Embarking on a journey like no other, I set out to walk the stunning Wales Coast Path – an 870-mile adventure stretching from Chepstow to Queensferry. Over 50 days, this challenge tested my endurance, offered breathtaking coastal views, and immersed me in the rich history and beauty of Wales.
🥾 Powered by determination and #ChallengewithCicerone, here's my story of conquering one of the world’s most iconic long-distance trails! 🌊✨
🥾Day 1/50 Walking the @walescoastpath
-Llwybr Arfordir Cymru 🏴
📍Supported by Cicerone @ciceronePress
ℹ️Stats
Date: 19th April
Weather: ☀️Super sunny with blue skies - forgot to wear sunscreen so a little bit burnt!
From: Chester Cathedral
Start time: 7.10am ish - we had a bit of a flaff trying to find public toilets in Chester - spoiler there were none open. We ended up popping into a costa coffee.
To: Greenfield Dock - Car Park
End time: 2.35pm
Accommodation: stayed at home in my own bed!
Terrain: Flat, concrete, small bit of boardwalk and some grassy sections
🥾Miles: 18 miles
🦶Steps: 46,418 (watch says 22.5 miles)
🏔 Ascent: 30m
📚Guidebook Info:
Stage: 1 (Chester to Flint) & half of stage 2 (Flint to Prestatyn)
Pages: 43 - 50
Total miles on the WCP: 18/870
💰Costs: £0 - dropped off to the start and collect by my parents 🙏
Food: £0 made a packed lunch - egg sandwiches and had dinner at home
Subjective feeling out of 10 on:
Enjoyment: 10/10 😀
Fatigue: 1/10 - feeling good, feeling strong - also fast packing so not carrying a heavy pack.
Ease of terrain: 1/10 - super flat, quite a bit of concrete, but you can go fast, easy to navigate as well.
🤗Such a great start to the Wales coast path especially starting the walk with @arrycain Everything came together so well.
We had incredible weather which really helped.
I’m so pleased with how this challenge has started. I’m so excited for the rest of the walk 🥳
👉Follow along 😀 #ChallengeWithCicerone
🌟For 50 years Cicerone has established a reputation as the very best publisher of guides to exploring the hills, mountains and countryside of Britain, Europe and the world.
ℹ️Visit the Cicerone website now to find your next challenge! Link in bio & below!
Website: - https://www.cicerone.co.uk
Watch the vlog here: Fantastic first day on the Wales Coast Path 1/50
🥾Day 2/50 Walking the @walescoastpath
-Llwybr Arfordir Cymru 🏴
📍Supported by Cicerone @ciceronePress
ℹ️Stats
Date: 20th April
Weather: very sunny ☀️ - blue skies
From: Greenfield Dock
Start time: 1.06pm
To: Prestatyn
End time: 5.53pm
Accommodation: B&B
Terrain: Flat, coastal embankments, some road walking and a little bit of beach
🥾Miles: 13 miles
🦶Steps: 27,776
🏔 Ascent: 120 m
📚Guidebook Info:
Stage: 2
Pages: 50 -52
Total miles on the WCP: 31/870
💰Costs: £40 accommodation
Food: £0 - packed lunch & dinner.
Subjective feeling out of 10 on:
Enjoyment: 9/10
Fatigue: 1/10
Ease of terrain: 1/10
🌟Highlights - waking up at home in my own bed. Getting to use my new @ospreypacks #gifted (EJA 48), amazing weather, beautiful views back over the Dee Estuary to the Wirral
Challenges - none to be honest it was a really lovely afternoon walking. A nice gentle way to get use to having a pack on again.
👉Follow along 😀 #ChallengeWithCicerone
🌟For 50 years Cicerone has established a reputation as the very best publisher of guides to exploring the hills, mountains and countryside of Britain, Europe and the world.
ℹ️Visit the Cicerone website now to find your next challenge! Link in bio & below!
Website: - https://www.cicerone.co.uk
Watch the vlog here: The Dee Estuary on the Wales Coast Path 2/50
🥾Day 3/50 Walking the @walescoastpath
-Llwybr Arfordir Cymru 🏴
📍Supported by Cicerone @ciceronePress
ℹ️Stats
Date: Thursday 21st April
Weather: sunny ☀️, blue skies, a little bit of wind
From: Prestatyn
Start time: 10am
To: Colwyn Bay
End time: 6pm
Accommodation: tent ⛺️ campsite
Terrain: promenade paths and hard- surfaces cycleways - little climbing
🥾Miles: 14
🦶Steps: 43,356
🏔 Ascent: 100 m
📚Guidebook Info:
Stage: 3
Pages: 53 - 57
Total miles on the WCP: 45/870 (72.5km)
💰Costs: £10 - accommodation £10 donation to Angela
Food: £0 - still eating snacks and food from home. Plus breakfast and fruit was provided at the hotel
Subjective feeling out of 10 on:
Enjoyment: 7/10
Fatigue: 2 /10
Ease of terrain: 2/10
🌟Highlights- weather, blue skies, being by the coast, meeting fellow walker Angela Hougham who is raising money for Alzheimer’s
Challenges- concrete paths are hard on the feet & the same view feels like you are never making progress, which can be mentally a little draining.
