

• High Altitude First Aid Workshop (4hrs)
• Trekking First Aid (8hrs) with specific country destination awareness
• Travel & Expedition First Aid (16hrs) - previously classed as REC Level 5

​These courses have been delivered throughout the UK and in Nepal, Morocco and Indonesia.

Additionally, the Royal Geographical Society (RGS) Off Site Safety Management (OSSM) course is available - the next course is at the Cwmcarn visitor Centre on January 13th/14th.

Equipment used by Bryn Walking:

1. CPR training manikins: Laerdal QCPR manikins with feedback technology to help instructors improve both CPR training quality, classroom efficiency and learner engagement. The technology delivers instant feedback to candidates and produces a review of performance once candidates have completed 4 cycles of CPR on adult, child and baby manikins.
2. Choking equipment includes the Choking Charlie manikin, Actfast Choking Vests and the recently introduced LifeVac, a revolutionary anti-choking device. A recent Outdoor First Aid course to NHS staff impressed the participants when they all used the LifeVac anti-choking device.
3. AED units are the very effective Prestan AED UltraTrainer.
4. Realistic scenarios employ a wide range of training aids based on training experience since 2002. 

Rescue Emergency Care (REC) was established in 1986 and is one of the United Kingdom's Specialist First Aid Training organisations. A quality assurance scheme ensures quality First Aid training is delivered and Bryn Walking courses also comply with ISO9001:2015 Quality Management Systems to:

• Improve quality
• Manage processes
• Reduce costs
• Stay competetive

The off-site safety management course has been designed to increase delegates’ knowledge, understanding and skills in planning, managing and evaluating the safety of off-site visits in a number of different contexts.
It is intended to meet the needs of groups organising a very wide range of activities both in the UK and abroad. It is particularly relevant to teachers, social workers, expedition leaders and university lecturers, especially those who are responsible for off-site visits within their organisations, such as geographical and biological fieldwork, adventurous outdoor activities and cultural visits.
Topics covered in the course are relevant to those operating to the British Standard 8848 - specification for the provision of visits, fieldwork, expeditions, and adventurous activities outside the United Kingdom.
ContentThe course is divided into three sections, each representing a vital stage in managing an off-site activity/event:
Planning for the event
This section addresses those aspects of planning which must be completed before the group departs in order to ensure the safe management of the event. It includes assessing the needs of the group, arranging the necessary staffing, and undertaking a risk assessment.
Managing the event
This section addresses the key management requirements relating to group safety during an activity including appropriate actions and procedures required when dealing with both minor and major incidents and contingencies.
Evaluating the event
This section addresses the essential review of the whole event that must be carried out to effectively improve future planning and practice.

This trip, planned and booked so long ago, had finally arrived. The three hour drive down to Plymouth was easy enough and the roads were relatively quiet.

Check-in at Britanny Ferries for their Pont-Aven was at 1345 but we were there two hours before that and ate our picnic lunch and read. Check-in was easy enough and a special sticker indicated we'd board first as we'd paid for speedy disembarkation in Santander.

There were hundreds of motorbikes ready to board  and I spoke to several of those parked alongside us.

The Pont-Aven duly arrived and, after the motorbikes, we were next to board and found ourselves at the front of the main deck on the port side.

With our hand baggage we were soon up in our spacious Commodore Class Cabin 8411 and went to the Commodore Lounge for a coffee and to watch all the remaining vehicles drive on through the stern ramp.

The Commodore Lounge was particularly disappointing as there was nothing there other than a hot drinks machine. I went forward to the bar and brought back wine for us to drink as the vessel was getting under way and we left Plymouth behind.
​
Dinner in the Flora Restaurant was excellent, as was the service. A night cap back in our cabin and I was asleep by around 9.30pm.

There had been some vessel movement in the early hours but we went back to sleep until around 0800. After showering we went for breakfast, again to the Flora Restaurant, as it was included in our ticket.

I thought breakfast was excellent.

After breakfast we relaxed in our cabin but went for a walk later in the morning and picked up a packed lunch for our drive after we disembarked. Yolande bought a bottle of Limoncello for our holiday and we already had Gin and Whisky in our car.

​Disembarkation was speedy and immigration effortless and we were soon on the A8 heading eastwards on the motorway which had some tolls on our way and we passed Bilbao to San Sebastian.

Close to Bilbao we stopped at services to get a coffee and eat our lunch and after about 2.5hrs arrived at our desination, the Mercure Monte Igueldo on a hilltop at 175m which overlooked San Sebastian Bay.

Check in was easy enough and we were allocated Room 430 which was a bit like an inside cabin on a ship but did have a small window looking towards the mountains. 

We went to the bar to enjoy our Accor welcome drinks but I thought the bar staff far from welcoming and a bit surly. We looked at the menu which was a bit expensive and somewhat limited for Yolande being GF and unable to eat seafood.

We took a taxi down to the centro or old town for a walk and whilst there were lots of pintxos bar/cafes there were few proper restaurants. Eventually we found San Sebastian's oldest (est. 1947) restaurant and we were shown to a nice table in the Juanito Kojua Restaurant. We were looked after very well and enjoyed a good three course dinner with a fine red from the Bilbao wine growing region. 
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Heavy rain accompanied us to a nearby taxi rank and, being third in line, we were soon back at our hotel and in Room 430.

'Waking after a reasonable night's sleep we went down to breakfast in the dining room which overlooked San Sebastian Bay. Sadly, breakfast wasn't as good as on the Pont-Aven and in particular, the fried eggs were cold. This was hardly what I expected from a Mercure Hotel.

We were ready at the Funicular Station for the 1030 descent down to the corniche and walked all the way around the bay. We stopped for a coffee at a traditional cafe and then explored the centro old town.

With the GF issue many of the places we looked at for lunch didn't appear to be suited for Yolande but we went into a Pintxos Bar where the staff were GF aware and we enjoyed a very nice lunch. Almost all of the clientelle were local people so it was nice to have found such a local place to lunch at.

We'd looked at the main market before lunch so went back there to buy takeaway sushi  for our evening meal in the hotel room and reached there late afternoon by taxi.

We walked around Monte Igueldo as next to the hotel were benches on the terraces and the weather had cleared up for some photography of San Sebastian Bay. We then sat in the hotel lounge for an hour reading before returning to our room for the rest of the evening and our sushi.

Uno for an hour finished off the day for us with a chilled Limoncello before lights out.

More cold and sad looking eggs for breakfast and we were on the road by 1000. The front desk manager was Indonesian so we exchanged a few words of Bahasa Indonesia which I think surprised her.

Our route was eastwards to the French border and then southwards on the A121 across the mountains and down into Pamplona and our hotel, the NH Iruna Park where we arrived at around midday. Suprisingly we were allowed to check in and soon up in Room 903 which was very nice and spacious. The hotel had an underground secure car park which we used for Euros 11 per night.

