Log No 210. Fri 10th Jan 2014 - Fairbourne to Machynlleth, 25 miles (3234 miles walked)

I could have lain in bed longer but I forced myself up at 06.40 and I got going at 08.00.

Because of the transport I was going to have to finish at either Aberdovey (15 miles) or Machynlleth (25 miles). The trains were running normally from Machynlleth so it made sense to finish there but did I want to do another 25 miles?

It was cloudy but dry as I went along the promenade at Fairbourne, there was no serious damage here, just stones thrown up.

At the end of the prom I had to get back onto the main abd stay on it as it climbed up the side of the hill.

The road followed the railway line for nearly 5 miles then when it turned inland I took a short footpath through farmland to join up with a minor road which went back to the railway.

The railway crossed a river and up until a few months ago it was a 6 mile detour for walkers but a new bridge was opened in August 2013.


The section of the railway line from the bridge and into Tywyn had seen a lot of damage and there was an unmissable sag in the line.

Some walls along the promenade at Tywyn also suffered during the storms.

The beach had some unusual rock formations only it wasn't rock, it was more like wood and I could force the end of my walking pole in it. The rectangular 'holes' are reminiscent of peat cuttings but whether these were man made or natural I have no idea.

Initially the beach out of Tywyn was shingle and hard to walk on but it soon gave way to sand.

A channel marker or navigation bouy had found it's way onto the beach, presumably from the storms.

It was a good sandy beach right into Aberdovey and I arrived there at 12.45.

My legs were beginning to ache but it the sun was shining and it was really far too early to stop, unfortunately the next 10 miles were all on the main road. The Wales Coast Path took a longer route inland but I stuck to the easy road walking, the road was not too busy anyway.

This 10 miles was up the side of the River Dovey, there was no handy bridge this time.

By 14.30 it had clouded over again and it wasn't long before the rain came, at least it was light rain and behind me.

After my 3 week break I was certainly feeling it with aches in my legs, back and neck but I couldn't stop until I got to Machynlleth and I was very relieved when I got to the railway station at 15.50 and I could sit in the waiting room until the bus left at 16.40.

I eventually got back to the camper in Fairbourne for 18.00, it had been a long day.