👉Follow along 😀 #ChallengeWithCicerone
🌟For 50 years Cicerone has established a reputation as the very best publisher of guides to exploring the hills, mountains and countryside of Britain, Europe and the world.
ℹ️Visit the Cicerone website now to find your next challenge! Link in bio & below!
Website: - https://www.cicerone.co.uk
Watch the vlog here: Covering off the miles on the Wales Coast Path 3/50
Day 4/50 Walking the @walescoastpath
-Llwybr Arfordir Cymru 🏴
📍Supported by Cicerone @ciceronePress
ℹ️Stats
Date: Friday 22nd April
Weather: drizzly in the morning 🌧- but tuned out lovely in the afternoon- sunshine ☀️ and blue skies
From: Colwyn Bay
Start time: 8.36am
To: Conwy
End time: 5pm
Accommodation: YHA Conwy - bottom bunk bed - private room (only accommodation option available - cheapest I could find £49)
Terrain: Easy promenade paths at the start, middle and end. Short, steep hill paths on Little Orme. Cliff road on Great Orme.
🥾Miles: 14.5 miles
🦶Steps: 36,043
🏔 Ascent: 350m
📚Guidebook Info:
Stage: 4
Pages: 57 - 61
Total miles on the WCP: 60/870
💰Costs: £49 accommodation
Food: £23.46 resupply- 4x bread rolls, grated cheese, blueberries, 2x innocent smoothies, 4x pears, mango, strawberries, crisps, mayo, 2x banana, chicken slices, baby tomatoes, 2x G&T (in a can!)
Subjective feeling out of 10 on:
Enjoyment: 10/10 😀
Fatigue: 1/10💪
Ease of terrain: 2/10
Highlights - meeting Philip who is part of the Friends of West Shore (Llandudno, Conwy).
Challenges - trying to find accommodation in Conwy. There are not very many cheap options - I finally decided to book in at the YHA (£49) check in at 5pm, I was a little ahead of schedule and so had a few hours to relax / which meant I was able to spend some time at the beach sunbathing and watching the waves and the world go by. It was glorious!
👉Follow along 😀 #ChallengeWithCicerone
🌟For 50 years Cicerone has established a reputation as the very best publisher of guides to exploring the hills, mountains and countryside of Britain, Europe and the world.
ℹ️Visit the Cicerone website now to find your next challenge! Link in bio & below!
Website: - https://www.cicerone.co.uk
Watch the vlog here: Checking out Conway Castle and Great Orme, Wales Coast Path 4/50
🥾Day 5/50 Walking the @walescoastpath
-Llwybr Arfordir Cymru 🏴
📍Supported by Cicerone @ciceronePress
ℹ️Stats
Date: Saturday 23rd April
Weather: sunny ☀️ but windy 💨on the coast.
From: Conwy
Start time: 9.06am
To: Garth, Bangor
End time: 5.30pm
Accommodation: Warmshowers hosts. Bed for the night, with dinner & an Epsom salt hot bath 🛁
Terrain: Easy coastal paths and cycleways, becoming remote, then a mixture of roads, tracks and paths heading well inland
🥾Miles: 18.5 miles
🦶Steps: 44,942
🏔 Ascent: 230m
📚Guidebook Info:
Stage: 5
Pages: 62 - 68
Total miles on the WCP: 78/870
💰Costs: £0
Food: £0
Subjective feeling out of 10 on:
Enjoyment: 8/10
Fatigue: 3/10
Ease of terrain: 2/10
Body - left calf is very painful
Highlights - 🏡 staying with Lisa, Stefan, Marley 🐶 and Millie 🐈. Chatting with Rosie Swale Pope on the telephone 📞- did get a little distracted and ended up on the wrong side of the road. But managed to get back to where I needed to be!
Challenges - the wind blowing sideways, my left calf towards the end, the final push of finishing the stage. It was a long day. Especially carrying a backpack which seems to be getting heavier! Ps I have started to eat the Easter 🐣 egg!! 🤣
👉Follow along 😀 #ChallengeWithCicerone
🌟For 50 years Cicerone has established a reputation as the very best publisher of guides to exploring the hills, mountains and countryside of Britain, Europe and the world.
ℹ️Visit the Cicerone website now to find your next challenge! Link in bio & below!
Website: - https://www.cicerone.co.uk
Watch the vlog here: I took a wrong turn! Wales Coast Path 5/50
Read more of my journey here: Day 6-10: Walking the South West Coast Path
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