A visit to Wales on the R1200 GS Adventure, basing myself at Borth on the coast. The ride up on the Friday evening took me via Chepstow, the Wye Valley, Monmouth, Rockfield (past the recording studio), Abergavenny, Crickhowell, Builth Wells, Rhayader, the Elan Valley, Devils Bridge and Aberystwyth.
Whilst there, I visited the RSPB Ynys-Hir Reserve, the Dyfi Osprey Project Reserve on the Saturday (the “Day of the Warblers”, plus a couple of Ospreys).
On the Sunday I included Machynlleth, Lake Vyrnwy, Bala, Blaenau Ffestiniog, Betws-Y-Coed, the Nant Ffrancon Pass (stopping for an uphill walk next to the Gwern Gof Isaf Campsite), then Llanberis and a coastal ride back to Borth via Harlech, Barmouth, Tywyn and Aberdovey (Aberdyfi). In the evening, a walk around the coastal dunes of the Ynyslas Nature Reserve.
On the Monday, my ride back towards home took me via Aberystwyth, Devils Bridge, the Elan Valley (for brunch), then Builth Wells and Crickhowell from where I visited the Llangattock Escarpment.
A good weekend for wildlife, mostly birds (Wood Warbler, Grasshopper Warbler, Pied Flycatcher, Redstart, Osprey, Redpoll and Snipe being the highlights – sadly no Ring Ouzel despite best efforts at Nant Ffrancon and the Llangattock Escarpment).
Afterwards, it was full steam to Bristol to meet Amanda and a couple of mates to catch an excellent gig of escapist musical entertainment by the Flaming Lips at the Bristol Beacon.