Coasting Round Britain: Aberystwyth to Fflint

Mike S

Not my area (I'm Wirral-based, hoping to do a stretch around the NW corner thereof) - but as someone who's done a fair amount of competitive running round this part of the world (Borders League, Welsh Castles Relay day 1), three things strike me:

1) there's some wonderful scenery to be enjoyed along this stretch

2) Even though it probably adds 50 miles or more to the length of the entire stretch, I can't see any justification for omitting Anglesey. OK it's an island - but thanks to Thomas Telford et al, it's not as if you have to stop running and get a boat across the Menai Straits.

3) where the hell are the locals? From what I've seen, it's not as if N Wales lacks for either talent or numbers of runners. I'm amazed this thread has only got about 30 posts so far.

marshallini

There is no reason why there couldn't be a break away "Round the Coast of Angelsey Run " group.

The Angelsey coastal Path says it's

Length: 125 miles / 200km Total height gain: 4,174m / 13,695ft

The Hoose-Goer

if we got enough peops perhaps-danger is all other islands may want including. Had very little from N. Ireland yet.

Mike S

hmmm....

a) hadn't realised (though probably should have guessed) that 50 miles was a dismal underestimate

b) afaik there's no road bridge linking the British mainland with NI - unlike Anglesey.
And...er....same applies to (inter alia) the Isle of Wight, various Scillonian islands, Lundy, Isle of Man, Arran, Orkney, Shetland....the Eddystone lighthouse....so I'm not too sure what you're worrying about here Hoose  

marshallini

IMO the only islands worth doing are Angelsey, the Isle of Man and the Isle of White. I think the Scottish coast is complicated and  tough enough with out adding any islands.

The Hoose-Goer

Best not doing any little island at all as you point out Marsh -tough enough without them. NI is different. Did have request for Isle of Wight too , so concerned that all would want including-that would be mad LOL

Booo

OK chaps .. it was Home Alone 4 on tv and rest of family was quite rightly sleeping their way through it so I decided to do a bit of mapping. These are the routes I have so far :

Aber - Borth (Camlo) : http://www.mapmyrun.com/run/united-kingdom/aberystwyth/695126192228439162

Tywyn - Harlech (Waylander) : http://www.mapmyrun.com/run/united-kingdom/tywyn/842126192596643373

Llandudno - Kinmel Bay (FFMan FFMan Jr) : http://www.mapmyrun.com/run/united-kingdom/rhyl/320126191984648199

Kinmel Bay - Prestatyn (FCStoke) :  http://www.mapmyrun.com/run/united-kingdom/rhyl/580126191792466738

Prestatyn - Fflint (Bruce C) : http://www.mapmyrun.com/run/united-kingdom/prestatyn/178126191615760709

Are the guys who have stated a preference to date OK with the above, (FFMan is 20 OK ?)

Other bits to firm up: 

Walk Eryri, any thoughts on where you want to start ? (I'll put you finishing in Llandudno and passing to FFMan, just need to know your start.

Mitiog, have you decided a slot yet ? Let me know where you fancy and how far.

Rob B., any preferences from the remaining bits ?

Alex K., good stuff! around Llandudno, how about doing the first 4/5 miles of FFMan'ss as its a loop around from one side of Llandudno to the other.

Anyone else I've missed out ???

Estuaries??? What are the plans here, as if we follow them we could end up with an extra 1020 miles to only move half a mile up coast, or can we 'jump' across the wet bits ? 

 Also on the Anglesey thing, I'd like to include it, but first I'd like to get the mainland coast sorted and then if we have enough offers there may be potential for doing it in one hit on a day with a minibus of floaterslocals??

B.

The Hoose-Goer

doing brill here. Their will be more to double up and share I am sure. How are the group before you doing?  

panad

looking good

I'm in Holywell, so happy to join in with any bits from rhyl/prestatyn to fflint...

Booo

welcome aboard panad,

 you're welcome to join me (if you don't mind a gentle pace  ) on the prestatyn - fflint bit, although how do you fancy a nice little jaunt on the llyn peninsular ?    )

panad

I would, but getting a pass out might be a bit harder for that bit 

Booo

but you'll be taking part in making history, surely that deserves a pass out  (says Bruce, thinkng he's going to have to put some 'speed' work in if he's having company  )

panad

I wouldn't worry bout the speedwork, I'm really not fast myself!

Flip Flop

Evening all,

 Hope you've all had a good Christmas ....

Bruce - Llandudno to Kinmel Bay is fine for me but the 20 miles will be at a nice easy pace

I think I've snared a few folks from work who ran the Cancer Research Run10k in October and I think they'll be looking to buddy up with somebody somewhere around Kinmel Bay - Prestaytn. I'll let you know when it's confirmed.