After unpacking we enjoyed a light lunch in the hotel restaurant before walking into the old town, after a brief visit to the supermarket next door. As I'd enjoyed a hotel lunch,  but Yolande hadn't sadly, we thought we'd have a room picnic for tea time later.

We walked through the Vuelta del Castillo Park passing the moats and city walls and then headed over to the Plaza del Castillo which is considered the heart of the city.

​After enjoying a late afternoon drink in a pleasant cafe on Taconera we then walked back to our hotel. Our tea time room picnic went well with a local wine.

After a comfortable night's sleep we enjoyed the NH Hotel breakfast offerings which greatly exceeded what we'd had at the Mercure San Sebastian. Even the staff were friendlier here too.

After breakfast we took a taxi to the Fortin de San Bartolome where the "Pamplona is City Walls" walk started. The Bull Ring was passed first but there was no option for viewing inside the second largest bullring in Spain with a capacity for 19,721 spectators.

We then walked along the Ronda del Obispo Barbazan to the Rincon del Caballo Blanco viewpoint. Our next stop was the Santa Maria la Real Cathedral where for a nominal Euros 4 each we looked inside this spectacular building and the adjacent cloisters.

The Mercado de Santiago Domingo was next and this was an enjoyable market with lots of interesting food stalls. Just along the outside the market hall was the El Redin Gastrobar which looked interesting and we were to return here for lunch.

Our walk continued along the Cuesta de Curtidores and into the Jardines de la Taconera before we headed back to the El Redin Gastrobar along Maya and then Estafeta Street, possibly one of the most well known streets in the world as it is on the San Fermin Bull Run route which takes place every July.

Back in the El Redin Gastrobar we enjoyed a pre-lunch drink in the bar whilst we waited for 1.30 for their restaurant to open. We were shown the translated menu on the waitresses mobile phone and we ordered:

• Yolande: Tomato/Mozarella salad - Risotto - Orange sorbet 
• Alan: Grilled prawns - Bull stew - Orange sorbet

As an extra to start with, we were served a local soup which was enjoyable. My prawns were excellent as was the Bull Stew.  The Orange sorbet was very alcoholic and a real treat and our chosen local wine, Senorio Aldaz, included in the meal of the day price, was very good. 

This fabulous meal with pre-lunch drinks and wine with the meal cost approximately £40 so is therefore highly recommended. The staff were very friendly and helpful, particularly with regard to "Sin Gluten" for Yolande.

Whilst we were enjoying lunch, Yolande decided we'd take the regional train out to Olite tomorrow to view the castle complex there. After lunch we passed the corrales below the Museo de Navarra which is where the bull run starts.

At the station we booked our train tickets for the 0745 tomorrow and then walked back to the hotel.

Our evening was spent in our very spacious Room 903 for cheese and wine followed by Uno.

It was an early wake up ready to be down at the Breakfast Room for 0700 with a taxi ordered for 0720 to Pamplona Estacion for the 0745 train to Olite.

The train departed more or less on time and we arrived at Olite after about 40 minutes. Due to a very low platform it was quite difficult to disembark from the train and Yolande had to sit on the floor whilst I helped her jump down to the platform. Our fares were Euros 3.50 each way for both of us which we thought was very reasonable.

The Palace Real de Olite was spectacular as we approached it through the stone archway but as it was only about 0830 it wasn't open yet. In fact, most of the town was closed but the Ducay Hotel coffee shop was open so we went in to warm up as it was a cool morning and the coffee was excellent.

We explored the old town, noticing many people dressed in red and white so we wondered if it was a holiday. At 1000 we went into the Information Office but didn't learn much we didn't already know so we went to the Palace Real de Olite and paid Euros 2.50 each for our entrance.

The 15th Century Palace Real de Olite is regarded as a gem of Navarrese Gothic style and was a heavily fortified structure with lots of palatial halls and towers to climb via narrow spiral starircases with great views.

Leaving the Palace Real de Olite we wandered the narrow streets which surrounded the castle as increasing numbers of red and white clothed people filled the main square.

On re-entering the main square huge caricatures of the nobility were being carried into the area and displayed on the covered stage. At midday, the bands began to play and young people began to dance whilst being sprayed with what looked like fire extinguishers in the main square full of people celebrating on this Friday before a week of celebrations which included a Saturday bull run through the town.

As the celebrations were coming to an end we thought we'd look for a lunch venue but our efforts failed as every table in every restaurant was reserved for red and white clothed locals.

We were down at the station an hour before the crowded 1445 train stopped to pick us up.

After arriving back in Pamplona we walked back to our hotel for cheese and biscuits and a fine bottle of Chardonnay purchased on board the Pont-Aven.

Breakfast was at 0800 but as we were already packed it was a leisurely breakfast and check-out and on the road by 1000. 

It was a sunny morning but not too warm as we drove out of Pamplona and headed eastwards on the very good A-21. We passed the large Embalse de Yesa lake to arrive at Jaca where we turned north on the N-330 and arrived at our Canfranc Estacion Hotel by 1230.

Since 1853 the Aragonese have been trying to open the Pyrenees to France by train through the Somport and after 75 years this was finally achieved. During WW2 the station played a strategic role as a transit centre for refugies and spies. The line closed in 1970 but the station was newly inaugurated in 2020.

We were warmly welcomed in the hotel with a glass of champagne and Sergio one of the porters ensured we were correctly parked and took our luggage to our room.

Checking in was effortless and our upgraded room was available which was a bonus. Room 229 was very pleasant with a large lounge area and separate bedroom.

We enjoyed drinks and a light lunch in the bar downstairs but ordering lunches for Yolande seems difficult in Spain. We both had a Mozarella and Tomato Salad before heading out for a walk.

Canfranc Estacion was inagurated on July 18th 1928 and was the largest station in Europe and an icon of railway architecture. Today, as a 5* hotel the building is in excellent condition and a fabulous place to stay.

Today there was a 34Km Ultra Mountain Race with 2000m of ascent  and we watched runners crossing the finishing line just outside the hotel. I took photos for a very smartly dressed couple who had been to a nearby wedding and they asked me if I'd finished the race early!

On our walk around the hotel and the small village we enjoyed a glass of wine whilst watching the world go by along with some of the later race runners.

​Siesta in our room with drinks before dinner at 2000 with excellent food but only average service.

Leaving the Canfranc Estacion our route took us back to Jaca where we joined the N-260 which took us almost to Andorra crossing four or five high mountain passes up to 1750m with more hairpin bends than I've ever experienced before.

​N-260 is listed as one of the best motorcycle classic routes in Spain and is the northernmost west to east road in Spain. Our Google Map 5hrs route took us 8hrs to complete so we arrived feeling quite tired.

