I planned to walk the entire Llyn/Lleyn Peninsula, but only walked a fraction of it in the end. On a very tight budget I bought a large, cheap backpack, which was a bad idea. Each day another strap would rip off and I would be left sewing my bag each evening, only for it to break even worse the next day. Don't buy cheap bags...especially when your overall pack weighs about 15kg.
Roughly where i walked: http://i19.photobucket.com/albums/b159/mrfeza/llynroute.jpg
I set off from Caernarfon probably around midday, in the hot blazing sun, and followed the route on the OS map. I ventured off the trail to get to a camp site after a short while of walking as i didn't plan to walk much today. After 3 failed campsite attempts i finally got to Dinas Dinlle camp site! (The first campsite looked dire, the 2nd wanted £20, and the 3rd didn't take tents, even though the map says they do.) So i walked alot longer than planned, and through some very wet marshland, which was tricky & wet walking. I pitched up and then went for a long walk that evening along the beach, took some nice photos and was enjoying myself. Sewed some ripped straps on teh bag. My night there was not good, with noisy neighbours, and i slept probably about an hour overall. Packed up at 5:30am, and was offered a cuppa from a nice old couple! At 6am I was on my way, stopping for a bowl of cereal at the beach. Walking was hard as it was along miles of rock & stone beach. Ankles worked hard. After around 4 hours of this slow walking, through heavy downpours i decided to stop at a campsite I was planning to stay at anyway. Aberafon Campsite. Absolutely lovely place, and the owner Clare was lovely, who runs it with her partner Hugh. I pitched up right on the corner of a cliff! (pic below). The weather turned out nice and I spent the day & evening walking around & taking some more photos. My shoulder strap had ripped really bad just after arriving at this campsite, so i had alot more sewing to do. I slept badly again this night, finding my fleece as a pillow very uncomfortable. 2 nights with hardly any sleep. That morning I set off and half way to Trefor my shoulder strap came completely off. At this point I decided to cut my walk short, but carried on to Trefor anyway with one strap, just holding on. I met up with my parents a few hours later and spent the day at the tip of the Llyn Peninsula walking and enjoying views of Barsey Island in the distance.
So not as planned but I spent the rest of the 2 weeks in Wales, walking around various places, taking photos, and chilling out at the cottage enjoying other interests of mine which include wood carving, playing Irish whistles, eating good meals, and drinking beer
Tough luck with the pack and the campsites. Like you I find a bundled up fleece incredibly uncomfortable, and my 'desert island luxury' would be an Ajungilak Air Pillow - inflatable bliss!
Tough luck with the pack and the campsites. Like you I find a bundled up fleece incredibly uncomfortable, and my 'desert island luxury' would be an Ajungilak Air Pillow - inflatable bliss!
Thankyou
I almost bought an inflatable pillow, and regret not buying one. This was my first time anyway, and I've learnt alot from it!
despite the setbacks it sounds as though you had fun. some great pics too. nothing beats some experience at this lark and you'll be wiser for your next choices of kit..chuckles..welcome to kitmonsterdom.
Well... you gotta start somewhere... and you gotta learn about kit as you go along. My first pack was a canvas monster with a steel frame and leather straps. The frame broke within days, but I lugged that pack for four weeks with what felt like knives sticking in my back! 35 years later, I still live in the hope of finding the 'ideal' kit for my travels!
