Yr Eifl: Garn Ganol and Tre'r Ceiri Iron Age Fort

A spectacular walk! 

Yr Eifl National Nature Reserve was designated as such in 2019, because of the range of altitude for this area of oceanic heath (from 10 to 564m) and its proximity to the sea, but it is the Iron Age fort that steals the show!

Starting at the carpark up on the fell behind Llithfaen we walked along the old quarry track (Wales coast Path) before ascending onto Garn Ganol - the highest point on the Lleyn -a scramble with both Stag's-horn Club Moss and Alpine Club Moss and good views, albeit capped by low cloud. From the summit we descended through the cloud towards the Iron Age fort on Tre'r Ceiri. As the mist cleared, it dramatically revealed the size and extent of this important site: one of the largest and best preserved Iron age forts in Britain (there has been substantial restoration though). The fort, built in the late Iron Age, so 880 BC- 45 AD, was still inhabited by the Celtic Britons during the Roman occupation and consisted of 150 huts which were only abandoned as the climate cooled and growing crops became harder. 

Along the Wales Coastal footpath - with the granite quarry in the background.

The granite was used for pavements etc, but also for producing curling stones 

                                         - it's the same as the Ailsa Craig granite. 

Garn Canol.

Stag's-horn Club Moss.

Garn Ganol.

Views...

Looking down onto Tre'r Ceiri....

All was revealed...

Making our way down and across...

Defensive walls.

One of the entrance gates.

Huts.

The outer wall. 

The summit cairn.

Overlooking more huts.

Looking west ...

Golden Hair-lichen: Teloschistes flavicans

This very rare lichen deserves a blog of its own ...the map below from The British Lichen Society site shows it's distribution,  with the red dots being post 2000 records. 

We knew it grew at Mynnydd Mawr as it is mentioned in the National Trust's handbook, but it is always a thrill to find it. 

Mynydd Mawr

Our first full day and a trip to the far end of the peninsula and Mynydd Mawr. A glorious day with a glorious walk! Gorgeous coastline with Choughs and cracking views....and the rare Golden Hair-lichen. 

Ynys Enlli / Bardsey Island ...

..and zooming in to the lighthouse - the tallest square tower lighthouse in the UK. 

Looking east along the south side of the Lleyn.

Nice lichen-covered cliffs and rocks. 

and a close up...

And then the bright unmistakeable yellow /orange of the Golden Hair-lichen Teloschtes flavicans.

Bardsey again.

From Trwyn Maen Melyn looking east. 

Field sketch.

Chough.

And then in the evening back to Traeth Penllech, for a walk on the beach ...

A quick stop off...

On the way to the Lleyn Peninsula: RSPB Conwy is the ideal distance for a stop off,  a quick brew and stretch off the legs.. Nothing spectacular to see but a welcome break. 

The Castle.

Looking inland.

Old Man's Beard.

Wigeon.

Scratty Wigeon in eclipse.

Magpies.

Little Egret.

Teal.

Helvellyn form Dunmail Raise

A rush up and down Helvellyn on the most glorious of days! In order to support Molly on her 'Lakes in a Day' ultra marathon, Tom and I, legged it up Helvellyn as quickly as possible, aiming to meet her on the summit...and we did. The walk, albeit rather less leisurely than I would have liked (4hrs 30mins in total, including stops - we were on a tight schedule), was absolutely stunning. The day was made by the beautiful light, warmth and an inversion, but also by the atmosphere of cheering the runners on and of course by Molly doing so well. 

Climbing up towards Grisedale Tarn..looking back down to Dunmail Raise.

Raise Beck.

Fir Clubmoss.

Grisedale Tarn.

Posing Herdie...

Catstycam pops up in the distance.

Fairfield and St Sunday Crag.

..and then some superb clouds/inversion.

What a day!