​NH Collection Andorra Palome is a boutique hotel located at an altitude of 1751m and is reached by road in 15mins from Andorra la Vella, the capital of Andorra.

The hotel is housed in a building that once a sawmill and has 34 rooms with ours being a Superior Balcony Room 206 which whilst being nicely furnished was on the compact side.

Breakfasts were good as were the two evening meals we enjoyed.

After an enjoyable NH Hotels breakfast we decided we'd drive up to the high pass which sits on the border with France, Port de Cabrus (2301m). We stopped at the pretty village of Pal following the CG4 route from Erts.

The drive was enjoyable and we stopped at the "Storm in a teacup" iron pipe structure by Dennis Oppenheim which opened in 1991 to commemorate the 25th anniversary of the Andorran Social Security. The structure exudes the hidden magic that is (apparently) latent in the forces of nature.

At the pass we photographed a herd of wild horses which were quite friendly and not worried about being in the close proximity of people.

We stopped for a coffee on the way down and once in our valley but higher than our hotel we enjoyed lunch in Arinsal at the Coffee Mountain/Arinsal Bakery where the salads were particularly good and the vino blanco quite refreshing.

That afternoon, from our hotel, we took the 15 bus down into the capital Andorra la Vella (1013m) just to see what the place looked like. We didn't buy anything and found the duty free alcohol prices almost the same as alcohol prices back home in supermarkets when on special offers.

mmAfter another good breakfast we headed off down our valley and then turned onto CG3 towards Ordino (1298m) and beyond up the CG3 into the high ski resorts run by Ordino Arcalis (2229m) and parked there.

We had a choice of an hours walk up to the three lakes (Estany Primer @ 2249m, Estany Del mig @ 2288m and Estany De Mes Amunt @ 2306m) or take the open sit ski lift to the high ridge above the ski resort and then walk the last 100m of ascent up to the Mirador Solar de Trstaina @ 2701m where the giant sundial awaited us. The all round views were stunning and down to the three lakes which lie below Pic De Tristainwa @3878m.

After taking in the views we walked back down to the ski resort but this was a tough track descent of about 500m with some sections being quite steep. Lunch was at the Restaurant La Coma in the ski resort where we both enjoyed local rice dishes not dissimilar to paella.

​After lunch we explored the surrounding areas where there where some fine examples of The Orris which are examples of old farm livestock architecture  dating back to the 17th and 19th centuries but these were re-built in the 20th century. These old traditional buildings  where were the sheep were milked and cheese made.

​Late in the afternoon we returned to our hotel and later, room cheese and biscuits with an enjoyable wine.

For our last day in Andorra we decided to head east on CG2 through Encamp and Canillo and up to the top end of the Vall d'Incles on CS236. The single lane route up to the head of the valley passed colourful properties, all adorned with floral troughs or hanging baskets. In fact, everywhere was the same across Andorra from remote cottages to multi-storey hotels in the main towns.

At the head of the valley I spent some time photographing images of a new whisky product for the distilling company which I'd previously done some photography for. The area was surrounded by spectacular mountain scenery and a few colourful farm properties. Sadly the restaurant was closed between the summer and winter seasons and this was quite common across Andorra during our September stay.

​Leaving the valley and back onto the CG2 we drove eastwards to Soldeau for lunch. Our children had been skiing there once so we were curious to see the place. In the Restaurant Bruxelles where we stopped for lunch I enjoyed a fabulous pepperoni pizza whilst Yolande had a very average mozarella and tomato salad.

Our return route to our hotel was from Canillo over the  CS240 mountain road with multiple hairpin bends with a stop at the Roc del Quer Mirador which cost us Euros 5 each to visit the vantage viewpoint and The Ponderer sculpture at the end of the walkway. The viewpoint provides spectacular views of the valleys of Montaup and Valira d'Orient.

Back at the hotel to dine in, Chef Pedro offered us complimentary wine and crisps because he was late opening the main restaurant as he was supervising a large Chinese school group from the NH hotel down in the capital - Andorra la Vella (1013m). Our dinner was very good with Yolande enjoying a pork dish whilst I opted for the duck.

Some packing before bedtime in readiness for an early departure in the morning to Monseratt and Badalona (Barcelona).

Dressed and packed by the time breakfast opened at 0800, we were on the road south out of Andorra by about 0830. We weren't stopped leaving the country and soon after the border we turned eastwards on the N-260.

Beyond Bellverde Cerdanya our route turned southwards, passing through a 5Km tunnel (Euros 13.90) on a modern road with spectacular scenery passing the towns of Baga, Berga and Gironella on C-16. 

We needed a break so pulled off C-16 into a small village (Puig-Reig) where we found a wonderful hotel coffee shop which was quite delightful. We purchased packed lunches here to eat at Monastir de Monseratt. They even provided Yolande with a gluten free roll.

We arrived at the rack railway station car park by about midday and caught the 1215 train up to the monastry site. The station and trains were very new looking and the three storey free car park quite huge. It was a scenic ride up to the top station and after disembarking we took the Saint Joan Funicular up to the top viewing point which was well worth the effort. We didn't need to stay long at the top viewing point so took the funicular back down to the very crowded main monastry levels where we ate our packed lunches.
We had purchased our tickets online from home.

Most of the chapels and other buildings required additional charges and as we felt we'd seen what we wanted to we caught a crowded train back to our station car park.

It was a long 1.5hrs to Badalona via the built up areas of Sabadell and Ripoollet and we arrived at our sea front Hotel Miramar. The hotel garage only had space for three cars so we were glad we'd booked and paid our reservation in advance.

After unpacking in our quite spacious sea-view room we went out to buy provisions for our room fridge and then went for a walk over to Badalona Estacion where, on the sea front, we enjoyed drinks with the waves crashing almost at our feet.

Beyond our hotel westwards on the seafront we found a Mexican restaurant called Mexclat which turned out to be excellent. The margaritas were excellent and the best nachos we've ever experienced followed although we did have to request jalapenos! For our main course we shared a plate of pork tacos and these were filled genourosly and very tasty.

​It was then just a short walk back to the hotel.

After a very good night's sleep we woke to find it was raining heavily which caused a dampener on our day's activities. The hotel didn't provide breakfast so we'd popped around to the nearby Cosin Supermercado and purchased a few breakfast items.

​After breakfast we decided to wait a couple of hours to see if the weather improved.

With the weather having improved we caught the R1 Regional Train into Barcelona for an exploratory afternoon in the city.

Disembarking at Catalunya we walked towards the Gothic Quarter and enjoyed a very good lunch in a restaurant called Cer el Cle which had a large and very crowded dining terrace outside but a rather elegant indoor area where we chose to sit. I enjoyed a Sashimi/Sushi dish whilst Yolande chose Roast Chicken/Potatoes and both dishes were very good. We shared a Catalan Creme Brule as a dessert.