Booo

Flip Flop Man wrote (see)

but the 20 miles will be at a nice easy pace

Is there any other pace ?

We're looking pretty sorted for Llandudno onwards now, and for the first bits from Aber to, just need to head a bit further West now, and start filling up the Llyn.

Anyone know of any running clubs etc. out Bangor, Caernarfon way?

panad

You've Eryri in Llanberis, the uni have a running club in Bangor..

pottermiss

Just checking in, happy with my  stretch.

The Hoose-Goer

hi could all coasters have a look at ideas on main thread. Your views count.

marshallini

I could fill in if necessary and run something like Caernarfon to Bangor or Bangor to Penmaenmawr or Aber to Conwy or Conwy round Llandudno, basically any 10-15 mile section between Caernarfon and Flint. (or if push comes to shove an early section but that would be tougher to fit in as it could double travel tme)

The Hoose-Goer

I think we have more runners to come Marsh. If we all contact clubs and that in all areas we will do it

Booo

Thanks Marshallini, I'll put you in for 10-15 ish leading up to Llandudno, I'll do a quick map now but actual route is entirely up to yourself, but think it may have to be a bit inland as only A55 hugs coast by there and I don't think that would be fun to run on.

 I've mailed the Eryri running club and looking into Bangor Uni too, but don't envisage a response until next week as some of the mail addresses appear to be corporate ones (especially the ac.uk ones) so prob won't be picked up till next week when they're back in.

marshallini

Bruce, that'd be cool.  I tried mapping something myself but don't know the area that well and couldn't work out how to get passed the some of the tunnels.

Booo

OK, I've taken a first stab at it, and put you down for Llanfairfechan to Llandudno, although it does include the A55. Hopefully if we can get teh EryriBangor guys on board they can advise the best way round that bit.

http://www.mapmyrun.com/run/united-kingdom/llanfairfechan/399126217606444882

Booo

OK, current standings :

Aber - Borth (Camlo) : http://www.mapmyrun.com/run/united-kingdom/aberystwyth/695126192228439162

Tywyn - Harlech (Waylander) : http://www.mapmyrun.com/run/united-kingdom/tywyn/842126192596643373

Llanfairfechan - Llandudno (Marshalini) : http://www.mapmyrun.com/run/united-kingdom/llanfairfechan/399126217606444882

Llandudno - Kinmel Bay (FFMan FFMan Jr) : http://www.mapmyrun.com/run/united-kingdom/rhyl/320126191984648199

Kinmel Bay - Prestatyn (FCStoke) :  http://www.mapmyrun.com/run/united-kingdom/rhyl/580126191792466738

Prestatyn - Fflint (Bruce panad) : http://www.mapmyrun.com/run/united-kingdom/prestatyn/178126191615760709

Anyone I've missed, or changes just shout up

B.

marshallini

the route I came up withwhich starts and stops a bit earlier.

altered route to take in the extra end bit.

EDIT - Just driven up the A55 for a quick look (bored and nothing better to do) and there are no real obstacles and depending on the tide I could run the whole thing right on the beach.

Camlo

Hi folks- just had a quick look on google earth at  Ynyslas to Aberdovey- it's only about 500m which seems a shame if we have to go inland all the way to Machynllyth instead. I am happy to go from Aber to Ynyslas tip or to Mach but it is a crap busy road I think so a boat across the estuary is still my top tip! Then depending how far it would be I could maybe do Aber to Towyn if I had all day!!

marshallini

I've just had a look as well, about 23 miles to go in and out to Machynllyth.

If you want to go a little offroad and wade the river, then run thru a marsh, avoiding the farmer then you could get it down to 13 miles. Unwise even at low tide. and maybe even more unwise you could run over the river on the railway bridge that'd be about 14 miles.

Booo

I actually think the railway bridge could be a go-er ... is it a solid bridge?

Don't worry, I'm not thinking of just leggin' it across, but I am sure if we approach British Rail (or whichever franchise operates it) and explain what we are doing and what we want to do, we could arrange something with them to ensure a safe crossing, as we'd only need it clear for 30 mins tops. Worth a tickle? they can only say No.

Is that a bit too mad, should we start looking in to boats instead?

marshallini

It's less than 150m straight over the bridge but I didn't realise there was a station within 250m so a sneak attack would be risky anyway, even though it would only take 1 min to cross.

route

Booo

just been in touch with one of the guys from Wrexham Athletics, who said he'd have a number of members interested so hopefully we'll have a few more joining our merry band soon.

 As for the bridge, anyone know who operates that line ?