Thursday 17th May – Edern, Nefyn

It was time to investigate the area and we set off through Edern, stopping off at the butchers on the way. A footpath took us across fields to the golf club buildings and then down through the course with warnings about the golf and advice on what to do if you hear the call of 'FORE!' - “duck and cover your head”! On the way through we had a chat with a man who turned out to be the course manager who had been there for 35 years. I had asked if there was a tournament as there were a lot of golfers out on the course. He said that it was simply that the course is very popular and attracts people from all over the world, especially Scandinavia. I have to say that the links course was immaculate and looked challenging. It was also in a spectacular position on a high promontory with views to Anglesey, Snowdonia and down the Llyen coast. It was easy to understand its popularity.

We descended to the hamlet of Porth Dinllaen, tucked into the cliffs that protected it from the westerly gales. This area is owned by the National Trust and a small exhibition told us more about the history. It is difficult to believe that Port Dinllaen was once a thriving port that traded with Chester, Liverpool and Ireland, records going back 400 years showing that cloth, pepper, tobacco and coal were brought in here. It was nearly selected as the main port for trade to Ireland, narrowly missing out to Holyhead – a correct decision! The importance of the port also helps to explain why there were four pubs on this stretch of beach – that must have been every other house – and there is still one left, the Ty Coch (Red House) although given its remote position, it must be very quiet in the winter!

We walked to the lifeboat station and around the top of the headland before returning to Porth Dinllaen to walk along the beach to Morfa Nefyn. Here we left the beach to have lunch in the Cliff Inn with a lovely view over the bay.

We walked back to Edern, calling in at the butchers to pick up some leeks.

Photos: A very rare sighting of a butterfly on this sojourn – it has been so cold that they haven't been around; Porth Dinllaen with the Ty Coch more brown than red and Morfa Nefyn in the distance on the left.