The Gothic Quarter wasn't hugely of interest to us so we continued down to the Port Vell area where there was still much of interest from the very recent America's Cup. Looking at the other boats in the marina we saw the ancient looking harbour cable car at the World Trade Centre before planning our route back to Badalona by aiming for the Arc de Triomf regional railway station.

We walked past and through the mainline station Estacio de Franca and throuh the Parc de la Ciutadella, where there were small green paraqueets playing in the grass, to look at the large Arc de Triomf before catching the R1 train back to Badalona for the short walk back to our Hotel Miramar.

That evening we went back to the Mexclat for another very good Mexican dinner. After dinner we went for a walk into the centre of Badalona to recce the Metro station for our journey into Barcelona tomorrow.

After our in-room picnic breakfast, very basic,  we walked to the Badalona Metro to get into central Barcelona where we alighted at the Sagrada Famalia Metro which was directly outside the Metro and which looked very impressive even with all the construction cranes present. After a simple breakfast and coffee we went into the Sagrada Familia for our 1030 reservation with a tower reservation at 1045. These tickets were also booked in advance.

The building required airport type security but we were soon inside and even as crowded as it was it was still impressive. After a brief queue for the lift we were whisked up high where various small platforms got us close to the main towers. The spiral descent in dark lighting provided a slow and careful descent down to the main level below.

​Walking around the base of Sagrada Familia we stopped at the Placa de Gaudi for one of the best views across the small lake to the Sagrada Familia.

Our next objective of the day was the new business tower, Torre Glories, where we'd be whisked up to the highest point in Barcelona for just a few euros. We were there early so enjoyed a drink at the Hoxton Hotel restaurant in their terrace bar.

Reaching the 38th-story of Torre Glories gave us 360 degree views of Barcelona and with my Nikon camera equipment I was able to take some great images of the Basilica de la Sagrada also known as Sagrada Familia which we'd visited earlier.

After Torre Glories we returned to the Hoxton Hotel for lunch which was very enjoyable.

Taking a taxi to the Placa Catalunya square we then walked down the very crowded La Rambla, a notable street in Barcelona, before catching the Metro back to Badalona.

A sea view room picnic of cheese and wine ended a very busy day in a crowded city.

This was planned as a rest day before tomorrow when we were todrive to Valancia for three nights.

I downloaded images from my iPhone and Nikon D750 which I'd been doing on a fairly regular basis before spending an hour or so writing up my website blog.

​At 1230 we walked over to the Mexclat restaurant for a sushi lunch which was very enjoyable. After lunch we walked along the promenade to the Indian restaurant to book a table for our evening meal. After that we reurned to our hotel room and balcony and I also wrote a few more notes on my website blog.

Dinner at the Curcuma Badalona Indian Restaurant was very good and the owner very helpful and friendly for an enjoyable dinner on our last night in Badalona.

​I'd enjoyed our seafront Hotel Miramar with a great balcony and the sound of waves quite audible from across the seafront. The hotel needed some love and attention but is only 3*** and adequate for our three nights there.

0800 from the hotel saw us experiencing rush hour traffic until we joined the E-15 which would take us all the way to Valencia in just over 4hrs. We stopped a few times at services and arrived at the AC Marriott Hotel Valencia at about 1230 where Room 918 was made available to us on our arrival. The underground secure car park was easy to access. 

​After some unpacking we enjoyed a light lunch in the lobby hotel restaurant.

We thought we'd better visit the railway station to find out about trains for our planned visit to Xativa tomorrow. We walked to Estacion Valencia Nord via the Jardin del Turia which was a pleasant walk through well maintained gardens where once there was a river.  We walked past the spectacular Palau de la Musica, a concert hall built in the 1980's. At the station we didn't really find out much about our rail plans for the following day so returned by taxi to the hotel.

Dinner was Japanese just a short walk from the hotel to the Placa d'Europe roundabout and the Okawa Restaurant dinner was good in that customers cook it themselves and it was a pleasant experience which took about 1.5hrs in total before we returned to the hotel.

This was to be a day trip to Xativa following advice from Helen Menhinick who recommended this destination to view the Castillo de Xativa which sits above the town of Xativa on the narrow ridge of Mount Vernissa at 350m altitude.

We'd researched Renfe trains but there was some confusion about timetables and departures from Valencia but our knowledgable taxi driver took us to Valencia Nord where we purchased our round trip tickets and boarded the 1035 train.

Arriving in Xativa about an hour later we soon found a taxi for the Euros 12 trip up to the Castillo de Xativa. We paid our Euros 6 each entrance tickets and spent an hour climbing up to and exploring the Upper Castle. It really was an inspiring fortification and back down at the Placa d'Armes, Yolande decided to rest whilst I nipped up to the Lower Castle. The ticket office kindly booked us a taxi back down to town where we were dropped off in the central area to look for a lunch venue.

Black Pork Jambonerie was an exceptionally good find where we spent over an hour enjoying drinks and lunch. This bar restaurant is highly recommended, even for those with GF requirements like Yolande who thought her GF Baguette was very good. The staff were very friendly and helpful and we purchased a bottle of red to take back to our Valencia hotel.

​We caught a train at about 1530 hrs and were back into Valencia Nord before 1700 for a taxi back to the hotel.

We walked over to the C.C. AQUA shopping complex for tea at Tony Roma's, an Americal Diner. The shared nachos were excellent as were the ribs we each had for mains and the service very good too.

OWe were on the road soon after breakfast and leaving the city onto the A-23 Autovia Mudejar which, leaving the coast behind, climbed to over 1200m for much of the way with buffeting strong winds from the west.

We passed Teruel Airport which has the most aircraft grounded  anywhere in Europe. Currently there are over 130 aircraft in storage there, including some from British Airways. Stored aircraft range in size from the Boeing 737 in all it's variants up to the A380 with a dozen of these stored there. Beyond Teruel we stopped at services briefly with us finally reaching the NH Ciudad Hotel in Zaragoza by about 1pm.

Our room was ready for us so after dropping the bags off we went down to the restaurant for a light lunch.  The restaurant was mostly occupied by a noisy corporate group so we moved out into the front bar area to eat our lunch.

Room 709 was quite satisfactory and had a river facing balcony. After lunch and some unpacking we set out to explore Zaragoza.

We walked along the wide riverside path between Punte de Santiago and Puenta de Piedra before turning into the old centre to source somewhere for our evening meal and opted for the Tragantua Gran Taberna where we were told we didn't need to make a reservation. We returned to the hotel via the narrow streets of the old town and the very large Plaza del Pilar which is quite impressive.

As it was getting dark we walked back to the Tragantua Gran Taberna for the 2000 opening time but it was gone 2015 before anyone was allowed inside as the staff were still laying tables and making general preparations.

