I’ve been away this week on a mini-expedition across Holy Island. There’s been a decent dump of snow again in the mountains, but luckily, out at the far north of Anglesey, some blue skies remained (well, for the first day at least)…

I took my team of students on an ‘extended’ version of the route, to take a peek into the enormous ‘Parliment House Cave’, which had quite a few seals in.

There was a brisk breeze, but otherwise, it was a glorious journey, on foot from Holyhead breakwater, around North Stack and over Holyhead Mountain.

The main challenges came in the fields below the mountain. These friendly, but rather large dudes, were blocking our way. We threw a few apples to distract them, but still couldn’t get the gate open! In the end we were rescued by the farmer who lured them away from the gate with a hay bale. Without the horses, we finally had free passsage!..

But conditions underfoot were far from easy!….

We had to get hosed down before entering the hostel! A good dinner was all we had time for before heading on to the beach for some star gazing and hoofing around in the dark. Another hose off was required before bed – this time to get the sand off!

We cut short today’s journey as the offshore gales were threatening to blow us off the cliff edges (south stack is not the place to be peering over the edge in an easterly gale!). And besides, in true student fashion, a few characters made the mistake of ‘turning their back on the ocean’, early on in the walk and were suffering from wet boots and trousers! The final track up to the waiting minibus also caused plenty of drama – and the need for yet another hosing down on arrival back at base!

Eventually, and not without some effort, the lost boot was recovered…

Good times!