After some much-needed relaxation and rejuvenation, we were ready to start seeing the sites of Northwestern Wales. We had no idea what a mecca the Bwets-y-Coed area was to hikers, bikers, and naturalists alike. We finally decided on a trek to Holy Head and the South Stack Lighthouse by choosing the closest attraction to the coast we found on the tourist map. In addition to the Lighthouse, Holy Head is also the home to a system of ancient Hut Circles that once served as foundations for stone and plaster homes estimated to have been built in 70. It’s open to the public, and kids are free to roam around and climb on them. The kids really enjoyed working off some energy running around the stone circles and finally taking a hike towards the coast and the Lighthouse. Our first stop was Ellin’s Tower, the information building where we talked to a park officer about our plans.
We were informed that the wind was pretty strong, and it was actually strong enough to close off access to the Lighthouse the day before, so we should approach with caution. We started on our trek down over 300 stairs to sea level and the Lighthouse and only got about fifty steps in. We decided it was unsafe to go any further with the kids because we were afraid of watching them get blown over the edge. So I did what any responsible adult would do and led them to the top; I grabbed the GoPro and tried to make it on my own. As you can see by some video footage attached here, I didn’t get much further.
On our way out of the parking lot, the kids noticed another trail and a group of experienced hikers with lots of gear making their way up the mountainside rather than down to the Lighthouse. The kids quickly ran after them, and I followed, we ended up and a peak at a small stone enclosure that looked out over the top of the Lighthouse and into the Irish Sea. Amazing views and a good sense of accomplishment after being defeated by the Lighthouse