Our waiter was far from welcoming and friendly and wanted us to rush into ordering everything in one go. He wasn't particularly happy when we ordered our wine and we said we'd have a drink as we were looking through the menu. Our meal choices were good but it's a shame the service was poor. Looking at the dessert menu we gave up waiting for our orders to be taken and paid the bill.

​The Cathedral and buildings around the Plaza del Pilar were all illuminated and looked good.

This day trip to Madrid had been my idea and was quite costly so I was hoping Yolande would enjoy the day. I'd treated us to First Class tickets which included reserved seating and a simple meal both ways. The railway company is called Iryo, a Spanish high-speed train operator competing with state-owned Renfe on key routes.

Iryo launced in November 2022 and is a consortium of Tenitalia and Air Nostrum using a vwesion of Tenitalia's Frecciarosso 1000 trains - we reached just over 300km/hr on both our journeys. Breakfast served at our seats was very good.

Arriving in Madrid by about midday we set out to expore the west side of the city which is the older part. A long walk westwards along Calle Atocha took us into the magnificent Plaza Mayor central square where we sat and enjoyed drinks watching the world go by.

We'd read that we should vist the Mercado San Miguel but this wasn't a market any more but a very overcrowded food hall with no traditional market stalls. Beyond that we walked down to the Palacio Real but long entrance queues deterred us from going inside so we set off in search of lunch. 

We found a traditional looking restaurant called Las Cuevas de Luis Candelas and ventured inside to see if they could cope with Yolande's dietary requirements and were both pleased to get a positive response. We were taken down into the cellars that house the traditional and historical  and very well appointed dining room.

We enjoyed a great lunch with excellent service in the cellars where Luis Candelas, the famous highwayman, once based his operations from whilst robbing the rich to help the poor. Like Dick Turpin in York, Luis Candelas also met his fate at the gallows. It was a fabulous lunchtime experience and this restaurant is to be highly recommended.

With about 4hrs before our train was due to depart we enjoyed a leisurely walk along Calle Alcala to Puert de Cibeles and the impressive Palacio de Cibeles Centrocentro. We walked around this colourful area before going to the Museo Naval which we looked around for an hour. This maritime museum was full of very interesting models and art exhibits.

Back at the station in ample time for our 1925 train we found a quiet corner in a station cafe and made our drinks last until our platform was announced and we could pass through security onto our platform to board the train. 

As the train pulled out of the station our two cabin attendents came through with a drinks trolley to offer welcome drinks so we chose cava which was very nice. Soon we were running at 300km/hr as our light meal was served with generous amounts of a pleasant red wine. Before long we were slowing down into Zaragocia Delias Estacion and we disembarked only to have to wait twenty minutes for a taxi back to our hotel. Iryo trains are highly recommended and we both enjoyed the high speed train experience for our day trip to Madrid.

After a long and tiring day yesterday we enjoyed a lie in and a later breakfast but at 0900 the breakfast room was chaotic with staff barely able to cope. Nevertheless we enjoyed good omlettes with our fresh orange juice and coffee.

Our first venture into town was to shop for some items to take home with us and we eventually found a very nice delicatessen where we made our purchases before taking them back to the hotel and or car. During this walk we completed a recce to our dinner venue for tonight: Distrio Mexico.

Our second venture into town was more for an enjoyable walk, photography and lunch and walking alongside the river and old city walls led us to La Cocina de Keyla which turned out to be a Gluten Free restaurant which was very nicely appointed with quite a few tables occupied. Sadly it was an alcohol free restaurant but we both survived! We ordered three dishes to share and they were all very good: hummous, quiche and a pizza type dish. A highly recommended Gluten Free restaurant.

Back at the hotel we sorted out our luggage ready for our morning departure tomorrow to Burgos.

Distrio Mexico that evening was a bit of a disappointment in that the margaritas were far from what we'd normally expect and the three dishes we ordered were all a bit bland without a jalapeno in sight.

tI think we were on the road by 9am for our three hour drive to Burgos and, being a Sunday morning, the drive was quiet with not much traffic around.

Almost at the hotel we were faced with barriers and road closures by the police which were a nightmare. On our second attempt we simply drove up to a barrier and negotiated our way through as our hotel was very close. The hotel car park was tight corners and narrow parking bays but we ended up on -2 where the bays were wider.

Up at reception in this very nice looking hotel we were allocated Room 306 which was very well furnished and looked across the river to Burgos Cathedral. Our lunch with a drink was down in the very spacious lobby bar where one of the staff spoke fluent English and fully undersood Yolande's dietry requirements. Granada FC were checking out as we arrived.

We spent the afternoon exploring Burgos with a lengthy visit into Burgos Cathedral which was very well looked after and had a heritage wing where we were reminded that this was the home of El Cid and we saw his coffin in the cathedral.

On our way back to the hotel we passed a magnificent bronze statue of El Cid.

We dined in the hotel restaurant that night and it was an enjoyable experience. There was no al a carte as it was a Sunday but the three course dinner was excellent. We then planned our route to the ferry terminal at Santander.

We were up bright and early for breakfast but as we were finalising our packing Britanny Ferries emailed me to say the ferry would be delayed until tomorow at 1100, delayed inbound because of weather.

I tried to book at the NH Hotel Santander but found it was already fully booked as ferry passengers all booked hotels there. Natalia on the front desk managed to secure a booking at the Bahia Hotel for us but at a cost of Euros 199 room only. 

Leaving Burgos behind the drive up to the Bahia Hotel in Santander took us a couple of hours on mostly quiet roads until we neared the coast.

Access for our car into the underground car park was via a car lift which was a new experience for us but checking in was easy enough and we were soon in Room 611 which was quite spacious and with a harbour view. I think that, overall, the Bahia Hotel needed an upgrade as in our room, wallpaper was flaking off in a couple of places and the door stop had separated from the wall. Toiletries in the bathroom were quite basic and there were no brew facilities in the room.

After our typical lunch on arrival in our hotels we went for a walk around Santander and recce'd a restaurant for our evening meal and this was the Cafe Suizo. There didn't seem to be much of interest for us to see in Santander so we went back to our hotel to relax.

Dinner at the Cafe Suizo turned out to be a wise decision as my fish and chips was about the best I've ever experiennced. Yolande's entrecote steak was of a size I've never seen her tackle before. The service was warm and friendly and we were given a local liquer complimentary before we left for our hotel. A fabulous last night in Spain......

Awake at 0615 only to find that the Pont-Aven hadn't arrived yet so we went down for breakfast which turned out to be about the worst we'd experienced on this trip and on top of the euros 199 cost Euros 16 each on top.

Checking out, it was up in the car lift and we were checked in at the ferry terminal within about 10 minutes of leaving the hotel. We were able to buy a coffee at the jetty cafe but it was so awful, I threw mine away. We drove onto the Pont-aven by about 0930 and soon found our way up to our delux cabin 8306 Ile d' Aiz - all the delux cabins are named after small French islands. The twin bed room was actually a quad room with a large sofa bed and a fourth bed hidden in the ceiling.

We sailed by about 1130 and passed the cruise liner Ventura as we were leaving the harbour. After lunch we did our duty free shopping but by about 1430 vessel movement was increasing as waves from the west picked up to Force 6. With the vessel movement I thought it was time to be rocked gently to sleep and woke up an hour and a half later to find the seas had calmed down.

For dinner in the main dining room we both opted for just two courses, missing out on a main as the buffet starter was quite comprehensive. We followed this with a shared plate of cheeses from the most amazing cheese selection I've ever seen. The Irish Coffee I finished off with was very enjoyable.

 We woke after the Pont-Aven had berthed in Roscoff for the crew change and I went up on deck as the ship sailed. We went for a leisurely breakfast around 0900 and then relaxed in our cabin for the rest of the crossing to Plymouth.

We docked by around 1330 but on our elevated car deck it seemed to take a while for the main deck to offload before our ramp could be lowered for us to disembark. Our car was selected for a search and we were told this was a random search for unauthorised persons and not because we might have purchased more than our allowances of duty free items.

A four hour drive saw us arrive home after a truly enjoyable exploration of northeast Spain and Andorra.

• Vehicle mileage: 1850 miles
• Ferry mileage: 477 nm + 381 nm + 97nm = 955 nautical miles
• Train mileage: 900km

7 participants completed this award to a high standard and were a pleasure to work with.

​Day 1 commenced with a morning theory session at the National Park Visitor Centre with a practical skills session after lunch on Mynydd Illtyd Common to the Twny y Gaer (367m Hill Fort).

Day 2 was a full day on the hills above Talybont-on-Usk using a variety of public rights of way with some not visible on the map. Various sites of environmental interest were passed and practical use of group shelters demonstrated along with equipment discussions. Clothing was put to the test during the afternoon with heavy rain encountered.

​A final session was held in the Canal Cafe back in Talybont-on-Usk.

The greatest strengths of this couse are:

1. Alan - loved the delivery and skills, observations of map and local features and anecdotes.
2. Good mix of theory and practical work.
3. The practical sessions and the Leaders' patience.
4. Being able to ask questions without fear of feeling silly.
5. On-course training out in the field.
6. Right number of people on the course.
7. Choice of venue.
8. Practical elements - knowledge of instructors.
9. Proximity of the Brecon Beacons (close to home).
10. Given me confidence in use of compass and navigating without electronic assistance.
​11. Outdoor navigation and learning about map features.

Alan wrote: This trek for Himalayan Kingdoms involved flying to Kolkata (previously known as Calcutta) for a couple of nights before an overnight sleeper train up to Siliguri as our access point into Sikkim. Disappointedly, Himalayan Kingdoms hadn't  booked us into a comfortable class of sleeping berths and there was no food available on the train. 2nd Class AC was quite basic but bedding was provided in our 4-berh open cabins and the "Darjeeling Mail" pulled out of the station just before midnight for the 16hr journey northwards across the dry plains of North Bengal to New Jalpaiguri after 650km.

Whilst in Kolkata we had toured the main sites: Victoria Memorial Hall, Howrah Bridge and the area where Fort William and the old General Post Office were located. This was the "Black Hole of Calcutta"  where British prisoners of war were held in the Indian Mutiny in 1756 and of 146 prisoners of war, 123 died.

Our main gateway towards Kanchenjunga (8586m) Base Camp (5160m) was Gangtok and our final exit from Sikkim was the old hill town of Darjeeling.

The overall routing was: Kolkata - Siliguri - Kalimpong (1250m) - Gangtok (1547m) -  Rumtek - Yuksom (1775m) - Bakhim (2700m) - Zamligaon - Dzongri (4050m) - Thangsing (4010m) - Samati Lake (4355m) - Goecha La - Thangsing - Tsoka - Pemayangtse (2085m) - Darjeeling (2134m).

Kalimpong was a remote hill station in times gone by and was a meeting point of the once "Three Closed Lands" on the trade routes to Tibet, Bhutan and Nepal and local cultural and social influences reflect those of the three countries. Our Himalayan Hotel was very comfortable with good food for our two night stay.

In Kalimpong we visited the colourful Raja Dorjee Market, Thongsa Gompa which was founded in 1692, Zong-dog Palri Fobrang Monastry and several other sites of interest.

In Gangtok, Sikkim's second largest city, we visited the International Flower Fair where over 500 indigenous species of orchids were on display and this was a colourful photographic experience. The Research Insitute of Tibetology was also very interesting and displayed many fine examples of silk embroidered thangkas.

Rumtek Monastry was visited as a key site for the Kagyupa (Red Hat) sect of Tibetan Lamaistic Buddhism and we had plenty of time to look around this large complex before driving, the next day, to Yuksum where we'd camp for the night before our trek commenced.

For some bizarre reason I developed a sore ankle with an inflamed bursa which caused me to limp for much of the trek but it eventually disappeared and hasn't occured since. Effective strapping and pain killers helped along with a night cap on most nights of Chivas Regal.

The 90km (round trip) trek to the Goeche La (4600m) went well with only a couple of minor issues. The challenging trek passes through stunning scenery and at the Goeche La, our group were rewarded with magnificent views of Kanchenjunga, the world's third highest mountain (8586m).

 One participant had been advised at the time of her booking that we'd not cross any suspension bridges as she had a fear of heights. We crossed one most days!

​In Darjeeling we were supposed to stay at quite a famous hotel (the Windamere Hotel) but this wasn't to be the case as the staff were on strike but several of the group thought this was my fault! Nevertheless, the New Elgin Hotel where we stayed was excellent.

A highlight of Darjeeling for me was taking the narrow gauge  "Toy Train" as far as Sendora and driving back up to Darjeeling. The first 32km of this railway opened back in 1880 and was a rewarding trip on the world's highest narrow gauge railway connecting Darjeeling with the main line station down on the plains of North Bengal. a second highlight was taking an ancient cable car gondola down to the Happy Valley Tea Estate where tea was still being produced by old orthodox methods and the tea sold in Kolkata for a global market.

A final night back in Delhi after our domestic flight was at the fabulous Imperial Hotel before our long-haul flights back to the UK with Gulf Air.

​The Times of India wrote: The Pin Parvati Trek, which connects the Parvati Valley with the Pin Valley in Himachal Pradesh, is known for its extreme weather conditions and technical challenges. The trek involves crossing the Pin Parvati Pass at 5,319 meters (17,450 feet) and navigating through rugged terrain and snowfields. The trek’s remote location and unpredictable weather make it a demanding adventure. The risk of altitude sickness and the challenging terrain add to its fearsome reputation.

 Alan wrote: Little did I realise when I accepted leadership of this trek that we'd be heading into a valley which was under investigation by the British High Commission in New Delhi. The reason being was due to the number of missing western trekkers and other embassies were also involved.

The Parbati Valley was a hotbed of solo western trekkers seeking drugs in an area that was cheap to stay in. The Parbati Valley is nicknamed "The Valley of Death" as dozens of travellers have gone missing since the 1990's. 

We reached the hot springs high in the valley but my local Sirdar was concerned about the route ahead so he and I went on to do a recce. It was obvious that crossing a wide and rocky slab could have led to potential loss of life as a fall would not have been recoverable.

​I spoke with the Himalayan Kingdoms office back home and it was agreed we'd retreat down the road and drive around into the Pin Valley in Spiti where we would have emerged after crossing the Pin Parbati Pass at 5319m.

Our week long exploration of the Spiti Valley was truly exceptional and we enjoyed day walks from our static campsite close to the spectacular Ki Gompa.

Alan wrote: I was grateful to Steve Bell, founder of Jagged-Globe for accepting me as an Expedition Leader and I was very excited about the opportunity to lead a group into Ladakh to summit Stok Kangri.

Flying into Leh (3500m) always requires 2 to 3 nights in order to acclimatise to the altitude before commencing treks and expeditions in this wonderful area. Leh itself is the historical capital of Ladakh and Leh Palace was built at about the same time as the Potala Palace in Lhasa, Tibet.

​After acclimatising in Leh, our acclimatisation trek was from Lamayuru to Chilling across several high passes before returning to Leh for 2 nights to rest and prepare for Stok Kangri. The highest pass crossed was the Konke La (4950m) but there were several other passes which were unnamed.

The trek into Stok Kangri Base Camp went well and our local company had arranged a high camp at 5650m once we'd crossed the glacier. This resulted in an almost easy summit day with everyone reaching the summit at 0930 having left the high camp at 0300.

The opportunity of using the high camp was later withdrawn by the local government which made for much longer summit days.

​On two subsequent trips, I failed to summit so was pleased at my first attempt and the success of topping out on such a summit.

​

• Navigate using a variety of maps and scales.
• Use 4 and 6 figure grid references with worded descriptions to define the position of a map feature and to locate a feature on the ground.
• Orientate the map using handrails, obvious point features and major landforms.
• Use linear features (e.g. paths, tracks, clear boundaries) as handrails in simple navigation exercises.
• Relate prominent landforms such as large hills and valleys to corresponding contour information on the map.
• Orientate the map by aligning a compass needle against grid north and be aware that magnetic variation causes an inaccuracy.
• Use an orientated map to confirm the direction of travel.
• Use clearly identifiable features to confirm position along the route and to recognise when the target has been overshot.
• Measure horizontal distance on the map and estimate distance on the ground using timing, pacing and simple visual judgements e.g.100m.
• Plan and implement simple routes and navigation strategies based on the above skills.
• Recognise a navigation error within a few minutes and apply simple relocation techniques using handrails and prominent features.
• Be aware of the use of mobile phone location apps as a back up to map and compass and in emergencies.
• Demonstrate an awareness of local and national access issues, access legislation, personal responsibilities, the Countryside Code and sustainability.
• Demonstrate appropriate knowledge of walking equipment, safety equipment and emergency procedures.

The day began in the classroom at the National Park Visitor Centre with refreshments offered on arrival followed by introductions and an outline of the 12hr course over two days.
​
The day consisted of a classroom based morning theoretical session with the afternoon out on Mynydd Illtyd Common to practice new or refreshed navigation skills. 
​
The highest point on the afternoon session was the trig point on the Twyn y Gaer (367m) iron age hillfort with views northwards over the Usk Valley and to the south, the wide panorama of the Central Beacons.

The day commenced at the Llangasty Village Hall car park with the four participants taking it in turns to lead sections of the planned route today.

Key features of the route included: The Paragon Tower, Allt House, Allt yr Esgair (393m), Llangasty-Talyllyn Church, Llangorse Lake and the colourful Ty Mawr Farm.

All four participants passed the requirements of the Bronze Navigator Award so congratulations to them all - well done!

Back at the car park there was a debriefing and general discussion of individual action plans which ranged from attending the next NNAS level which is the Silver Navigator Award whilst there was also strong interest from one participant about the Mountain Leader (Summer) Award.

The greatest strengths of this course are:

• Being a very practical hands on course
• Outdoor assessments
• Alan's wealth of experience and enthusiasm
• Beautiful walks and scenery
• Putting the theory into practice - just the right mix

The course could be improved by:

• Can't think of anything
• More map information

NOTE FOR HELEN:
I suggest once participants are booked on a course that a pre-requisite for attendance is to have looked at the map glossary on their maps and have a very good understanding of symbols and map information.
​

Topic one: Introductions and course outline
Topic two: Mountain hazards
Topic three: Mountain environment
Topic four: Maps & compass
Topic five: Navigation
Topic six: Route planning (includes Weather)
Topic seven: Personal clothing and equipment
Topic eight: Emergency procedures

The course duration is from 0900 until approximately 1600 with refreshments available during the morning classoom session. The afternoon session is entirely outdoors on Mynydd Illtyd Common with a final short debriefing session where we discussed future personal development and other available training from Bryn Walking.

Many thanks to Janet for helping me on the day.

This year's fourth and final Safety-on-the-Hills course will be on Saturday 3rd August.

​A REC Outdoor First Aid course is available on September 3rd/4th (£155) or as an Outdoor FAW course on September 3rd/4th/5th (£200).

The 16hr course content focuses on three core elements:

1. BLS (Revision/updates of REC L2 Outdoor First Aid)
2. Travel & Expedition (Incl. High Altitude/PAC)
3. Preventative Measures (Incl. BS8848:2014 and other appropriate ISO/BS Standards)

Day 1: Introductions - REC written test paper to ensure compliance with REC (L2) course content - D*RS ABC DE - LOC/AVPU - Chain of Survival - SAMPLE - Recovery Position (SAP) - Risk Management - BS8848:2014/21101:2014 - Advanced Monitoring - Travel Advice - Homework Assignment

Day 2: High Altitude First Aid (incl. PAC) - Other issues associated with Travel and Expeditions

​Throughout the course there was interesting and appropriate discussion amongst the four participants and myself.

1. Great discussions and sharing ideas between everyone on the course.
2. Alan's experience and helpful attitude made this course excellent for me and I would be keen to learn from Alan.
3. The electronic Annies were great for feedback on CPR.
​4. I thought everything was great!
5. Electronic Annies were superb in practice.
6. Great application of learning into practice supported great experience and confidence.
7. Great tempo and brilliant shared knowledge - excellent course.
​8. Used Alan previously for RGS OSSM - Highly recommended!
9. Alan - his teaching/learning style is superb.
10. Annie digital iPad feedback was an extra level of learning.
11. The content - has prepared me for my new career starting in Cambodia.
12. Practical delivery from a highly experienced Trainer.
13. Learning through discussion and practicals with other learners.
14. The electronic Annies/iPad was an excellent learning tool.

Bryn Walking usually offers three walking breaks (Monday to Friday) annually and these vary in both upland and lowland themes across Wales. The April Residential was Slate Trails of Snowdonia based from Dol Peris in Llanberis and was fully attended.

Participants met in Dale by about 1430 and we walked over to The Boathouse Cafe Dale  and sat outside with a drink enjoying the sunshine.

Helen had suggested car-sharing as a sustainable way of us all getting to Dale and to be able to share fuel costs amongst vehicle occupants. We therefore arrived with the minimum number of vehicles for the group.

We checked into the West Blockhouse for the group to settle into their rooms in this quite remarkable property. A more detailed description of the property can be seen below.

On the front lawn that evening, the normal Bryn Walking BBQ was held with Welsh Steak and fine wines supplied by Bryn Walking. This fine viewpoint gave us close-up views of marine traffic entering and leaving Milford Haven. Over the week we were there, several large crude oil tankers came in heavily laden from the Middle East whilst a variety of smaller tankers came in to load chemicals and refined petroleum products for UK and European destinations.

Today's Skomer Island landing visit was cancelled due to strong northerly winds preventing the Dale Princess boarding passengers at Martin's Haven. Helen and I made changes to the week's intinerary and booked a Skomer Island Cruise for Thursday.

​The walk today would be from the West Blockhouse around the Dale Peninsula and was a 12.36km circuit taking in the following points of interest:

St Ann's Head - Mill Bay (where Henry Tudor landed on August 7th 1485 with 2000 French mercenaries) - Frenchman's Bay - Welshman's Bay - Dale Castle - The Boathouse Cafe Dale (for refreshments) - Castlebeach Bay - Watwick Point - Watwick Bay

Most of the route was on the Wales Coastal Path and the variety of wild flowers in bloom was extremely colourful throughout the day. 

Gates on the Wales Coastal Path were named in acordance with nearby topgraphical locations and these included:

Thorny Pit - The Vomit - Vomit Point

The Marloes Mere to St Bride's Circular walk 15km was added due to the Skomer Island ferry cancellation. Helen had had to leave this morning due to a personal family committment so our group was down to myself and five (Jackie had decided to have the day at leisure in the West Blockhouse).

Starting from Marloes Mere NT Car Park we walked to the Marloes Beacon (76m) trig point on a gloriously sunny morning before descending to the Wales Coastal Path at Black Cliff which overlooked Musselwick Sands. 

Heading northwards to Tower Point and passing The Nab Head we then stopped above Huntsman's Leap to enjoy our picnic lunches in the sun.

Descending alongside St Brides Haven we stopped to look inside St Bridget's Church, a Grade II listed building. The church was founded by Brochwael, the son of Meurig of Gwent, in the 10th century. It adjoins the site of a deserted medieval village which was abandoned during the plague of 1665/1666.

The route inland back to Marloes was across fields and lanes to reach the pub which was sadly closed! From there we walked back along the lanes and a footpath to the Marloe Mere Car Park.

I'd arranged a Burger Night for the group and I thought this went down well and gave us an opportunity to finish off the wine from the Monday BBQ.

With our 1330 Skomer Island cruise due later, I planned a short walk in the morning around the headland immediately west of Martin's Haven and the ferry landing point.

There is a large NT Car Park there and the shop/ticket office for Skomer and other cruises. We picked up the tickets which Helen had booked on everyone's behalf and set off for the walk on another really sunny morning.

The headland was almost island shaped with just a narrow link onto the Marloes Peninsula. The group were given the opportunity to look through a telescope towards some distant puffins on Skomer Island. Above Mouses's Haven, Janet spotted a huge male grey seal which was a bonus and several choughs were in the area we walked through onto Wooltack Point.

We returned to the cars via the Lookout Station and found a picnic table to sit at for our lunch.

We were in the boarding queue in plenty of time and, after boarding the Dale Queen, chose seats on the port side for the best views to Skomer Island after we sailed. It was an enjoyable cruise and we saw hundred of Puffins in the sea between us and the Skomer Island shoreline. Over 40,000 Puffins make this National Nature Reserve one of Britain's most important seabird colonies. The Puffins establish their breeding areas from April onward and are on Skomer from May to July, leaving by the end of July.

Back on shore, we drove back to the Marloes Mere Car Park for a walk to Marloes Sands. On reaching the Wales Coastal Path to overlook the beach we found that the tide was in with no sign of a sandy beach. It was decided we'd walk back to the Runways Kiln Coastal Kitchen for refreshments before returning to the West Blockhouse.

A final dinner was planned at The Griffin and our table was ready as we arrived for 1930. We all chose from the seafood menu with my choices being:

Fish Soup - John Dory - Fruit Crumble with Custard

​I believe that we all enjoyed our choices of seafood, I know that I certainly did. 

We were all packed and the West Blockhouse left in a tidy condition and so we were all on the road home by 0830. Thanks to Eileen and Natalie for taking the rubbish up to the bins the previous evening. Thanks to Janet for helping with transportation.

This was a very challenging day because of the weather and it might be the case that this day's route is modified before the actual event is in October. Bryn Walking always recce routes before these residential events and today justified the need for appropriate recce walks over proposed routes.

With fine weather after an initial weather forecast for snow flurries (in June!!), we drove over to Trawsyfnydd to catch the 0930 bus to LLan Ffestiniog and parked in a layby close to the northernmost bus stop in the village.

We were at the bus stop in plenty of time and were quite relaxed until a passing motorist told us the bus didn't stop at the bus stop anymore. On his advice we rushed over to the centre of the village and just managed to board the bus in time before it drove down a different road onto the A470. The driver told us that the bus hadn't stopped at the bus stop where we were waiting for ten years!

We changed buses at the Oakley Arms bus interchange and were lucky that a  bus pulled in soon after we arrived which was running late which was in our favour as we avoided a long wait there.

Arriving at Llan Festiniog we looked at a community run hotel which looked quite nice before descending into and traversing eastwards in the Ceunant Cynfal NNR, passing the waterfall to arrive at Bont Newydd.

Continuing southwards we climbed up to Sarn Helen to arrive at the Castell Tomen-y-mur Roman Amphitheatre complex where we enjoyed lunch with great views over towards the Rhinog Fawr NNR.

​We descended back to our vehicle and drove back to Newtown together and myself continuing on to Cardiff.